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ERC Newsletter #12/13
FORMULA ONE STAR KUBICA SETS ERC SHAKEDOWN PACE IN GRAN CANARIA
Robert Kubica has made an instant impact on his FIA European Rally Championship debut by going fastest in shakedown for Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés this morning.
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Driving a Citroën DS3 RRC, Kubica set a fastest time of 1m25.6s over the 2.5-kilometre stage between the towns of Marzagán and El Sabinal. The Pole was 0.6s quicker than ŠKODA Motorsport driver Jan Kopecký and local hero Luis Monzón (MINI John Cooper Works RRC), who are both double winners of the event and among the contenders for victory when the rally gets underway with the first of 14 stages on Friday morning.
Afterwards, former grand prix winner Kubica said: "Shakedown doesn't matter but it was important to get some time in the car and have some more information following our short test here on Monday. We need to work quite a lot still but generally everything has been good for us so far."
Asked whether he felt more confident following shakedown, which enabled his Citroën engineers to finalise the set-up of his car, Kubica said: "I would lie if I say yes. We are losing downforce so we have to keep working with the set-up so I am confident with the car and really show what the car will do. They are fast stages with some very narrow parts and there is no margin for a mistake.
"But for each rally I come to for the first time it's going to be a shock because experience is very, very important in rallying and when you are on the stages for the first time it's a very difficult and big challenge."
Craig Breen was the fastest Peugeot driver in fourth, one place ahead of team-mate Jérémi Ancian. Daniel Oliveira completed the top six in his Ford Fiesta RRC. Click here for live shakedown times.
KUBICA: EUROSPORT FIRED MY INTEREST IN RALLYING
Formula One race winner Robert Kubica has revealed how watching rallying on Eurosport ignited his passion for the discipline that remains to this day.
Kubica, from Poland, will contest at least four rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship in 2013, starting with this week's Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, which will enjoy extensive coverage on Eurosport and Eurosport Player. He is switching to rallying in a Lotos-backed Citroën DS3 RRC for 2013.
"I'm a big fan of rallying from following on the internet or watching on Eurosport," said Kubica. "I was always looking to these guys and very soon I will be the guy doing those stages so it's a really nice feeling for me."
Kubica, who will be co-driven by countryman Maciek Baran, added: "This is one of the biggest challenges of my life. Every rally will be a new discovery and that gives you more excitement. I had a great opportunity to be an F1 driver but on the other hand I have a great opportunity to become a rally driver with a very good programme."
ERC LAUNCHES IPHONE APPLICATION
The FIA European Rally Championship has launched its own iPhone application.
Available from the App Store, ERC Rally allows you to catch up with all the latest action from the ERC powered by Eurosport Events with news, event information, live timing, standings, photographs and videos.
Compatible with iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, iPod touch third, fourth and fifth generation and iPad, ERC Rally is free to download right now. And there's more good news: an android version is due in the summer.
Round three of the 2013 ERC, Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, hits the stages of the Spanish island of Gran Canaria from tomorrow (Friday). And with Formula One race winner Robert Kubica making his debut, it's the perfect excuse to install this essential app.
STRATIEVA BEGINS ERC LADIES' TROPHY BID WITH NEW CO-DRIVER
Ekaterina Stratieva's bid for FIA ERC Ladies' Trophy glory will be without her regular co-driver Carmen Poenaru by her side.
Poenaru, from Romania, has prior commitments and is unable to navigate Stratieva on this week's Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, an event they tackled together last season.
Bulgarian Stratieva, the top-scoring female in last year's ERC, has instead recruited the Italian Veronica Boni for the asphalt showcase, which takes place from 21-23 March.
"We made a test in Italy and with a little more work and kilometres things can go good," said Stratieva, who pilots a Citroën C2 R2. "She is very relaxed and a good organiser. We did a good job on the recce and on the rally we hope we will go fast and there will be a good rhythm between us. We made English pacenotes and it is good our language is on the same level."
Spaniard Emma Falcón will battle Stratieva for ERC Ladies' Trophy honours on Rally Islas Canarias in her Ford Fiesta R2.
HAT-TRICK WOULD MAKE KOPECKÝ THIRD BEST
Jan Kopecký can become the third most successful driver in the history of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés if he wins for ŠKODA Motorsport this week.
