INDIA in F1

Category: Non-F1

  • Sarath signs for Monlau for Spanish Moto3

    Chennai, 6 Feb 2013: Indian 2-wheeler sensation Sarath Kumar has been confirmed to race for Monlau Competicion in the 2013 Spanish Moto 3 Championship. This was announced on Wednesday at the glitzy launch of sports management firm SK-Sarath69, which is promoted by renowned South Indian actor and politician, R Sarath Kumar. SK-Sarath69 Sports Private Limited has been launched with the aim of helping and promoting young sportspersons in India.

    Young rider Sarath Kumar, who is the only Indian to have competed at the pinnacle of two wheeler racing events, MotoGP, will race in an international series for the third consecutive year. While he made his MotoGP 125cc class debut in 2011, he participated in the Italian Championship 125GP Class in 2012 with a podium finish at the historic Monza circuit. The Spanish Moto 3 Championship has been the stepping stone for many current MotoGP riders, including Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez.

    The 21-year old rider Sarath Kumar was confident of making an impact in the Spanish Moto 3 Championship. He commented, “First of all I would like to thank Mr. R Sarath Kumar for making all this possible. He is committed to helping youngsters and is playing an active role in helping me succeed. It is a dream come true to race in the Spanish Moto 3 championship, considering the great riders who have participated in the same. Monlau Competicion is a winning team and I hope I can help them continue their winning ways. The more experience I get the more confident I feel and the faster I go. This is a huge opportunity for me so I hope I can make my country proud.”

    Last year Monlau Competicion won the Spanish Moto 3 Championship with Alex Marquez, younger brother of MotoGP rider Marc Marquez. Sarath will be riding the Suter-Honda Moto3, which is a 250cc 4-stroke prototype race bike developed for the Moto3 world championship. This prototype is powered by a Honda engine. Starting with the 2012 season, the Moto3-class replaced the 125-cc 2-stroke class in FIM premier championship of motorcycle road racing which existed since 1949.

    Jaime Serrano, Executive Director, Monlau Competicion, commented, “India is definitely becoming a hot destination for motorsports and we are pleased to announce our partnership with SK-Sarath69 and their young rider Sarath Kumar. From what we have seen of him we are highly impressed and believe he has what it takes to go all the way. We will work closely in all areas to ensure he improves as a rider and is in a position to fight for victories.”

    SK-Sarath69 was founded with the intention of promoting and nurturing promising talent from India to prepare them for the rigors of international competition. The company will focus on talent from all sporting disciplines with the first project focusing on motorsports.

    R Sarath Kumar, Chairman, SK-Sarath69, is a strong believer in promoting the youth of the country and is thrilled to be a part of this initiative. He commented, “India, as a sporting nation is at a very nascent stage, and the youth will play an integral role in taking it to the next level. While there is no dearth of talent in India, it is important that these young sportsmen are developed and groomed the right way. Our goal is to prepare young sportspersons to compete on an international scale, with the right training, financial backing and guidance.

    We are proud to announce young rider S. Sarath Kumar as our first signing and even more excited to confirm his participation in the Spanish Moto 3 Championship with Monlau Competicion. Sarath is supremely talented and we need to give him the best possible opportunity to win races. We are also happy to work with Rajini Krishnan, who recently made history by becoming the first Indian rider to win an international motorcycle event. With Sarath and Rajini we have the two best Indian riders and we intend to help them get to the top step of the podium.” added R. Sarath Kumar.

    Ramji Govindarajan, Executive Director, SK-Sarath69, commented, “Most Indian sportsmen have one thing in common – lack of funds and guidance. We want to ensure that these youngsters are given their chance to present themselves at the highest level. While our first project is motorcycle racing, our long term goal is to help as many sportsmen as possible, be it in athletics, badminton, tennis etc. We are really happy that Monlau Competicion has signed on Sarath and placed their faith in his abilities. We will confirm Rajini’s plans shortly as well which looks set to kick off with Asia’s premier Superbike racing category, the Asia Road Racing Championship for 2013.”

    ends

    Rider Sarath Kumar (left) with actor Sarath Kumar and another promising rider Rajini at the launch of SK Sarath 69, a sports company on Wednesday in Chennai. Adrenna photo.

  • Chidu-Sujith clinch overall and Pro-Stock titles: TSD Nationals

    Mysore, 2 Feb 2013: Ace rallying duo Chidanand Murthy and Sujith Kumar BS from Bengaluru of Tata Motors Full Throttle won the the sixth and final round of the JK Tyre fmsci Indian National TSD Rally Championship to lift the overall and Pro-Stock titles with ease, here Saturday.

    The celebrated Bengaluru pair used their experience on a day when eight rallyists were excluded for missing the Time Controls, to take their fourth win in the championship and sealed the title even as their team Tata Motors Full Throttle garnered all the categories making it a complete sweep for the factory works team.

    After clinching the title in the Pro-Stock class with a round to spare, Murthy and Sujith it was a formality that needed to be completed and they did it in style. Teammates Satish Gopalkrishnan and Savera D’Souza, the husband and wife team also from Bengaluru won the Pro-Expert class despite being penalised for missing the TCs.

    Another popular rally-pair representing Full Throttle, Karthick Maruthi and Sankar Anand from Erode had to settle for second in the championship in both overall and Pro-Expert categories.

    Murthy and Sujith (three minutes, 31 seconds) edged past MD Ganesh Moorthy and T Nagarajan who took the second place 15 seconds behind the winners. Saurav Chatterjee and Moulinath Ghosh came third (05:44).

    Gaining from the exclusions, Kolkata pair, Nirmalya Das and Shaktivel topped in the Pro-Expert class clocking a penalty of 13 minutes, 39 seconds with Anubhab Deb and Chandan Sen (34:58) coming second. The experienced GB Girijashankar Joshy and Chandramouli M, also of team Full Throttle, finished third in 38:44.

    The results (provisional): Overall: Chidanand Murthy / Sujith Kumar BS (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 1 (03mins, 31secs); MD Ganesh Moorthy / T Nagarajan (Pvt) 2 (03:46); Saurav Chatterjee / Moulinath Ghosh (Pvt) 3 (05:44).

