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ERC Newsletter #03/13
There won't be just Serious Competition Ahead when the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship resumes in Latvia next month: Ukrainian glamour model Inessa Tushkanova is also planning to take part.
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The 25-year-old has tackled selected rallies since 2008 and made her ERC debut in Poland last season. She now wants to build her experience of the ERC, which enjoys extensive television coverage on Eurosport, by contesting Rally Liepāja-Ventspils from 1-3 February in an ERC Production Car Cup-specification Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.
"I don't know yet if I will do the rally or not because, for now, I haven't been able to find the budget," said Tushkanova. "We have tried many companies and I hope they wake up soon because there is not much time. I don't have any hopes and dreams about big prizes in Latvia, but I find it very important to participate in the rally for my career since the level of ERC is very high and my plans for rally do not stop after one year."
Tushkanova also plans to compete on the ERC round in Poland in September.
CONSANI TAKES TWO
Robert Consani will chase ERC 2WD Championship honours in 2013, dividing his time between a Renault Clio R3 and a Renault Mégane RS.
Consani, the winner of the IRC Production Cup title in 2012, will use his Clio on snow and gravel events - starting with next month's Rally Liepāja-Ventspils - and his Mégane on asphalt due to the respective homologation of each car.
"I still need to find some money, but the plan is to do as many rounds of the European championship as possible, starting in Latvia," said the Frenchman. "I have some experience of some of the events on the calendar, so my goal is to challenge for the title. Even though we had some bad luck last season I enjoyed myself a lot and hopefully with an extra year of learning and development it can be even better for us this year."
TEMPESTINI: IT WAS JUST LIKE PLAYSTATION
Simone Tempestini warmed up for next month's Rally Liepāja-Ventspils with a two-day test in Finland last week and said afterwards that it was like PlayStation come to life.
The 18-year-old Romanian will make his FIA European Rally Championship Production Car Cup debut in a Subaru Impreza R4 STI in Latvia. With no previous experience of driving on snow or ice, Tempestini spent a day on a frozen lake and a day in a snow-coated forest to prepare for round two of the ERC from 1-3 February.
"It was unbelievable, like on PlayStation but in real life," said Tempestini, who will be joined in the ERC this season by father Marco Tempestini. "I was surprised by the amount of grip in these conditions. Everybody told me that it will be like this but I was still surprised. I had a lot of fun and I will try to build up on all the news things that I've learned. The next round in the ERC will be another learning stage for me and my goal is to gain experience for the future."
IS THIS MAN AUSTRIA'S FASTEST DRIVING INSTRUCTOR?
Hannes Danzinger isn't afraid of putting his money where his mouth is. The Austrian isn't just good at driving rally cars - he also works as a driving instructor when he's not competing in the FIA European Rally Championship.
Danzinger tops the ERC 2WD Championship standings following his class victory on the season-opening International Jännerrallye earlier this month. He hopes to defend his title lead on Rally Liepāja-Ventspils from 1-3 February.
"I hope I'm a good teacher, at least I think people like what I do," said Danzinger, who campaigns a Renault Clio R3 in the ERC alongside German co-driver Kathi Wüstenhagen.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: KAJETAN KAJETANOWICZ
Kajetan Kajetanowicz is one of Poland's most successful rally drivers, winning his prestigious domestic title on three occasions. While his 2013 programme is currently unconfirmed, based on his performance on the recent International Jännerrallye in Austria, Kajetanowicz will be a threat for ERC Production Car Cup honours this season after he finished a close second to Beppo Harrach in his LOTOS Team Subaru Impreza R4, winning a stage outright in the process.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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Also in WRC Rally News 2010: |
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