INDIA in F1

Tag: Rally

  • Gaurav Gill of MRF sets early pace: APRC Rally of Whangarei

    Gaurav Gill of MRF sets early pace: APRC Rally of Whangarei

    Gaurav Gill (April 27) Gill with Aussie Glenn Macneall in the co-driver’s seat, clocked a blistering one minute, 4 seconds over the 2.4 Kms long gravel test strip with average speed of 134 Kmph, well ahead of his new team-mate, Germany’s Fabian Kreim (co-driver Frank Christian).

    Driving the 1.6 litre, turbo-charged (with restrictor) R5 for the first time, Gill, the 2013 APRC champion, covered about 50 Kms through the three-hour session and expressed satisfaction at the car set-up and also the MRF tyres.

    “It was a good outing today. It took me a while go get used to the highly responsive car which I am driving for the first time. I had to make a few changes in the way I drove, especially in terms of being more aggressive through the corners so as to work the chassis and the grip to their optimum level.

    “The tyres too were excellent and afforded good grip. I had to be more precise in the R5 than in the S2000. The R5 responds well, and with the right kind of a set-up, it is a great car to drive,” said Gill, winner here in 2014.

    Meanwhile, 23-year old Kreim, who has had more experience in the R5, having participated in the 2015 German championship for Team Skoda, was still to fully come to grips with the unfamiliar gravel surface, driving last year’s championship winning car of Swede Pontus Tidemand.

    “The German championship is a fully tarmac series and so, I am driving on the gravel surface for the first time. I had to make changes in my driving style with so much of sideways movement through the corners, but it was fun today. I am happy with the MRF tyres which offered a lot of traction and mid-corner grip,” said Kreim.

    “Testing on Wednesday went really well, with drivers completing around 50kms. The engine is very good and for their first run in the car, both drivers were extremely happy and made only small changes to the set-up,” said Lane Heenan of Race Torque Engineering which prepares both the MRF-SKODA cars.

    The International Rally of Whangarei, considered to be one of the quickest on the APRC circuit with its fast straights and flowing corners, will commence on Friday with ceremonial start followed by Special Stages on Saturday and Sunday, totaling about 275 Kms.

    eom/AP Media Communications Press Release

    CAPTIONS:

    Image-1 (April 27): Gaurav Gill and co-driver Glenn Macneall (inset, right to left) blasting through a corner during the test session ahead of the International Rally of  Whangarei in New Zealand on Wednesday.

  • Stage set for exciting Coffee Day India Rally; 8 entries for Asia Cup

    Chikkamagaluru, 10 December 2015: With 40 entries in fray, the Coffee Day India Rally 2015, which doubles up as the concluding round of the FIA Asia Cup and the FMSCI Indian Rally Championship, promises high-octane action as the cream of country’s rally talent converge here for the three-day extravaganza beginning Friday.

    The event, also supported by Karnataka Tourism and Indian Oil, kicks off with a ceremonial start at the Coffee Day Global premises on Thursday evening, followed by the hugely-popular Super Special Stage at the Amber Valley School grounds on Friday. The cars will then head out of town for the Special Stages on Saturday and Sunday.

    The 180 Kms-long Asia Cup Rally which is also a contender event for a round of 2016 Asia Pacific Rally Championship, has attracted eight entries led by Mysuru’s Lohitt Urs with Srikanth Gowda of Mudigere as his co-driver in a Mitsubishi Evo VIII, and Arjun Rao Aroor of Mangaluru (co-driver Satish Rajagopal, Bengaluru) driving the Volkswagen Polo (R2B variant).

    None of the registered Asia Cup crews from overseas is taking part as Japan’s Hitoshi Takayama has already clinched the title with a round to spare. However, the Asia Cup participants in the Coffee Day India Rally are eligible for IRC points.

    With two wins from three starts this season, the vastly experienced Urs heads the IRC points table with a tally of 95, well clear of Team Mahindra Adventure’s former National champion Amittrajit Ghosh from Kolkata (co-driver Ashwin Naik, Mangaluru) who is on 72, driving the Mahindra XUV 500. Also in title hunt is Arjun Rao Aroor with 64 points.

    “We have not done much work on the car apart from what was necessary. We didn’t have too many problems this season, winning the previous two rounds, and we hope to carry the momentum in Chikkamagaluru,” said Urs.

    Behind the top three is Delhi-based reigning National champion and Team Mahindra Adventure’s marquee driver Gaurav Gill (co-driver Musa Sherif, Mangaluru) who has had a dismal season as he drew blank in two of the three rounds after opening the season with a win in Nashik. With 52 points in the kitty, Gill, the 2013 APRC champion, is effectively out of the title race. The maximum points available are 39 (25 for win and 14 Leg points).

    The tight and twisty terrain interspersed with fast and flowing corners, is expected to favour the all-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Evo and the compact Polo cars, though Gill, piloting the heavier and bulkier XUV 500 has often authored his own script with some stunning drives, defying all odds in the process.

    In the IRC 2000cc category, Bengaluru pair of Rahul Kanthraj and Vivek Bhatt of Team Yokohama, who won all the three previous rounds, are set to clinch the class championship as they are 34 ahead of Hyderabad’s Sumit Panjabi.

    A three-way battle is on in the IRC 1600cc class which Kerala’s Dr Bikku Babu (87 points) leads, closely followed by Team Yokohama’s Karna Kadur (70) and Aroor Vikram Rao (61), all driving the Volkswagen Polo.

    The scenario in the FMSCI 1600 Cup is much tighter as Ashwin Reddy (87), Druva Chandrasekhar (83) and last year’s champion Adith KC (69) are bunched together at the top.

    The organizers, Motor Sports Club of Chikkamagaluru, have laid out yet another challenging route that comprises four physical Special Stages, three of them in the Coffee Day estates and one at the University in Birur with the Asia Cup cars covering 180 Kms and the IRC, 120 Kms.