    Pro-Expert: Nirmalya Das / Shaktivel (Pvt) 1 (13:39); Anubhab Deb / Chandan Sen (Pvt) 2 (34:58); GB Girijashankar Joshy / Chandramouli M (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 3 (38:44).

    Pro-Stock: Chidanand Murthy / Sujith Kumar BS (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 1 (03mins, 31secs); MD Ganesh Moorthy / T Nagarajan (Pvt) 2 (03:46); Saurav Chatterjee / Moulinath Ghosh (Pvt) 3 (05:44).

    Final Championship standings (top 3): Overall: Satish Gopalkrishnan / Savera D’Souza (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 1 (78 points); Karthick Maruthi / Sankar Anand (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 2 (71 pts); Sachin Singh / Chandrasekar M (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 3 (57 pts).

    Pro-Expert: Satish Gopalkrishnan / Savera D’Souza (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 1 (78 points); Karthick Maruthi / Sankar Anand (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 2 (77 pts); GB Girijashankar Joshy (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 3 (68 pts).

    Pro-Stock: Chidanand Murthy / Sujith Kumar BS (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 1 (133 pts); Shanmugam Gopalkrishnan / Venkatesh Sekar (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 2 (81 pts); Srikanth Gowda / Kuriakose Elias Paarel (Tata Motors Full Throttle) 3 (52 pts).

  • Loeb-Elena claim Monte title; Ogier-Ingrassia 2nd

    Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena claimed their 77th world rally victory and seventh Rallye Monte-Carlo win this evening, the multiple World Rally Champions claiming the silverware by one minute 39.9 seconds. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia finished a fine second in the debut competitive outing of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC and Dani Sordo and co-driver Carlos del Barrio rounded off the podium positions in another Citroën DS3 WRC, according to an FIA release on Saturday.
    With the rally now based in Monaco, the crews headed out of the Principality this afternoon for some of the most famous stages of the event, which were scheduled to include three runs over the legendary Col de Turini and two through the Lantosque-Luceram stage. However, the final two stages of the rally were cancelled for safety reasons due to the huge volume of spectators and difficult access conditions.
    The first run through Turini this afternoon proved to be the trickiest stage of the entire event, with a mix of conditions providing zero grip and almost un-driveable conditions. Here, third-placed Evgeny Novikov was forced to retire having hit a mountain wall and both Jari-Matti Latvala – in fifth – and Juho Hänninen, seventh, went off the road. While Loeb and Ogier maintained position at the head of the leaderboard, Sordo therefore moved up to third with Mikko Hirvonen climbing to fourth. Bryan Bouffier – winner of the opening stage – finished fifth and the top six was rounded off by Mads Østberg, who suffered with brake problems in the final stage.
    The snowy scenery will certainly remain similar for the contenders as they now head to Sweden for the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship (7-10 February).
    Volkswagen Press Release adds:

    Wolfsburg, 19 Jan 2013: Absolutely “Monte”: Volkswagen showed an impressive debut in the FIA World Rally Championship. In one of the toughest editions of the Rally Monte Carlo in recent years, Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) managed to lead the Polo R WRC in its first competitive outing to second place. In difficult weather conditions with a mix of snow, ice, and wet asphalt next to bright sunshine, thick fog, and heavy rain Ogier/Ingrassa won two special stages on the classic through the French Maritime Alps. Behind the nine-time world champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (F/MC, Citroën), Ogier/Ingrassia achieved top times from the start, thus reaching the podium straightaway and on their own accord in the debut of the Polo R WRC.

    Their team colleagues Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) were among the top five almost until the end of the rally. Because of the extremely challenging weather conditions with slush and pieces of ice, they were, however, forced to retire after sliding off in the legendary special stage over the Col de Turini.

    Milestones: Fastest times for Ogier/Ingrassia

    First special stage, first fastest time – for Volkswagen the Rally Monte Carlo began with a milestone achievement. On “Le Moulinon”, with 37.1 kilometers the longest special stage of the rally, Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia achieved the best time. On the second day, the French duo also secured their position with the best time in the fifth special stage, “La Batie D’Andaure”, in their home rally “Monte”. With other top results Ogier/Ingrassia consolidated their second position in the overall ranking. In total, Volkswagen managed to record top-three results in 14 of 16 special stages.

    Extreme weather: premature end to the “Monte” for safety reasons

    Extreme weather conditions and safety concerns resulted in a premature end of the Rally Monte Carlo. The organizers of the rally called off the remaining two stages on Saturday evening, including the final round over the Col de Turini. Heavy rain and the resulting unpredictable weather conditions in the night from Saturday to Sunday as well as traffic chaos around the mythical special stage caused safety concerns. Shortly before the cancellation of special stages 17 and 18, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila had slipped from the track into the barriers with their Polo R WRC. Slush and pieces of ice had made the opening stage of last day of the rally unpredictable. Besides Latvala/Anttila, other top drivers crashed out in this special stage.

    Tyre gamble and driving skills most crucial

    Changing road textures and unpredictable weather: The conditions in the Rally Monte Carlo are unique in the WRC calendar. In no other rally is the skill of the driver as important as in the “Monte”. An additional success factor: the tyre choice. In the 2013 edition of the classic rally spike tyres turned out to be a rare commodity. No more than 20 pieces per car are permitted by the regulations. When which tyres are used, is a decision that the teams decide based on the information provided by weather crews along the stages and precise weather forecasts. Here, Volkswagen not only proved to be ready for the WRC with the Polo R WRC technically but also in driving and logistically.

    The next round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) will take place in Sweden from February 07–10, 2013.

    Quotes, day four of the Rally Monte Carlo

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “Second place in the first rally of the new Polo R WRC is more than we could have expected. The team did an exceptional job in the last four rally days and prepared the cars perfectly. The Rally Monte Carlo is the most complex event in the calendar and the team has here shown that they are ready for the World Rally Championship. There was no mistake, not the slightest problem. One cannot value the performance of Sébastien Ogier high enough. He drove the ‘Monte’ for in a World Rally Car the first time. There is no other rally in which the driver’s impact on the result is bigger. That is why we will not see where we stand with the Polo R WRC until after the upcoming events.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “I never was as happy about a second place as I was today. To reach the podium in our debut with the Polo R WRC is just great. These were probably the most difficult conditions in a Rally Monte Carlo I have ever experienced. Especially today, during the first run to the Col de Turini, it was extremely slippery, so that speeds of more than 20 kph were not possible. It was just about keeping the car on the road. The entire team worked very hard during the last year, and I am happy to give something back to them. I am sorry for Jari-Matti but I am sure that we will celebrate further victories together for Volkswagen in the future.”