The Czech is on course for a hat-trick of triumphs after winning in 2010 and 2012. Only two-time world champion Carlos Sainz and fellow Spaniard Jesus Puras have taken more wins with five and four victories apiece respectively.
Kopecký, who is seeded number one in the Fabia Super 2000 he shares with co-driver Pavel Dresler, is currently tied on two wins with Medredo Perez, Marc Etchebers, Eugenio Ortiz, Luis Monzón, José Ponce and Miguel Fuster.
ERC STARS SUPPORT TREE PLANTING EVENT
Several stars from the FIA European Rally Championship warmed up for this week's Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés by joining more than 120 volunteers to plant 400 trees in Gran Canaria's Finca de Osorio.
The event, which took place on 17 March, was instigated by the rally organisers to help lessen the environmental impact of the 14-stage contest and was deemed a great success with ERC regulars Zoltán Bessenyey, Daniel Oliveira, Janós Puskádi and Antonín Tlusťák (pictured) in attendance.
Afterwards, Brazilian Oliveira said: "Everyone should do more to take care of our planet. In Brazil, we have Amazonia, which is considered the lung of the earth. Every year the green part is less so this kind of initiative is very important. It was a pleasure to be involved."
REMEMBERING WHEN. CONSANI SCORED FOR RENAULT
Back on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés last year, a relatively unknown Frenchman was making waves by winning the IRC Production Cup section of the event in a Renault Mégane N4. Robert Consani, who will begin a seven-event ERC bid with Team Renault Sport Technologies this week, took the category honours from Marco Tempestini, despite completing the final stage and subsequent road section to the finish in Las Palmas with the car's gearbox oil supply depleted. "I'm very happy to be here in the Canaries as a Renault driver," said Consani. "I've got good memories of this rally, having earned my first victory here in the Mégane. The car's had a great reception from the fans, who are very enthusiastic and have a close bond with Renault."
EXTENSIVE EUROSPORT COVERAGE FOR RALLY ISLAS CANARIAS
Eurosport has confirmed its programming for Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, round three of the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship. Available on the Eurosport platform and online through Eurosport Player, the broadcast schedule for the Spanish asphalt event, which takes place from 21-23 March 2013, is as follows:
Friday 22 March
Highlights Day One: 00:00hrs-00:30hrs (Eurosport)
Saturday 23 March
Highlights Day One replayed: 08:00hrs-08:30hrs (Eurosport2)
Rally Review: 23:30hrs-00:00hrs (Eurosport)
Sunday 24 March
Rally Review replayed: 08:00hrs-08:30hrs (Eurosport)
Tuesday 26 March
Inside ERC: 00:00hrs-00:30hrs (Eurosport)
All timings are CET and subject to change. Check local listings for further details.
RADIO ERC TO BROADCAST LIVE FROM GRAN CANARIA
Radio ERC will be broadcasting live from Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, round three of the FIA European Rally Championship.
Reporters Julian Porter and Chris Rawes will bring action and live interviews from the stage ends and the service park, with Greg Strange in the studio for stage times, results and the latest news and views. Mark Jones produces.
Radio ERC, which is available at www.fiaerc.com, will be live on air on Friday 22 March from 07:30hrs local time, 08:30hrs CET, and on Saturday 23 March from 10:00hrs local time, 11:00hrs CET.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JOAN VINYES
Andorra-born Vinyes is from a motorsport-mad family and has a reputation for making two-wheel-drive pocket rockets go very fast, having taken numerous class wins of late on Rally Islas Canarias in a Suzuki Swift S1600. Indeed, the 43-year-old won the event outright when he took a Peugeot 206 S1600 to victory in 2005. Co-driven by Jordi Macader, Vinyes competes under the Suzuki Motor Iberica banner and will be a favourite for ERC 2WD Championship honours this week.
RALLY ISLAS CANARIAS EL CORTE INGLÉS IN 100 WORDS
Located 100 kilometres off the coast of Morocco, Gran Canaria hosts Rally Islas Canarias for a 37th time in 2013. With the stages frequently climbing and descending, drivers pay close attention to the speed and line they take for each corner to maintain optimal momentum. One of the notable features of the stages is the abrasive surface, which is partly constructed from volcanic lava. It means grip levels and tyre wear are high as a result. However, because there is little opportunity to take 'cuts' through corners, the road surface remains relatively clean and consistent and puncture risk is reduced.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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Also in WRC Rally News 2010: |
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