    MSCC have put in massive efforts to get the route ready for the event after overcoming huge odds, mostly by way of unseasonal wet weather that hampered preparations.

    eom/MSCC press release

    File photo of former APRC champion Gaurav Gill. Image by Anand Philar
    File photo of former APRC champion Gaurav Gill. Image by Anand Philar

  • Lohit Urs urges motorsport fraternity to gear up and make efforts to reach the world standards

    Bengaluru, 1 Dec 2015: In a polite manner, Lohit Urs, told the motorsports fraternity that India have to make better efforts to reach global standards in organising and providing infrastructure for motorsports. “Motorsports is a global sports and India should not be left behind,” he said at the Press Conference held here at the Cafe Coffee Day outlet opposite to Kanteerava Stadium back gate, to announce the ASIA CUP and India Rally Championship to be held next month.

    Lohitt Urs 2015After a lapse of over a decade, India will play host to an international Rally with the coffee town of Chikkamagaluru, nestling in the lap of Western Ghats, being the venue for the fourth and final round of the FIA Asia Cup, branded the Coffee Day India Rally, to be held from December 11 to 13.

    ​The fourth and concluding round of the FMSCI Indian Rally Championship will be run concurrently while the Asia Cup is also a contender for a full round of the 2016 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship. Peter Mecneal of Australia has been deputed as the Observer.

    Sponsored by Coffee Day Global, the Coffee Day India Rally and the IRC are expected to attract a total of nearly 40 entries. PG Abhilash and Lohitt Urs, both in the Mitsubishi Evolution cars, along with Arjun Rao Aroor who will be piloting the Volkswagen Polo (R2B), head the Asia Cup field that also includes three female participants, Garima Avtar, Bani Yadav and Sukhman Mann.

    The IRC will have its usual complement of full grid headlined by reigning National champion Gaurav Gill representing Team Mahindra Adventure and driving the Mahindra XUV 500 with the likes of Team Yokohama’s Rahul Kanthraj and Karna Kadur besides a clutch of young, talented drivers such as Dean Mascarenhas and Adith KC.

    The Asia Cup was originally allotted to India last year, but the dates were found unsuitable and hence the organizers, Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur, opted to run the event in 2015.

    With Coffee Day Global being the title sponsors and in association with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Karnataka Toursim, the 2015 India Rally will also be a contender for a round of the 2016 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship which will be a big step forward.

    Since 1982, when the “Coffee 500” Rally was first held in Chikkamagaluru, the event has evolved into one of the most popular and keenly awaited rallies in the National motorsport calendar.

    Chikkamagaluru’s rustic charm and scenic setting have not only made the Coffee Town into a popular holiday destination, but also attract the cream of country’s Rally talent every year.

    The Motor Sports Club of Chikkamagaluru, has, over the years, put in massive efforts and overcome many hurdles to constantly raise the bar in terms of organization and hospitality, besides providing Rally route that is at once challenging and exciting.

    ​Speaking at a Media Conference here on Tuesday, ​

    Mr. Venkatesh M, Director, Coffee Day Hotels and Resorts, said: “We are proud to associate with the FIA Asia Cup. The Coffee Day Rally has always received an overwhelming response from people all over the country and this year we look forward to creating a new level of excitement in the minds of the spectators and Indian sportsmen.

    “While we aim to conduct the sport as per international standards, our association with Asia Pacific Rally Championship will put us on the global map. We look forward to putting this event together with our fellow national and international sponsors​.”​

    Mr Farooq Ahmed, Chairman, FMSCI Rally Commission, and Vice-President​, Motor Sports Club

    ​ of  Chik​kamagalur​u, said: “It is a dream-come-true for us at the M​SCC.

    It was always our ambition to put Chikkamagaluru on the international motorsport map and we are happy that the dream has become a reality.”

    Mr Jayanth Pai, President, Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur, said: “Obviously, we are thrilled that the Coffee Day India Rally has been included as a round of the 2015 Asia Cup.

    “We have a very dedicated team at the MSCC and are ready to take up the challenge of hosting a major international event. I am confident it will be a success.”

    Mr D Ramkumar, Clerk-of-the-Course, said: “We are taking all measures to provide an exciting and safe event. It is bound to be a World-class Rally and we hope fans will come in large numbers to enjoy the fare.”

    This year, the rally route includes some new tight and twisty sections inside plantations belonging to the title sponsor Coffee Day Global and also Special Stages previously used before between 2006 and 2011.

    The route has been designed to provide new challenges for drivers while continuing to use the fast and smooth roads so well-known and liked throughout in the Indian Rally Championship. The Super Special Stage, to be run ​the  Amber Valley School ​grounds on the Friday, December 11 afternoon, will kick-start the event with the Special Stages scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

    The Asia Cup will be contested over 1​80 Kms of Special Stages while the IRC participants will cover 1​20 Kms besides the liaison sections.

    eom/AP Media Communications release

  • Abhilash PG-Anoop Kumar win IRC title in Horizon 41st K-1000 Rally; Vivek-Rahul champs in 2000cc class

    Bangalore, 22 Nov 2015: The Kochi-Bangalore pair of Abhilash PG-Anoop Kumar DS, of Team Rennoil R3A, cruised to a well-deserved win in the IRC category of the Horizon 41st K-1000 Rally here on Sunday. This is the third round of the FMSCI Indian Rally Championship 2015. Driving a Mitsubishi Evo VIII car, the winning time they clocked was one hour, 20 minutes, 57.2 seconds.

    The Rally was conducted by the Karnataka Motor Sports Club. The associate sponsors are Fairfield Marriott Hotel, Vijayachandra Motors and Turlube lubricants.

    Finishing second in the IRC category were Lohitt V Urs-Srikanth GM (Mysore-Bangalore) 1:22:44.0 (one minute, 46.8 seconds behind the winners) in a Mitsubishi Evo VIII. However, Urs will continue to keep the lead in the IRC category with one round of the championship to go. AR Racing’s Arjun Rao Aroor-Satish K Rajagopal (Mangalore-Bangalore) finished third with a time of 1:23:02:0. They were third after Saturday’s action but a controlled drive in their Volkswagen Polo R2 saw them pick up the third place.