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “I am very disappointed. There was more wet snow in the first run through the Col de Turini stage than I expected. I was too fast right in the beginning, the car did not turn as expected, and I crashed heavily. Another car had slipped there before I did and I hit the same lane. There was nothing I could do. It was my goal to gather lots of experience with the Polo R WRC. It is bitter to end the rally this way. I am sorry for the guys because they prepared the cars brilliantly. I really wanted to give them a points result.”

    And then there was …

    … the Volkswagen Group brand Audi, which got on board the World Rally Championship at the “Monte” in 1981 with the Quattro, winning, just like Volkswagen with the Polo R WRC, the very first special stage in its debut as a manufacturer. At the time, it was Hannu Mikkola who had a dream start; in 2013, it was Sébastien Ogier who started in a similarly spectacular way in the very first and longest special stage. The Quattro was revolutionary within the World Rally Championship in the early eighties and helped start the triumphant march of the four-wheel drive. This kind of transmission technology is indispensable in World Rally Cars today.

    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) of Volkswagen in a Polo R finish second in teams WRC debut at Monte Carlo rally. A Volkswagen photo.

    Rallye Monte-Carlo – Final Unofficial Results (subject to final scrutineering)

    1.   Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena
    2.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
    3.   Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio
    4.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
    5.   Bryan Bouffier/ Xavier Panseri
    6.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson
    7.   Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst
    8.   Sepp Wiegand/Frank Christian
    9.   Olivier Burri/Guillaume Duval
    10. Michal Kosciuszko/Maciej Szczepaniak
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Skoda Fabia S2000
    Peugeot 207 S2000
    MINI John Cooper Works WRC
    5 hr 18 min 57.2sec
    5 hr 20 min 37.1sec
    5 hr 22 min 46.2sec
    5 hr 24 min 23.5sec
    5 hr 27 min 10.3sec
    5 hr 31 min 00.9sec
    5 hr 42 min 24.5sec
    5 hr 48 min 31.7sec
    5 hr 54 min 35.4sec
    5 hr 55 min 25.2sec

    FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers (after 1 of 13 rounds)

    Sébastien Loeb (FRA)
    Sébastien Ogier (FRA)
    Dani Sordo (ESP)
    Mikko Hirvonen (FIN)
    Bryan Bouffier (FRA)
    Mads Østberg (NOR)
    Martin Prokop (CZE)
    Sepp Weigand (DEU)
    Olivier Burri (CHE)
    Michal Kosciuszko (POL)
    25 points
    18 points
    15 points
    12 points
    10 points
    8 points
    6 points
    4 points
    2 points
    1 point

    FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers (after 1 of 13 rounds)

  • Loeb keeps lead; Ogier in 2nd after Day 2

    Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb has maintained his advantage at the head of the Rallye Monte-Carlo leaderboard, the Frenchman claiming two stage wins to marginally extend his advantage over second-placed Sébastien Ogier. After a trouble-free drive, Dani Sordo has climbed from fourth into third, according to an FIA press release.

    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) of Volkswagen in a Polo R after second day in the Monte Carlo round of WRC. A Volkswagen MC photo
    Today’s second day of competition took the crews over two loops of three identical stages in the north Ardeche and also Haute Loire region. The 132.50 competitive kilometres provided another day of challenging conditions and crews had to contend with plummeting temperatures, biting winds, deep snow and hard-packed ice in the stages.
    Volkswagen’s Sébastien Ogier once again kicked the day off with fastest time and it was to be his only scratch time as conditions in the stages began to favour those running further down the field. Evgeny Novikov set fantastic times in the following two stages, winning both to climb from sixth to fourth by the mid-day service. The Russian maintained his pace over the second run and is less than 20 seconds adrift of Sordo in third position. Loeb came into his own this afternoon, the Frenchman in a better position at the front of the running order as stages became more rutted after the first passage of cars. Fifth place is held by Mikko Hirvonen, the Finn running without problems but unable to match the pace of the leaders. He has dropped from third to fifth tonight. Similarly, Jari-Matti Latvala never quite got into the groove, the Finn always preferring consistent road conditions. He overnights sixth. Juho Hänninen notched up his first-ever WRC stage victory this afternoon, winning stage nine. He has moved up the leaderboard from ninth to seventh overall this evening.
    Volkswagen Release adds:

    Wolfsburg (17 January 2013). Impressive outing at the classic: Volkswagen once again made a good impression on day two of the Rally Monte Carlo. With the Polo R WRC making its competitive debut, Volkswagen duo Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F) added a second stage win and currently lie second overall after just over half the distance. Ogier and Ingrassia had previously won the very first stage of this year’s “Monte” on Wednesday. Having overcome extremely challenging conditions, with snow, ice and strong winds dominating the second leg of the rally, their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) are sixth at the end of day two. In total, Volkswagen picked up five top-three results over the course of Thursday’s six special stages.

    Tyre selection plays a major role at the Rally Monte Carlo. The extremely icy conditions at the 2013 event are making spiked tyres a hot commodity: no more than 20 are available for each car. As such, the teams are constantly faced with a strategic issue: how best to use the spikes. The question that just keeps on raising its ugly head is: when is the right time to use used material and when should they switch to new rubber? The closing stages of the “Monte” – including Saturday night’s classic on the Col de Turini – will reveal who played their cards right and used their tyres correctly.

    Quotes, day two of the Rally Monte Carlo

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “The ‘Monte’ is our first rally with the Polo R WRC, and it is fantastic to see how well the team is already working with the car, and how smooth the processes have been from the word go during our services. This is just as important as the stage times themselves. We are obviously pleased that the cars have had absolutely no problems so far, and that the drivers have largely been returning to the service area with nothing more than a few scratches on their cars, despite the difficult conditions. All in all, the performance of the team at the halfway point has been absolutely excellent. What makes it all the nicer is that Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala have repeatedly been able to reward the good preparation and the great work put in by the mechanics at the rally in the form of top times. The guys have earned it.”

