|
 |
|
|
|
|
ERC Newsletter #08/13
RENAULT ENTERS ERC PRODUCTION CAR CUP FOR TEAMS
Renault will enter two cars in the FIA ERC Production Car Cup for Teams starting on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés next month.
|
|
|
French aces Germain Bonnefis and Robert Consani will pilot a brace of Mégane RSs under the Team Renault Sport Technologies banner on seven rounds of the ERC. Bonnefis, 26, won the Peugeot Volant 207 title in 2011, while 30-year-old Consani claimed the IRC Production Cup last season driving a Mégane RS.
Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the ERC General Co-ordinator and former international rally-winning driver turned team boss, welcomed Renault’s decision to enter the European championship.
“We are delighted that Team Renault Sport Technologies has entered the European Rally Championship and, specifically the ERC Production Car Cup for Teams,” said Nicolas. “By selecting two promising young drivers to represent them in the ERC, they are sending out a clear message of their determination to be successful. We look forward to welcoming Renault into the ERC and we can't wait to see how they match up to their competitors.”
FIESTA R5 SET FOR DEBUT RALLY RUN
M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta R5 will appear on a competitive rally for the first time next month.
Matthew Wilson (pictured) will drive the course opening zero car on the Malcolm Wilson Rally, a national event in the United Kingdom sponsored by his father, Malcolm, the Managing Director of M-Sport.
“It makes sense to run the car for the first time on the Malcolm Wilson Rally,” said Wilson Sr. “We can make some good promotion on the rally. It’s a good place to show the car off and everybody’s really excited about this car.”
Wilson Jr has conducted a significant amount of running in the Fiesta R5, which is due to appear in the FIA European Rally Championship later this season.
FAMOUS T16 NAME BACK IN RALLYING
The famous T16 name will return to international rallying in 2013 after Peugeot confirmed it would be rebranding its 208 Type R5 the 208 T16 when it battles for glory in the FIA European Rally Championship this season.
Peugeot is currently testing and developing its R5-specification challenger ahead of its planned competition debut in the latter part of 2013. The 208 T16 will eventually succeed the 207 Super 2000 as the French make’s flagship rally car.
The T16 name is famous throughout the world having adorned Peugeot’s legendary 205 Group B rally car (pictured left), which achieved considerable success in the mid-1980s. ERC frontrunner Craig Breen is conducting much of the testing of the 208 T16. The Irishman tweeted: “An iconic name to follow what will be an iconic car.”
Last week, Peugeot celebrated the 30th anniversary of the launch of its 205 road car.
ERC ACE BREEN KEEPS BUSY
Craig Breen has been keeping busy since his impressive run to second overall on Rally Liepāja-Ventspils earlier this month.
Not only has the 23-year-old signed a long-term agreement with V&V Sport Management, he has also been appointed a brand ambassador for Peugeot Ireland to help promote sales of the new 208 Active 1.4 HDI. The 208 contributed to a seven per cent market share growth for Peugeot in Ireland in January.
“This is incredible and beyond my dreams,” said Breen. “I am really excited to work with a manufacturer like Peugeot Sport and to become a Brand Ambassador for Peugeot Ireland has really sealed the deal for me.”
Breen is combining his ERC campaign with Peugeot Sport Academy-Saintéloc by testing the renamed 208 T16 R5 challenger.
DOUBLE PODIUM FOR FAMILY TEMPESTINI
Family Tempestini had plenty of reason to celebrate when Simone Tempestini joined his father Marco on the podium of Rally Ronde Valli Arnaresi, a regional rally in Italy last weekend.
The Tempestinis are contesting the FIA European Rally Championship in 2013 in a pair of Subaru Impreza R4 STIs run by the Napoca Rally Academy operation. They were using the event in Italy to prepare for some of the asphalt rounds of the ERC later this season.
“I didn’t expected to be on the podium but I won the last stage and here I am,” said Simone Tempestini. “It was a nice rally and for me it is important to test as much as possible. For me this is a learning year and every good result is good for my confidence.”
The Tempestinis had previously finished on the podium together in the Romanian Slalom Championship. Napoca Rally Academy is registered for the ERC Production Car Cup for Teams.
REMEMBERING WHEN… HÄNNINEN EDGED THRILLER IN GRAN CANARIA
The FIA European Rally Championship resumes on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés from 21-23 March. Back in 2011, reigning ERC champion Juho Hänninen won the asphalt contest by 1.5s in a thrilling finish despite starting the final day of the event in third overall. It was the Finn’s first victory on Tarmac. “It has taken a long time but finally, without any snow or nothing like that, I have won my first Tarmac rally and of course I am happy with that but also because it was a big fight for the whole rally,” Hänninen said at the time. “You really needed to keep your concentration on this rally because nobody was making mistakes.” Hänninen edged out then ŠKODA Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký, who settled for second place.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JAROSLAV ORSÁK
Jaroslav Orsák, who has been competing for almost a decade, has emerged as one of Czech Republic’s most formidable performers in production-based machinery. Despite not yet having turned 30, Orsák is hugely experienced, contesting a significant number of events each season. He will be embarking on a major assault on the FIA ERC Production Car Cup with the GPD Mit Metal Racing outfit. He currently leads the division standings by four points following the opening two rounds.
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
Also in WRC Rally News 2010: |
|
| |
|