    Overall K1000 winners Abhilash PG (L)-Anoop Kumar DS in Bangalore on Sunday. Image by Vivek Phadnis
    Overall K1000 winners Abhilash PG (L)-Anoop Kumar DS in Bangalore on Sunday. Images by Vivek Phadnis
    Rahul Kanthraj (L)-Vivek Bhatt who won the 2000 cc class in K1000 at Bengaluru on Sunday.
    Rahul Kanthraj (L)-Vivek Bhatt who won the 2000 cc class in K1000 at Bengaluru on Sunday.

    Winner Abhilash said: “I am very happy to have won the K-1000 this time around. We did not take too many risks but drove a controlled rally. There were small issues with the brakes but it did not prove to be too much of a problem.”

    Team Mahindra Adventure’s Gaurav Gill-Musa Sherif, the defending IRC champions, were going well till the last few stretches of the third and final Special Stage of the day. Sadly, their Mahindra XUV500 slid and suffered mechanical damage that saw them retire from the rally. Teammates Sunny Sidhu-PVS Murthy did not finish too.

    In the IRC2000cc class, Bangaloreans Rahul Kanthraj-Vivek Bhatt, entered as Team Yokohama and competing in a Mitsubishi Cedia, won the class and have virtually retained their title. On the second day, a clean run saw them win their class without too much fuss.

    Bangalore boys Dhruva Chandrashekar-Jeevarathinam J, with a time of 1:26:47.6, ended up being toppers in both the 1600cc and FMSCI 1600cc Cup classes. The two were also fifth fastest overall.

    Out of the 37 cars that entered, 23 finished the rally.

    Results (provisional): IRC: 1. Abhilash PG-Anoop Kumar DS (Team Rennoil R3A, 1:20:57.2); 2. Lohitt V Urs-Srikanth GM (1:22:44.0); 3. Arjun Rao Aroor-Satish K Rajagopal (AR Racing, 1:23:02.0); 4. Amittrajit Ghosh-Ashwin Naik (Team Mahindra Adventure, 1:23:48.9); 5. Dhruva Chandrashekar-Jeevarathinam J (1:26:47.6).

    IRC 2000cc:1. Rahul Kanthraj-Vivek Bhatt (Team Yokohama, 1:27:12.4); 2. Sumit Punjabi-Nitin Jacob (1:28:26.9); 3. Younus Ilyas-Thomas Paul (1:29:35.5).

    IRC 1600cc:Dhruva Chandrashekar-Jeevarathinam J (1:26:47.6); 2. Bikku Babu-Bonnie Thomas (1:28.18.9); 3. Ashwin Reddy Daram-Suraj M (1:28:23.8).

    FMSCI 1600cc Cup: 1. Dhruva Chandrashekar-Jeevarathinam J (1:26:47.6); 2. Ashwin Reddy Daram-Suraj M (1:28:23.8); 3. Lokesh Gowda V-Ashika Menezes (1:29.57.4).

    R Bharath Raj Trophy for Best Novice: Nayan Jyoti Sarma-Vinay BM.

    eom/KMSC-FMSCI press release and photos from Vivek Phadnis

  • Abhilash PG-Anoop Kumar pair leads 41st K-1000 Rally; Gill-Sherif fall back to 2nd

    Rahul Kanthraj-Vivek Bhatt duo lead after day1 in K1000 on Saturday. Image by Vivek Phadnis
    Rahul Kanthraj-Vivek Bhatt duo lead after day1 in K1000 on Saturday. Image by Vivek Phadnis

    Bangalore, 21 Nov 2015: Abhilash PG (co-driver Anoop Kumar DS), of team Rennoil-R3A, led in the Indian Rally Championship (IRC) category after the opening day’s action in the Horizon 41st K-1000 Rally on Saturday. The Kochi-Bangalore pair, driving a Mitsubishi Evo VIII, totalled a time of 53 minutes, 32.6 seconds.

    The stages for the third round of the 2015 FMSCI Indian Rally Championship being run near the areas surrounding the Big Banyan Tree tourist spot. The K-1000 returns to tarmac stages after more than a decade of pure dirt stages.

    Mahindra Adventure’s Gaurav Gill-Musa Sherif(Mahindra XUV500) were in second place with a total time of 53:57.3 while AR Racing’s Arjun Rao Aroor and co-driver Satish Rajagopal in a Volkswagen Polo R2 were third with 55:14.2.

    The Rally is being conducted by the Karnataka Motor Sports Club. The associate sponsors are Fairfield Marriott Hotel, Vijayachandra Motors and Turlube lubricants.

    Abhilash said: “Despite having inter-cooler spray and overheating problems in the long stages, we managed to maintain a good lead which is good news as the conditions were difficult to drive because of the technicalities and changes in terrain. To have the right tyre choice was difficult and we managed to do well in Leg 1 and hope to finish with the same result tomorrow.”

    Team Yokohama’s Bangalore pair of Rahul Kanthraj-Vivek Bhatt (Mitsubishi Cedia) as the leader after the first day. Their total time was 57:14.6 with Sumit Panjabi-Nitin Jacob are second.

    Kanthraj said: “We took a gamble with gravel tyres but it worked out well. We took it easy in the first two stages but went flat out later. Tomorrow, we have to go for a decent finish and the championship should be sealed for us.”

    Druva Chandrashekar-Jeevarathinam J lead the IRC 1600cc class.

    The mix of tarmac, loose at places, and dirt made for interesting rallying. Due to this, it was a tricky decision… whether to use tarmac or gravel tyres. It was a test of skill for the drivers who had to manoeuvre through varying surfaces. However, the drivers seemed to enjoy the challenge and gave it their best.