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “I tried a softer car set-up on the first three special stages of the day. Unfortunately that resulted in some edgy and inaccurate handling. On top of that, we picked up a puncture on the very first stage this morning after hitting a stone that we were unable to avoid at a very narrow point on the route. In doing so I stalled the engine briefly. That explains the lost time. After that we found a better rhythm. I have had an idea how we can adapt the set-up to better suit my driving style tomorrow.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “Today’s conditions on the ‘Monte’ were even more difficult than yesterday. The fact that once again won the first stage of the day in so much wind, ice and drifting snow was another welcome surprise. Although we took a cautious approach, we still had a spin in a left-hander on the second stage of the day. Despite that, the rally has been perfect for us so far. It will be even more perfect when we reach the finish on Saturday evening. Until then I will be concentrating solely on myself. Nobody should place too much value in the fact that we were in the top group again today: only when we get to the Rally Portugal will we be able to make reliable statements about how competitive we really are with the Polo R WRC.”

    And then there was …

    … Ogier’s spy on ice, Nicolas Vouilloz, who has been providing Volkswagen with the latest information on the conditions out on the special stages throughout the Rally Monte Carlo. What does he have in common with Sébastien Ogier? The love of adrenalin sports: Vouilloz is a ten-time downhill world champion, five-time World Cup winner and four-time European champion on his mountain bike. As if that were not enough, he has also started out on a second career: Vouilloz won the drivers’ title in the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

    Rallye Monte-Carlo – Unofficial Results after Day 2
    1.   Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena
    2.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia
    3.   Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio
    4.   Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor
    5.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen
    6.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila
    7.   Juho Hänninen/Tomi Tuominen
    8.   Bryan Bouffier/ Xavier Panseri
    9.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson
    10. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Citroën DS3 WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    Ford Fiesta RS WRC
    3 hr 16 min 29.1sec
    3 hr 18 min 03.9sec
    3 hr 19 min 07.1sec
    3 hr 19 min 22.3sec
    3 hr 19 min 51.8sec
    3 hr 20 min 12.3sec
    3 hr 20 min 40.4sec
    3 hr 22 min 14.5sec
    3 hr 22 min 18.1sec
    3 hr 30 min 44.7sec

  • Loeb on top; Volkswagen off to a flying start after Day 1

    Wolfsburg, 16 Jan 2013: Citroën’s Sébastien Loeb heads the leaderboard after the opening day of Rally Monte-Carlo, the first round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship. Former team-mate Sébastien Ogier holds second in the debut competitive outing of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC and Mikko Hirvonen is third after the first of four days of action.

    The 81st Rallye Monte-Carlo started in Valence today and took the contenders over two loops of two identical stages in the south Ardeche region covering 135.40 competitive kilometres. Snowfall yesterday resulted in treacherous and unpredictable conditions and, as always, tyre choice and confidence became critical factors, an FIA press release said. The Fox team was off to a flying start and the Volkswagen release is attached below the FIA release.

    Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) in a Volkswagen Polo R end up second on the leaderboard in WRC first round on 16 Jan 2013. A Volkswagen Motorsport Communications photo.

    With Volkswagen Motorsport joining the series this season, all eyes were on the pace of the Polo R WRC this morning and Sébastien Ogier didn’t disappoint, the Frenchman fastest by 3.7 seconds over the opening 37.10 kilometre stage. While he remained one of Loeb’s nearest rivals throughout the day, he then lost nearly a minute in the final stage as road conditions deteriorated. Nevertheless, a fine performance sees him second to Loeb after a full year out of world rally car competition. Loeb then dominated the remaining three stages, the nine-time World Champion winning each to pull out over a minute’s advantage. His team-mate Mikko Hirvonen is third but the Finn struggled with grip and confidence in the sister DS3 WRC. Dani Sordo has run without problems to an overnight fourth and Jari-Matti Latvala – in the second Polo R WRC – ran better this afternoon with set-up changes. He has climbed from 10th to fifth. Evgeny Novikov heads the Qatar M-Sport squad in sixth, ahead of Mads Østberg and former Monte-Carlo victor Bryan Bouffier. The leading retirement of the day was Thierry Neuville, the Belgium retiring after taking a wheel off his Fiesta RS WRC. Without Rally 2 regulations in Monte-Carlo, he will not be re-starting.

    Volkswagen Release:

    Wolfsburg, 16 Jan 2013: First outing in the FIA World Rally Championship, first stage, first milestone: Volkswagen made an impressive start to the legendary Rally Monte Carlo with the Polo R WRC. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) won the opening special stage of the iconic classic in extremely difficult conditions – finishing ahead of multiple world champions Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen). All the top teams adopted identical tyre strategies on the opening “Le Moulinon” stage, as they looked to overcome the challenge thrown up by parts of the stage being run on grippy tarmac and other sections on smooth ice. After the first leg of the four-day “Monte” challenge, Ogier/Ingrassia are currently 1:20.30 minutes behind world champion Loeb in second place, following further excellent stage results. Their team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) follow in fifth place overall after their progress was halted by a puncture on the final stage of the day.

    However, the good results at the Rally Monte Carlo cannot really be seen as a true indication of how the Polo R WRC will fair over the course of the season. The conditions – a mixture of ice, snow and tarmac – are unlike any others on likely to be experienced over the remainder of the WRC calendar.

    Quotes, day 1 of the Rally Monte Carlo

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    This is our first competitive outing with the Polo R WRC, and we are obviously pleased to we need to remain realistic. One single stage win does not mean a great deal. It does, however, give us confidence and the knowledge that the entire team did a great job coming into the season. However, there is certainly no question of euphoria breaking out. Our learning phase with the Polo R WRC has only just begun. The ‘Monte’ is always something of a lottery. Second and fifth at the end of day one is far more than we were expecting.”

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #7
    “We have survived this typical and unpredictable opening day of the ‘Monte’. That is the most important thing. However, today was not really my day. The first special stage put so much strain on the tyres that we had to change them on the way to the second special stage. We than made a mistake with our timing and arrived at the start too late. On the fourth stage we had to complete five kilometres with a puncture and lost a lot of time as a result. From a driving point of view, I am yet to really find my rhythm. That will come though.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #8
    “A good start to the ‘Monte’, and one I am more than happy with. However, that was just the first day, which does not mean an awful lot. The rally still has a long way to go, and we still have some tough days ahead of us. The Polo R WRC feels good and I am obviously pleased with my special stage win this morning. I just drove my own rhythm without really pushing too hard, and was really surprised when I looked at the times. It is extremely difficult to drive in these conditions and the tyre selection is even more important than usual. For this reason, I must say a big thank you to the Gravel crew, with whom I have been working for the first time. That was worth its weight in gold: the ‘Monte’ is at its best out there, as it is totally unpredictable.”

    And then there were …

    … former world rally champion and Volkswagen consultant Carlos Sainz and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk, who surprisingly turned up on site to support the Volkswagen team at the Rally Monte Carlo. Immediately after crashing out during the first week of the Rally Dakar, Sainz and Gottschalk flew straight back to Europe in order to be in Valence in time for the opening day of the event. The ‘Monte’ is the toughest way to start your World Rally Championship campaign,” said the man known as ‘El Matador’. “That makes it even more satisfying that we managed to win the first special stage this morning. We need to stay calm though, as that was just a starter. The Rally Monte Carlo is a long race.”

    Sainz won the Rally Dakar with Volkswagen in 2010, while Gottschalk was successful the following year – both in a Volkswagen Race Touareg. Sainz and Gottschalk were joining forces for the first time at the 2013 “Dakar” – in a privately run Buggy.

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), 
    Rally Monte Carlo – Results

     

    Wednesday,
    16 January 2013    		 km #7
    Latvala/Anttila    		 #8
    Ogier/Ingrassia
    WP 01 Le Moulinon 37,10 P08 (+33,6 sec.) P01
    WP 02 Burzet 30,60 P07 (+25,7 sec.)* P02 (+10,4 sec.)
    WP 03 Le Moulinon 37,10 P02 (+12,1 sec.) P05 (+19,9 sec.)
    WP 04 Burzet 30,60 P05 (+54,5 sec.) P04 (+53,7 sec.)
    Overall 135,40 P05 (+2.32,2 min.) P02 (+1.20,3 min.)
    * plus 30-second time penalty.

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC),
    Rally Monte Carlo – TV times  

    Thursday, 17 January 2013
    17:30  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, Preview
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Friday, 18 January 2013
    17:30  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, Highlights
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Saturday, 19 January 2013
    16:15  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, Highlights
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Sunday, 20 January 2013
    19:30  n-tv  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin
    18:30  Sport 1  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013
    n-tv  Daily reports in the sports news

    Thursday, 24 January 2013
    19:05  n-tv  WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin (repeat Friday/Sunday)

    Rallye Monte-Carlo – Unofficial Results after Day 1

    1.   Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 39 min 49.0sec
    2.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1 hr 41 min 09.3sec
    3.   Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 41 min 35.7sec
    4.   Dani Sordo/Carlos Del Barrio Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 41 min 50.2sec
    5.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1 hr 42 min 21.2sec
    6.   Evgeny Novikov/Ilka Minor Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 42 min 39.6sec
    7.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 42 min 44.1sec
    8.   Bryan Bouffier/ Xavier Panseri Citroën DS3 WRC 1 hr 42 min 46.1sec
    9.   Juho Hänninen/Tomi Tuominen Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 42 min 52.5sec
    10. Martin Prokop/Michal Ernst Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1 hr 46 min 00.3sec

  • Successful `Monte’ dress rehearsal for Fox

    Wolfsburg, 15 Jan 2013: Heavy snow and icy roads: even before the official start, the Rally Monte Carlo is already living up to its legendary reputation as an unpredictable entity. Volkswagen crews Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) experienced difficult conditions during the Shakedown, a free practice ahead of Wednesday’s opening special stage. A “Fox” release said on Tuesday.

    The route near Valence was an ever-changing mixture of snow, mud and wet asphalt, and gave the drivers a first taste of what they can expect to face over the next few days at the opening round of the World Rally Championship in the French Maritime Alps. Latvala clocked the fifth fastest time after four runs, with Sébastien Ogier just behind him in sixth.

    Thoughts after the Shakedown:

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7
    “It was a great feeling to get out there in the Polo R WRC for the first time this morning. I feel right at home in the team. Everyone is working very passionately and is determined to succeed. The weather conditions were not easy today, and I expect the situation to deteriorate further over the coming days. The Rally Monte Carlo is renowned for its fluctuating weather – with asphalt, snow, ice and mud, you can potentially face every possible surface except gravel. As such, the tyre selection will be difficult: if you make the right decision, you can suddenly find yourself up front. At the same time, the wrong decision can soon see you lose a lot of time and positions.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8
    “The first Shakedown in the Polo R WRC was a special feeling for me and the entire Volkswagen Team. The waiting is finally over! Furthermore, the ‘Monte’ is my home rally. I have a lot of fans here, and my friends and family will also be here. The car is fun, but the heavy snowfall obviously really affected the Shakedown. The tyre selection plays a pivotal role at the ‘Monte’. I did without spikes on the first practice run, in order to save them for the rally itself, but it was actually a bit too slippery. Generally speaking I am happy, and we managed to test out a few tyre combinations. I am looking forward to tomorrow!”

    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “The Shakedown provided the drivers with an important opportunity to get used to the car and the conditions – the result is of secondary importance for now. The entire team was full of anticipation ahead of the first outing of our new cars, and everyone is now focussed on their job. The early snowfall means that this year’s Rally Monte Carlo looks like being a particularly difficult challenge. The varying conditions can make every single stage a lottery when it comes to tyre selection. We are really looking forward to the first stage on Wednesday.

    WRC Monte Carlo shakedown on Tuesday. A Volkswagen Motorsport Communications photo.

    ends

  • Force India prospect Bianchi wins on Massa turf

    Penha ( Santa Catarina State, Brazil) 13 Jan 2013: Jules Bianchi has won the “Desafio das Estrelas” the international karting event organised by Felipe Massa, featuring a host of top drivers, obviously including Felipe himself and, making his debut here, Fernando Alonso., says a Ferrari release.