    The opening Special Stage of the day saw a delayed start due to technical issues. Three out of the scheduled nine stages were cancelled due to various reasons.

    Results (provisional): IRC: 1. Abhilash P G/ Anoop Kumar D S (Team Rennoil-R3A, 00:53:32.6 min); 2. Gaurav Gill/ Musa Sherif (Team Mahindra Adventure, 00:53:57.3); 3.Arjun Rao Aroor/ Satish K Rajagopal (00:55:14.2); 4.Amittrajit Ghosh/ Ashwin Naik (Team Mahindra Adventure, 00:55:20.2); 5.Lohitt V Urs/ Srikanth G M (00:55:25.0).

    IRC 2000cc:1. Rahul Kantharaj/ Vivek Y Bhatt(Team Yokohama, 00:57:14.6); 2.Sumit Panjabi/ Nitin Jacob (00:58:43.2); 3.YounusIlyas M/ Paul Thomas(00:58:56.7).

    IRC 1600cc: 1. Druva Chandrasekhar/ Jeevarathinam J (00:57:25.0); 2.Bikku Babu/ Bonnie Thomas (00:57:53.0); 3. Raghu Nandan B/ Rupesh Kholay (00:57:58.0).

    FMSCI 1600cc Cup: 1. Druva Chandrasekhar/ Jeevarathinam J         (00:57:25.0); 2. Raghu Nandan B/ Rupesh Kholay     (00:57:58.0); 3.Ashwin Reddy Daram/ Suraj M (00:58:56.8).

    eom/FMSCI release by Vivek Phadnis

  • Rains and tarmac special stages dampen the spirits as Horizon K-1000 is flagged off

    Bangalore, 20 Nov 2015: The cloudy horizon sent in chills amongst the rally enthusiasts and the prospects of a thrilling K-1000 are dull what with the new tarmac surface proving the dampner, not just the rains. The Horizon 41st K-1000 was flagged off here on Friday, on a sombre note, and for many a veteran, the K-1000 without the late Bharat Raj was a painful excercise.

    File photo of Lohitt Urs-Srikanth Gowda courtesy Vivek Phadnis
    Lohitt Urs-Srikanth Gowda being flagged off in Bangalore on Friday. Image courtesy Vivek Phadnis

    The Rally is the third round of the 2015 FMSCI Indian Rally Championship was flagged off by Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi at a city hotel on Rajkumar road.

    The Rally is being conducted by the Karnataka Motor Sports Club is sponsored by Fairfield Marriott Hotel, Vijaychandra Motors and Turlube lubricants.

    The Rally will be dedicated to KMSC’s late Chairman and former FMSCI President R Bharath Raj, who passed away on August 15.

    Moving away from tradition, the K-1000, this time, will be a tarmac rally. With wet weather prevailing, it should add a touch of drama though the rally is not on dirt. The recce was held in the morning and the drivers are not very happy with the Special Stages which are being run in a private lay-out near the Big Banyan tree off the Mysore Road.

    All top rally drivers in the country have confirmed participation for the event that will run from November 20-22. A total of 37 entries have been received. They will compete in the IRC, IRC 2000cc, IRC 1600cc and FMSCI 1600cc Cup categories.

    Mysore’s speedster Lohitt V Urs with co-driver Srikanth Gowda of Bangalore are the ones to watch out for. The duo will be on a Mitsubishi Evo VIII all-wheel drive. Lohitt is leading the championship with a total of 59 points while Mahindra Adventure driver from Kolkata Amittrajit Ghosh  with newly-maried Mangalore’s Ashwin Naik as co-driver is on 47 and will be driving a Mahindra XUV500.

    Reigning National champion in the IRC class, Mahindra Adventure’s Delhi driver Gaurav Gill  and Musa Sherif, also from Mangalore are the top pair in the country and former APRC champion is on 45 and so is his teammate from Chandigarh Sunny Sidhu (PVS Murthy, Bangalore).

    The other notable entries are AR Racing’s Arjun Rao Aroor (Mangalore)-Satish Rajagopal (Bangalore) in a Volkswagen Polo R2, JCT Rallying’s Samir Thapar (New Delhi)-Gurinder Mann (Chandigarh) in a Mitsubishi Evo X and Abhilash PG (Cochin)-Anoop Kumar (Bangalore) in a Mitsubishi Evo VIII. This is the premier class in the IRC and the top drivers will be fighting it out for the Overall National title.

    In the 2000cc class, Bangalore’s Rahul Kanthraj (Vivek Bhatt, Bangalore), from Team Yokohama, is the leader with 78 points, while Mumbai’s Chettinad Sporting entrant Hrishikesh Thackersey (Ninad Mirajgaonkar, Mumbai) is on 59. Kanthraj and Bhatt are the defending champions.

    In the 1600cc class, Kerala’s Chettinad Sporting driver Bikku Babu (Bonnie Thomas, Kerala) leads the classification with 60 points, while Bangalore’s Team Yokohama driver Karna Kadur (Vivek Ponnusamy, Melbourne) is within striking distance and on 58.

    In the 1600cc Cup class, Palakkad’s Adith KC (Harish KN, Bangalore) leads the table with 64 points. They are the defending champions. Second is Bangalore’s Ashwin Reddy (Suraj Shetti, Bangalore) on 58 points.

    There will be three physical stages of 14, 8, 5.5 km. Each stage will be run thrice on day one (Saturday) and once in reverse direction on the second day (Sunday). The gravel Super Special Stage will be held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre on Tumkur Road on Sunday. The Special Stage distance is 112.08Km, Super Special Stage distance is three Km and total rally distance is 291.55Km.

    KMSC President Shivu Shivappa said: “With support from our rally fraternity, we have been able to put together this event. Our sponsors have been generous and without them, this rally would not have been possible.”