    At the Beta Carrero World kart track, the FDA driver won the first race and was fourth in the second, amassing 40 points, five more than the runner-up, Brazil’s Felipe Nasr and ten more than another Brazilian, Lucas Di Grassi who was third. “I am very happy with this victory,” said Bianchi. “I had already won last year, but that time there was a slight mistake with the weight of the kart, but this time everything went well. It’s nice to race against some of the best drivers and in front of such a big and enthusiastic crowd. I want to the thank the Massa family for everything and I hope I can come back next year to take part again.”  Jules Bianchi is expected to be announced by Sahara Force India as their F1 driver for 2013 to pair Paul di Resta. The SFI team will showcase the car at Silverstone on Feb 2.

    Sahara Force India prospect Jules Bianchi wins a Karting event at Penha on 13 Jan. A Ferrari photo.

    Jules’s name can be added to a top class roll of honour, featuring such names as Felipe Massa, Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher.

    The two Scuderia Ferrari drivers were out of luck on their 2013 competition debut. Felipe finished eighth overall on 14 points, after finishing tenth and eighth in the two rounds. “This was probably the hardest Desafio ever for me,” said the Ferrari man. “If everything is not perfect, then even a tenth can make a big difference. My engine was not at its best yesterday and I paid for that today. The most important thing is that the event is getting bigger year after year. I was very pleased that Fernando was here with us and I’m sure he had fun!”

    The Brazilian was absolutely right about his team-mate having fun, as Fernando himself confirmed, even though he failed to score points, with a twenty first and an eighteenth place to his name, because of accelerator problems which saw him retire from race 1. “It was a very enjoyable weekend and I hope the spectators had has much fun as I did. Will I be back next year? If Felipe asks me, definitely!”

    The two Ferrari men are on a busy schedule and, as soon as the karting challenge was over, they were boarding a plane for Italy where, as from tomorrow, they tackle their first official engagement of the 2013 season. The 22nd edition of “Wrooom” gets underway at Madonna di Campiglio, where Scuderia Ferrari meets up with media from all over the world against the amazing backdrop of the Dolomite mountains. Among other events, Felipe and Fernando will once again find themselves at the wheel of karts: “Wrooom” ends with a challenge between the Ferrari drivers and Ducati riders, featuring a few guest starts on the ice lake in the Trentino ski resort.

    ends

  • WRC 2013 begins with Rally Monte Carlo

    Valence (Monte Carlo), 13 Jan 2013: The 2013 Rallye Monte-Carlo marks the opening round of the series and the 40th anniversary of the FIA World Rally Championship, the series having been inaugurated at the start of 1973 with this now world-famous event. Back then, the eight-day rally started with concentration runs from Almeria, Athens, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Monte-Carlo, Oslo, Reims, Rome and Warsaw – the average distances being in the region of 2,500 kilometres – before the crews met up for the start of the competitive action. The first-ever FIA World Rally Championship special stage was Col du Corobin, which ran at the end of the concentration runs to establish a classification before the start of what was then known as the ‘common run’.

    Remarkably, one competitor – the overall victor of the 1973 Rallye Monte-Carlo – will be participating in the 40th WRC anniversary event. “Biche”, who navigated Jean-Claude Andruet to victory in a Renault Alpine A110 and claimed the win ahead of Ove Andersson and Jean Todt, starts this year in car #73 (Mitsubishi Evo IX) alongside Italian Maurizio Verini.

    Rallye Monte-Carlo is famous for its mixed conditions, most notably the potential combination of wet and dry tarmac, snow and ice, making tyre choice a critical factor. Competitors have a choice of four types of tyre and having the correct ones fitted at the right time is key to Monte-Carlo success.

    Volkswagen makes its WRC debut in Monte Carlo Rally. Photo Volkswagen Comm.

    ends

  • Volkswagen Polo R all set for WRC debut

    Monte Carlo: When the first World Rally Car sets out on the opening stage of the Rally Monte Carlo, from Moulinon to Antraigues, at 09:00 on Wednesday 16 January, it will mark the start of something rather special: Volkswagen’s first season in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). 20,000 kilometres of testing, 1,700 parts designed completely from scratch, 17 months of preparations – all for this one moment, the dawn of a new age, a press release from Volkswagen said.

    The appearance of the Polo R WRC in the FIA World Rally Championship heralds a new era in motorsport for Volkswagen – and where better to make your debut than the legendary Rally Monte Carlo. In Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), the works team from Wolfsburg lines up at the WRC season-opener with two young crews who nevertheless already possess a wealth of experience. From 15 to 20 January, Volkswagen will face strong opponents and a new technological challenge. The WRC is regarded as the biggest all-round test in international motorsport and, alongside Formula One, it is the most iconic of the FIA’s world championships.

    “I cannot wait to finally getting going. The entire team at Volkswagen is looking forward to the WRC debut of the Polo WRC,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “World Championship rallies in the top WRC class are new territory for the team. Furthermore, the Polo R WRC has been developed from scratch, features a lot of innovative ideas, and will be making its competitive debut. The ‘Monte’ will give us our first indication of how we compare with the opposition – our rivals already have two years’ experience of the regulations that came into force in 2011, and have been driving in the WRC for many years. Our goal for the Rally Monte Carlo is to gain as much experience as possible and to finish with both cars.”

    Debut time: Volkswagen, the World Rally Championship and the Rally Monte Carlo

    The Rally Monte Carlo is a first for Volkswagen in many regards: the team is competing at a World Championship rally in the top category for World Rally Cars. At the same time, the Polo R WRC will make its first competitive outing and the team will be working with a new driving duo for the first time under rally conditions. Finn Jari-Matti Latvala and his compatriot and co-driver Miikka Anttila officially joined the Volkswagen outfit at the start of the year. Prior to their appearance at the “Monte”, the duo with seven WRC wins to their name have completed a number of test drives.

    Latvala and Anttila start the 2013 season in the number 7 Polo R WRC. In the cockpit of the number 8 Polo will be Frenchmen Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia. They have been under contract as Volkswagen works drivers since the end of 2011 and have played significant roles in the development and testing of the Polo R WRC. Together with co-driver Ingrassia, Ogier, who was born in Gap (F), has already won his home rally on one occasion. In 2009 the French pair won the classic as guest starters in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). Like Latvala and Anttila, Ogier and Ingrassia currently have seven WRC race wins to their name.

    Simply legendary: the “Monte” challenge in the snow and ice of the mountains

    The Volkswagen Motorsport team could hardly be facing a tougher challenge. After all, the “Monte” is the oldest rally in the world and the “mother of all rallies”, having been held for the first time in 1911. The majority of the Rally Monte Carlo is held on narrow tarmacked roads in the French Maritime Alps to the north of the principality of Monaco. While the lower roads close to the Mediterranean are regularly dry, the drivers are often faced with black ice and snow on the many mountain passes they are required to negotiate. This makes it essential to select the right tyre – and makes the “Monte” one of the most difficult and complex rallies on the World Championship calendar.

    Thoughts ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo
    Jari-Matti Latvala, Polo R WRC #7
    “I can hardly wait for the season to get started. I may already have five years as a works driver in the World Rally Championship under my belt, but both the Volkswagen Motorsport team and the Polo R WRC are new to me. As such, I will be making my debut in two regards. The tests up to now have shown that the Polo R WRC is very reliable. This is probably the most important finding so far – and a good basis for future technical developments over the course of the season. I have already developed a good feeling for the car on asphalt and snow, which is a good sign ahead of the Rally Monte Carlo. It is great fun driving the Polo R WRC. It is very stable and the driveability of the engine is also very good. I would like to get the season off to a good start at the ‘Monte’. The result is not the top priority yet, although I would obviously love to pick up some World Championship points.”

    Sébastien Ogier, Polo R WRC #8
    “The ‘Monte’ is a very special rally. After all, it is my home rally. However, the season-opener near my home will be an extraordinary experience for the entire team, as it is the first rally with the new Polo R WRC. We have been working towards this moment with Volkswagen for over a year. We can hardly wait to finally get started. However, it is difficult to judge how we will compare to the opposition, as we have not yet raced against the other teams under competitive conditions. Making your debut in a world championship with a completely new car is a big challenge, particularly as the other manufacturers have several years more experience than we do. For this reason we must be patient and concentrate at first on reaching the finish without any problems. Experience shows that this is anything but simple at the Rally Monte Carlo, as anything can happen at this event.”

    Volkswagen in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

    The start in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) sees Volkswagen continue its successful history in motorsport. Volkswagen claimed overall victory at the Rally Dakar in 2009, 2010 and 2011 with the Race Touareg to claim a hat-trick of titles at the toughest marathon rally in the world. The Polo R WRC is the first World Rally Car to come out of Wolfsburg, with the manufacturer now entering its own works team at the pinnacle of rallying for the first time. This presents Volkswagen with the opportunity to prove itself in direct sporting competition on a global stage. No model is more suited to the challenge than the Polo, which is one of Volkswagen’s most internationally manufactured and distributed cars.

    Three questions for … Jost Capito

    If you could have chosen a rally for the Polo R WRC to make its debut at – would you have taken the Rally Monte Carlo?
    Jost Capito: “The Rally Monte Carlo is not only the most iconic rally on the World Championship calendar, but also the most difficult and complex. The surface alternates regularly between ice, snow, rain and dry asphalt, which can make the strategy difficult and tyre selection something of a lottery. We are obviously delighted that the Polo R WRC will make its debut at this highlight.”

    In Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala you have signed two very quick drivers. Who do you feel is the stronger?
    Jost Capito: “They are both equally strong. As a Scandinavian, Latvala grew up on gravel – however, he has made huge progress on asphalt in recent years. The same applies to Ogier, who also has what it takes to win on any surface. Both have seven WRC wins to their name. In the end it will come down to who performs best on the day to determine who is the quickest.”

    What goals does Volkswagen have for the 2013 season?
    Jost Capito: “We are aware that we will be up against strong opposition with decades of World Rally Championship experience. The Polo R WRC, on the other hand, is making its debut this year and the team also has a new look to it. As such, we have to set realistic goals. We want to make it onto the podium under our own steam in the second half of the year.”
     
    In numbers The World Rally Championship debut of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC: Nine

    Monte Carlo/France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Finland, Greece, France and Mexico: in preparation for its outings in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Volkswagen tested the Polo R WRC in nine different countries on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice. The works team from Wolfsburg spent more than 100 test days optimising the Polo R WRC in 2012.

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Monte Carlo – Schedule 

    Tuesday, 15 January 2013

    Shakedown P1 and P2 (Plateau de Lautagne), 120 min., 3.58 km, 08:00
    Shakedown P3 and Private (Plateau de Lautagne), 120 min., 3.58 km, 10:00
    Press conference (Parc des Expositions, Valence), 13:30
    Group photo with all WRC drivers (Parc des Expositions, Valence), 14:30

    Wednesday, 16 January 2013 

    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    SS 01, Le Moulinon, 45.27 km, 37.10 km,09:03
    SS 02, Burzet, 30.15 km, 30.60 km, 92.10 km, 10:21
    Service A (Valence), 30 min., 12:46
    SS 03, Le Moulinon, 45.27 km, 37.10 km, 14:21
    SS 04, Burzet, 30.15 km, 30.60 km, 92.10 km, 15:39
    Flexi Service B (Valence), 45 min., 17:59
    Parc fermé (Valence), 21:30
    (334.78 km, 135.40 km, (Σ 471.18 km))

    Thursday, 17 January 2013

    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    Service C (Valence), 15 min., 07:55
    SS 05, La Batie D’Andaure, 64.60 km, 19.08 km, 09:33
    SS 06, St Bonnet le Froid, 12.63 km, 25.45 km, 10:14
    SS 07, Lamastre, 42.80 km, 21.72 km, 33.71 km, 11:37
    Service D (Valence), 30 min., 12.57
    SS 08, La Batie D’Andaure, 64.60 km, 19.08 km, 14:50
    SS 09, St Bonnet le Froid, 12.63 km, 25.45 km, 15:31
    SS 10, Lamastre, 42.80 km, 21.72 km, 33.71 km, 16:54
    Flexi Service E (Valence), 45 min., 18:19
    Parc fermé (Valence), 22:00
    (308.42 km, 132.50 km, (Σ 440.92 km))