    Clerk of the Course Praneeth Perumal said: “We are having a tarmac rally after more than a decade and it should be entertaining. There will be a mix of terrain and though the average speeds may not be very high, the stages are going to be technical and highly competitive.”

    eom/FMSCI release

  • Ogier-Ingrassia lead Latvala-Anttila after Day 1: WRC Rally of Spain

    Wolfsburg, 23 October 2015: Restraint on the short ones, all-out attack on the long stage: Volkswagen played a perfect game of patience on day one of the Rally Spain, and came away with a promising one-two. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) ended the Friday of the twelfth and penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) at the top of the overall standings, separated from Volkswagen team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) by just four seconds. After 131.8 of a total 331.25 kilometres against the clock, Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) are sixth, 37.4 seconds off the lead.

    The key factor on the first of the three days of rallying was how the drivers looked after their tyres. On both the morning and afternoon loops, three short stages were followed by the longest stage of the rally: “Terra Alta” is 35.68 kilometres long, of which about 27 are on gravel and roughly eight on asphalt. The Volkswagen drivers set a relatively moderate pace on the short stages, upping their game on the “monster” stage with particularly fast split times on the short asphalt section. This allowed Ogier and Latvala to climb from sixth and seventh to first and second place on the morning loop. They were then embroiled in a fascinating battle with Ott Tänak/Raigo Mõlder (EST/EST, M-Sport-Ford), Dani Sordo/Marc Martí (E/E, Hyundai) and Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S, Citroën).

    The drivers and crews must now switch from gravel to asphalt mode overnight. While Friday was all about gravel roads, Saturday and Sunday feature special stages akin to circuit racing on asphalt routes on the Costa Daurada, on the outskirts of Barcelona. The longest service of the season gives the mechanics a maximum 75 minutes, in which to convert the World Rally Cars to their asphalt configuration. This involves replacing more than 1,300 individual components per car.

    * Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.
    Quotes after day one of the Rally Spain
    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
    “A fantastic day: I am really pleased with our performance on the opening day of the Rally Spain. The long day, with eight consecutive gravel stages without an interim service, was a real challenge that we and the Polo mastered perfectly. In the afternoon, in particular, Julien and I still had really good tyres on the final 35-kilometre stage, which is probably what made the difference. With the switch to asphalt, a totally new rally starts tomorrow. The car has a much firmer set-up and reacts more directly when braking and steering. Another challenge that I am really looking forward to. Since the roads here are very wide, it is a little bit like being on a circuit. Choosing the right line will be crucial.”
    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
    “I am very happy and will try to carry on like this on Saturday. I didn’t get off to quite the start I had planned. But after the first stage this morning I knew that I had to change something. As a result, it wasn’t only the set-up of the car that I worked on, but also on my mental attitude. This was noticeable immediately with better times. In particular, I was much faster on the long ‘Terra Alta’ stage than last year. The Polo R WRC ran smoothly and I didn’t have any problems with tyre wear either.”
    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “I still haven’t really found the rhythm I was hoping for today. I was simply too cautious this morning, and consistently lost time as a result. In the afternoon I tried to pace my tyres better and was happy with my performance on the monster stage, ‘Terra Alta’. Despite this, sixth place is not what I was after. Tomorrow we will see a completely different side to the Rally Spain. We will run the firmest chassis set-up of the entire season on the asphalt stages. We will have to see what we can achieve after this dramatic change from gravel to asphalt.”
    Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director
    “Tactics played a major role today, and our drivers did an excellent job in this regard. It was important to look after the tyres and pace oneself intelligently on the long special stage. Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen showed that with the fastest three times at the end of the day. It will be fascinating to see how the rally develops on asphalt, as it takes on a completely different character. We are very happy with the way things have gone so far.”
    And then there was …
    … a clearly visible “thank you”. The Volkswagen WRC team sent its greetings to the Volkswagen factory in Pamplona by way of a sticker on the rear of Sébastien Ogier’s Polo R WRC. The Spanish plant has been manufacturing the road-going Polo since 1982, meaning it is also responsible for the chassis of the World Rally Cars driven by Ogier and Co. World champions on three occasions – thanks in no small part to the support of the Spanish colleagues. That is why we too say: ¡Gracias Amigos!

    Rally de España – Unofficial Results after Section 4

    1.   Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1hr 24min 58.4sec
    2.   Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1hr 25min 02.4sec
    3.   Ott Tanak/Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1hr 25min 09.7sec
    4.   Dani Sordo/Marc Marti Hyundai i20 WRC 1hr 25min 25.3sec
    5.   Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson DS 3 WRC 1hr 25min 28.1sec
    6.   Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene Volkswagen Polo R WRC 1hr 25min 35.8sec
    7.   Hayden Paddon/John Kennard Hyundai i20 WRC 1hr 25min 36.7sec
    8.   Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle DS 3 WRC 1hr 25min 57.8sec
    9.   Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul Hyundai i20 WRC 1hr 26min 02.2sec
    10. Elfyn Evans/Daniel Barritt Ford Fiesta RS WRC 1hr 26min 07.6sec

  • One of a kind: Volkswagen takes on a mixture of asphalt and gravel at the Rally Spain

    • Sébastien Ogier (F), Julien Ingrassia (F) Volkswagen Polo R WRC (2015) WRC Rally Portugal 2015
      Sébastien Ogier (F), Julien Ingrassia (F)
      Volkswagen Polo R WRC (2015)
      WRC Rally Portugal 2015

      Two appearance, two wins so far for Ogier/Ingrassia and the Polo R WRC in Spain

    • Latvala/Anttila and Mikkelsen/Fløene do battle for second place in the championship
    • 51 per cent unfamiliar terrain at penultimate WRC round of 2015

    Wolfsburg, 16 October 2015: All eyes on the surface – Volkswagen faces a unique challenge when it lines up with the Polo R WRC at the Rally Spain (22–25 October). The twelfth and penultimate round of this season’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is the only one on the WRC calendar, at which the drivers go up against the clock on both asphalt and gravel. Two men, in particular, have proven to be experts in this field: reigning champions and champions elect* Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F). Last year, the two Frenchmen wrapped up their second World Championship title on the Iberian Peninsula, with one round still to come. In 2013, when Volkswagen won the Manufacturers’ Championship, the winners in Spain were once again Ogier/Ingrassia. Second place in a Volkswagen one-two in both years went to Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), who are currently second in the World Championship and arrive in Spain on the back of their recent victory on Corsica. Success at the Rally France on Corsica saw Latvala/Anttila extend their advantage in the overall standings over the third Volkswagen duo of Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (N/N) to 34 points. Should Latvala/Anttila retain at least 28 points of their lead on Mikkelsen/Fløene, who are third in the World Championship, they would be guaranteed to end the season as runners-up in the overall standings.