    Friday, 18 January 2013
    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    Service F (Valence), 15 min., 07:50
    SS 11, St Jean en Royans, 46.29 km, 33.19 km, 65.59 km, 09:08
    Service G (Valance), 30 min., 11:23
    SS 12, St Nazaire le Desert, 74.90 km, 22.11 km, 13:31
    SS 13, Sisteron, 74.34 km, 36.70 km, 187.50 km, 15:29
    Parc fermé (Monaco), 19:32
    (449.24 km, 92.00 km, (Σ 541.24 km))

    Saturday, 19 January 2013
    (Connection, Special Stage, Connection)
    Service H (Monaco), 45+3 min., 13:15
    SS 14, Moulinet, 44.14 km, 23.54 km, 15:11
    SS 15, Lantosque, 6.72 km, 18.95 km, 15:54
    SS 16, Moulinet, 41.83 km, 23.54 km, 70.99 km, 17:12
    Service I (Monaco), 30+3 min., 19:17
    SS 17, Moulinet, 44.14 km, 23.54 km, 20:58
    SS 18, Lantosque, 6.72 km, 18.95 km, 21:41
    Service J (Monaco), 10+3 min., 22:56
    Parc fermé (Monaco), 23:09,
    (258.59 km, 108.52 km, (Σ 367.11 km))

    Sunday, 20 January 2013
    Presentation ceremony (Place du Palais Princier, Monaco), 11:00
    Press conference (Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco), 12:30

    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Rally Monte Carlo – TV times

    Thursday, 17 January 2013
    05:30 ARD WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, preview
    13:00 ARD WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, preview
    17:30 Sport1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, preview

    Friday, 18 January 2013
    17:30 Sport 1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, highlights

    Saturday, 19 January 2013
    16:15 Sport 1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, highlights

    Sunday, 20 January 2013
    19:30 n-tv WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin
    18:30 Sport 1 WRC, Monte Carlo 2013

    Thursday, 24 January 2013
    19:05 n-tv WRC, Monte Carlo 2013, PS – Das Automagazin (repeat Friday/Sunday)

    ends

    Volkswagen Polo R WRC, Monaco presentation. Photo Volkswagen Motorsports Communication

  • The California Superbike School returns to India

    Chennai, 9 January 2013: The most successful  motorcycle racing school in the world, the California Superbike School (CSS), is all set to return for its fourth successive year at the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT) in Chennai come January 2013. Having produced World Champions such as Wayne Rainey, James Toseland, Thomas Luthi and Chris Vermuelen, the school founded by the legendary Keith Code returns to Chennai after three very successful stints since arriving on Indian soil for the first time in 2010, according to an

    Keith Code with TT Varadarajan. Photo by Adrenna

    Adrenna Communications release.

    The California Superbike School was founded in 1980 by Keith Code and has trained over 1,50,000 riders in 27 countries including riders in MotoGP, World Superbikes (WSBK) and various other road-racing series. An initiative that helps one evolve his or her riding skills into a safer yet faster rider, the school had all of its 126 slots for 2013 booked within a day of opening its registration to the public. The school offers comprehensive training for riders of GP and Sports bikes to full dresser Harleys and Cruisers. TVS Motors and BMW Motorrad are supporting CSS India with the former providing track ready Apache RTR 180 bikes for the students and the latter providing BMW S1000RR bikes for the coaches.

    The first year of CSS’s presence in India in 2010 marked the school’s very first foray into South East Asia and TT Varadarajan, the man spearheading the entire operation is proud of the growth it has achieved since its inception, “We brought the school to India to satisfy two main goals: One is to provide the right skill sets that are necessary to perform at the highest level of motorsport to talented youngsters who do not have access to world class training. The other is to improve the riding skills of every motorcycle rider to make him/her conscious of safe riding practices, which is the responsibility of any motorcycle rider on the road.

    “India being a country which has the highest number of road fatalities in the world, needs initiatives such as CSS to help educate riders on safe & skilled riding practices. The Indian motorcycle industry is evolving and with bigger displacement bikes on offer, attending CSS will help new riders cope with the increase in power of these larger and faster bikes. Over the past 3 years, I’m really pleased with the response we’ve had and we’re all really looking forward to taking it to a new level once again in 2013.” added Mr. Varadarajan.

    In 2012, out of the 10 qualified Seminarists worldwide, 5 were part of the Chennai School. In addition, all three of CSS’s chief riding coaches and their deputies were also present. As a result, the 2012 Chennai school had the largest gathering of qualified coaches in one location amongst the thousands of schools that have been delivered worldwide. Leon Camier, the 2009 British Superbike Champion who currently rides for Crescent Suzuki in WSBK, was a guest coach for the 2012 Chennai School. This year CSS India has attracted another phenomenal talent to help local riders at the school, with Joe Roberts on board as Guest Coach for 2013. Joe is a 15 year old racing prodigy personally coached by Keith Code since 2008. Joe started competing at the age of 7 and is now a front-runner in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, a series designed to discover future MotoGP racing talent that runs as a support series at Grand Prix events.

    The legendary Keith Code was thrilled to have CSS return for the 4th consecutive year and said, “The Chennai camp is one of the most sought after school weekends in our calendar and the coaches love coming back year after year. Unfortunately we have only a limited number of seats so we like to focus on the upcoming riders. Hopefully we’ll continue to produce some of the country’s best riding talents. Having Joe Roberts on board this year will give Indian riders some great new insights and definitely add a new dimension to their riding. He is an exceptional young talent and we’re glad to have him work with us in 2013”

    TT Siddharth, an avid motorsports fan and competitor himself, was excited at the prospect of CSS returning in 2013 and spoke of the bigger picture, “CSS has trained 250 students in its first 3 years in India and the camp has a larger objective of using revenues earned to support the discovery, mobilization and training of talented youngsters. Sarath Kumar, who trained at CSS Chennai, took part in the 2011 125cc class in Moto GP and became the first Indian to do so. Initiatives such as this are needed to ensure that, one day, India would have more of its very own riders competing in the International Motor Sport arena.”

    The school runs over 2 weekends and offers four different levels of training over 3 days on each weekend. Students receive the most effective progression of skill sets ever devised for learning the techniques of riding and cornering, to help ride safely and responsibly on the road as well as on the track. The 2013 CSS in Chennai kicks off with a 3 day course from January  18th – 20th followed by another 3 day camp from January 25th – 27th.

    Please visit www.superbikeschoolindia.com for more information regarding the school.

    ends