    “The Rally Spain is unique. We must ensure the Polo is ideally set up for both gravel and asphalt,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “This not only means that the driver and co-driver must be wide awake and able to adapt well to the changing conditions, but also puts the entire team to the test – particularly the mechanics. We have done a good job of switching from gravel to asphalt for the past two years, and have been successful in Spain. This year, we are obviously hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila dominated on Corsica and travel to Spain brimming with confidence. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia were unfortunate at their home rally – it goes without saying that they are now hungry to bounce back with what would be their eighth win of the season. Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene have not yet given up on second place in the overall standings. It will certainly be exciting.”

    New this year – 23 special stages, 51 per cent unfamiliar terrain

    Asphalt, gravel, asphalt, asphalt – this sequence of road surfaces is what awaits the elite of the WRC on Thursday and the three subsequent days of rallying. And that is not the only challenge: the 51st staging of the Rally Spain features a total of 23 special stages – seven more than in 2014 – with 331.25 kilometres against the clock. The driver/co-driver crews must write new pace notes for 51 per cent of the route.

    A wide range of challenges – the 2015 Rally Spain

    The Rally Spain poses a wide range of challenges to the drivers and co-drivers. Like last year, the 3.2-kilometre “Barcelona” special stage will be held on Montjuïc on Thursday evening. The site of the International Exposition in 1929 and the 1992 Summer Olympics will attract spectators aplenty when the WRC elite open the Rally Spain on the narrow route in the Catalonian metropolis. In contrast, Friday is set to be a dusty affair, as the itinerary features the first of the gravel stages – all of which are covered with a fine layer of gravel, more of which will be swept off the road with every World Rally Car that passes. Typical: the “Terra Alta” special stage, with its five changes of surface and central asphalt section. At 35.68 kilometres, it is also the longest stage at the Rally Spain.

    A lot of feeling and good line selection – the key to success at the Rally Spain

    After giving the World Rally Cars a complete overhaul to switch to their asphalt set-up, the teams then face a total 199.45 kilometres against the clock on Saturday and Sunday. Parts of last year’s “Riudecanyes” stage will this time be tackled in the opposite direction on “Duesaigües”. The second running of this stage will also form the Power Stage, on which extra points towards the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship are up for grabs. The rally has made the two roundabouts on this stage famous throughout Spain. It goes without saying that the drivers must pull off a crowd-pleasing donut on one of these. Narrow, winding downhill sections also define this famous stage. The Rally Spain demands a lot of feel for the car on the gravel sections and a good sense for the perfect line on the winding asphalt roads, some of which are reminiscent of classic racetracks.

    One-twos, titles, milestones – happy stomping ground in Spain

    Two wins from two appearances, the first one-two in the history of the Polo R WRC, the Manufacturer’s title with one round to go in 2013, and the Drivers’/Co-Drivers’ Championships for Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia last year – the asphalt and gravel roads of the Rally Spain have proven to be a happy stomping ground for Volkswagen. Last year, Ogier/Ingrassia and Latvala/Anttila pulled off a spectacular tenth one-two with the 318-hp four-wheel drive car from Wolfsburg. Coming into this year’s Rally Spain, the three Volkswagen crews now have a total of 16 one-twos to their name.

    * Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA.

    Quotes ahead of the Rally Spain

    Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1
    “When I think of the Rally Spain, the success we have enjoyed for the last two years obviously springs to mind. In 2014, Julien and I won to secure our second Drivers’ title In 2013, we helped Volkswagen wrap up the Manufacturers’ Championship with one rally still to come. Those scenes of jubilation and the big smiles on the faces of everyone in the team – you simply don’t forget memories like that in a hurry. This year we want to have cause for celebration again. Especially after what was a disappointing Rally France for Julien and me. However, it will be far from easy. Over half of the special stages at the Rally Spain are new, so we are all starting from scratch. Then there is also the added challenge of the different surfaces on the three days of the rally. In 2014 it was a close battle between Jari-Matti Latvala and me. I expect that to be the case again this time. Although we have already won the World Championship, it goes without saying that we will still be pushing hard. I think that is what makes our team so special. Everyone gives 100 per cent and we are all hungry to win.”

    Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2
    “The Rally Spain is one of my favourite rallies. Last year Sébastien Ogier and I had a very close battle. I pushed hard right to the finish, and won the closing Power Stage. Unfortunately I missed out on victory by just over eleven seconds. I was not 100 per cent in gravel mode at the start of the rally. I had focussed more on the asphalt set-up, so won most of my special stages on the final day of the rally. However, you must also be set up for gravel on the opening day in Spain if you want to be right up there. I have learned from that: I now know how I need to set up the Polo and that I have to drive cleanly on these sections. The surface on the gravel stages is relatively hard, but it is covered by a fine, loose layer. Victory on Corsica has definitely given me plenty of confidence. There are just two rallies remaining this year – and I want to be in contention to win them both.”

    Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9
    “This year there are a few new special stages at the Rally Spain. That suits me. I like working out new sections, and have always been fast on them in the past. However, one thing has not changed at the Rally Spain: the first day will be on gravel – with the exception of the Barcelona stage on Thursday – and the remaining two days on asphalt. It is always tricky to adjust from gravel to asphalt within a day. Hopefully Ola and I will find our rhythm quickly. Last year a puncture on Saturday cost me over two minutes. Without that, I could have been on the podium. As it was, I had to settle for seventh. I am yet to get through the Rally Spain without making a mistake, so a flawless rally is definitely my goal for this year. A podium would be nice too, but it goes without saying that I would like to be in with a shout of winning. Jari-Matti Latvala’s victory on Corsica increased the gap to him and second place in the overall standings. There are still two rallies to come though, and I am obviously not going to give up. However, I will not put myself under any undue pressure or reflect too much on the situation. Ideally, I will finish ahead of him and get a good result.”

    Did you know …

    … Carlos Sainz won his home rally twice? “El Matador” won in 1992 and 1995. At his side: Luís Moya, now a member of the Volkswagen Motorsport team.

    … Sebastián Salvadó won the inaugural Rally Spain? The Spaniard was victorious at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo in 1957.

    … the first time the Rally Spain was not won by a Spaniard was in 1983? The Italian pair of Adertico Vudafieri and Tiziano Siviero won in a Lancia Rally 037.

    … the Rally Spain is being held for the 51st time this year, and the 23rd time as a round of the World Rally Championship? The event, which is run by the Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya (RACC) first featured on the WRC calendar in 1991. Only once – in 1994 – did the Rally Spain only count towards the 2-Litre World Rally Cup.

    … the Rally Spain was held on the Costa Brava between 1991 and 2004? Back then, the rally headquarters were in the party stronghold of Lloret de Mar. However, there has also been plenty on offer in the way of leisure activities since 2005: the headquarters, media centre and service park are housed in the grounds of the PortAventura Resort.

    … France is the most successful nation at the Rally Spain? Since the rally first appeared on the WRC calendar, it has been won by a Frenchman on 16 occasions. Sébastien Loeb alone won eight times between 2005 and 2012. Volkswagen driver Sébastien Ogier contributed two victories to the French total in 2013 and 2014.

    … the body shell of the Polo R WRC is made in Pamplona? Last year, 150 employees from the Volkswagen factory in Pamplona made the 400-kilometre journey to watch their three Polo R WRCs in action, courtesy of an invite from Volkswagen Spain.

    The number for the Rally Spain: 4,044

    The mechanics could produce a record-breaking performance at the Rally Spain. During the 75-minute service on Friday evening – the longest of the season – they will convert the Polo R WRC from its gravel configuration to the asphalt set-up. For an idea of the sheer effort required, look no further than the number of individual components that must be replaced. Per car, the mechanics must swap 13 modules, consisting of 1,348 individual parts – that is a total of 4,044 parts for all three Polo R WRC.
    FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Overall Standings Drivers’ Championship
    points
    1. Sébastien Ogier 238
    2. Jari-Matti Latvala 160
    3. Andreas Mikkelsen 126
    4. Mads Østberg 98
    5. Thierry Neuville 86
    6. Kris Meeke 83
    7. Elfyn Evans 81
    8. Hayden Paddon 66
    9. Ott Tänak 63
    10. Dani Sordo 62
    11. Martin Prokop 33
    12. Khalid Al Qassimi 9
    13. Juho Hänninen 8
    14. Yuriy Protasov 8
    15. Robert Kubica 8
    16. Nasser Al-Attiyah 7
    17. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari 6
    18. Sébastien Loeb 6
    19. Esapekka Lappi 4
    20. Diego Dominguez 4
    21. Paolo Andreucci 4
    22. Bryan Bouffier 4
    23. Pontus Tidemand 2
    24. Jan Kopecký 2
    25. Nicolas Fuchs 2
    26. Gustavo Saba 2
    27. Stephane Sarrazin 2
    28. Stéphane Lefebvre 1
    29. Jari Ketomaa 1
    30. Lorenzo Bertelli 1
    Co-Drivers’ Championship
    points
    1. Julien Ingrassia 238
    2. Miikka Anttila 160
    3. Ola Fløene 126
    4. Jonas Andersson 98
    5. Nicolas Gilsoul 86
    6. Paul Nagle 83
    7. Daniel Barritt 81
    8. John Kennard 66
    9. Raigo Mõlder 63
    10. Marc Marti 62
    11. Jan Tománek 33
    12. Chris Patterson 9
    13. Tomi Tuominen 8
    14. Pavlo Cherepin 8
    15. Maciek Szczepaniak 8
    16. Matthieu Baumel 7
    17. Marshall Clarke 6
    18. Daniel Elena 6
    19. Janne Ferm 4
    20. Edgardo Galindo 4
    21. Anna Andreussi 4
    22. Thibault de la Haye 4
    23. Emil Axelsson 2
    24. Pavel Dresler 2
    25. Jaques Julien Renucci 2
    26. Fernando Musano 2
    27. Diego Cagnotti 2
    28. Stéphane Prevot 1
    29. Kaj Lindström 1
    30. Lorenzo Granai 1
    Manufactures’ Championship
    points
    1. Volkswagen Motorsport 369
    2. Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT 184
    3. Hyundai Motorsport 183
    4. M-Sport World Rally Team 170
    5. Volkswagen Motorsport II 91
    6. Hyundai Mobis World Rally Team 59
    7. Jipocar Czech National Team 45
    8. F.W.R.T. 9

  • KMSC to conduct MRF Rally of Bangalore on Sunday: TSD Rally Nationals

    Bangalore, 24 Sept 2015: The Karnataka Motor Sports Club is happy to announce that it will conduct the MRF Rally of Bangalore, the fifth round of the 2015 FMSCI Indian National TSD Rally Championship, here on Sunday, September 27. The Green Run Rally 2015 will be run simultaneously and is for the local entries. The events are being conducted under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India.

    The events will be tributes to the late Mr R Bharath Raj, who was our Chairman and FMSCI President.

    Tyre manufacturer MRF is the title sponsor for the event and the KMSC would like to express its gratitude to them for this. The KMSC hopes MRF will continue its support in the future. MRF has been doing a lot for the promotion of motorsport in the country.

    KMSC is one of the founder members of the FMSCI and is easily one of the most active clubs in the country. The club has been conducting events on a regular basis and conducted the 40th edition of the K-1000 Rally last year. Apart from the stage rally, KMSC has regularly conducted TSD rallies, both local and National Championship events.

    KMSC President Shivu Shivappa said: “The KMSC has always been in the forefront when it comes to organising quality events. We are expecting a good turnout for this event and I am sure many will come since the Rally is dedicated to our late Chairman R Bharath Raj.

    “The intention of the Green Run Rally is to educate people about the need to preserve the environment and also being safe on the road.”

    Around 30 entries are expected in all. For the National Championship category, 10 entries are expected. Entries from as far as Kolkata, Mumbai, Erode, Chennai, Coimbatore apart from the local ones will be vying for top honours in the Pro Expert and Pro Stock categories.

    The Club on Mysore Roadis the Rally Headquarters. The event will be flagged off from The Club at 0700 hours on September 27. The finish is also at The Club.

    The total distance of the Rally is about 160Km for both the National Championship and Green Run entrants. The areas that the Rally will cover are Kanakapura Road and Mysore Road.

    The top five places in the National Championship will receive, apart from trophies, Rs 40,000, Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 as cash prizes. In the Green Run Rally, the top three places will receive Rs 10,000, Rs 7,500 and Rs 5,000 respectively. The top five places will receive trophies.

    In the National Championship standings, SK Ajgar Ali-Mohammad Musthafa MK lead in the Pro Expert category with 83 points. Second are Subir Roy-Nirav Mehta and Sandip Mukherjee-Suvrajit Dutta are third. In the Pro Stock category, Sekar V-Natarajan G lead the table with 76 points.

    The Green Run Rally, formerly Picnic Rally, has been run for many years by the KMSC. The objective of the event is to educate citizens about the need for road safety and also to protect the environment.

    TSD stands for Time-Speed-Distance and this form of rallying emphasises on navigation and maintaining speeds to attract least time penalty. Thus, coordination between the driver and navigator is crucial. Since the speeds are low, usually never more than 45Kmph, it is a very safe kind of motorsport for anybody to take part.

    Please feel free to get in touch with Shivu Shivappa (9844015653) or Vivek Phadnis (9620959687) for more details or clarifications.

    Ends

    L-R) KMSC's Bhaskar Gupta, KMSC President Shivu Shivappa and KMSC's Shyam Gopinath at the press meet on Thursday. Photo by Vivek Phadnis
    L-R) KMSC’s Bhaskar Gupta, KMSC President Shivu Shivappa and KMSC’s Shyam Gopinath at the press meet on Thursday. Photo by Vivek Phadnis

  • Team MRF top guns to renew rivalry: APRC Rally Hokkaido

    File photo of Gaurav Gill during Friday's shakedown in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, ahead of the Round 4 of FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship. Image Anand Philar
    File photo of Gaurav Gill during Friday’s shakedown in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, ahead of the Round 4 of FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship. Image Anand Philar

    Obihiro (Japan): Trailing his MRF Tyres team-mate Pontus Tidemand by 43 points after four of the six rounds of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, India’s Gaurav Gill will resume his titanic battle with the Swedish ace in the Rally Hokkaido this weekend.

    The Rally-Hokkaido, which commences Friday with a ceremonial start followed by one loop of the 960-metre Super Special Stage, is one of the more punishing rounds in the APRC with as many as 20 Special Stages to be run over 225.35 Kms, apart from the Transport section of 735.92 Kms.

    Tidemand along with his co-driver and Swedish compatriot Emil Axelsson currently head the APRC points table with 147 points while Gill and his Aussie partner Glenn Macneall are placed second on 104 with the pair, in the factory-supported Skoda Fabia S2000, well on course to seal the team championship for MRF and the manufacturers title for the Czech car major.

    For 33-year old Delhi-based Gill, the 2013 APRC champion, it has been an up-and-down season with one win in New Caledonia, two podium finishes in New Zealand and Malaysia, and a retirement in Australia that cost him dearly. However, he has the opportunity to repeat his 2013 performance when he won the Rally Hokkaido en route to the championship title.

    With just two rounds of the APRC remaining, the Rally Hokkaido and the China Rally, and a maximum of 78 points available to the winner, Gill has to produce flawless drives to win both the events and reclaim the championship. As such, the Rally Hokkaido should witness another titanic battle between the two team-mates.

    “It is going to be a very fast rally for sure. The Stages are much wider than last time and there are a few new Stages too. I will do my best to win the event though I would have been happier with some testing prior to this event,” said Gill after a reconnaissance run of the Stage on Thursday.

    Tidemand, only 24 but with far more seat time in the Skoda than Gill, it has been a brilliant debut in the APRC following victories in New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia as he kept his wits about in unfamiliar conditions.

    Reflecting on the situation, Tidemand said: “Of course it feels great to come to Japan as the championship leader. But each rally comes with a new challenge, especially for me as I do all these events for the first time and never really know what to expect. We are ready to fight for a great result and hopefully it will be a close and exciting race.”

    Gill and Tidemand have been so dominant in their super-quick and agile S2000 cars, prepared by Race Torque, that the rest of the APRC pack is barely in the frame, much less offer meaningful challenge to the Team MRF duo.

    Even Cusco Racing team’s talented New Zealander Michael Young (co-driver Malcolm Read) in the Subaru Impreza WRX STi, has been struggling to match the pace of the front-runners. With just 60 points in the kitty, Young at best can only finish second in the championship, but it is early days yet for the Kiwi to look so far ahead.

    Team MRF boss Lane Heenan said: “So far, the year has gone according to plan. The Skoda Fabia S2000 is a proven winner all around the world, and it continues to be the car to beat in the diverse Asia-Pacific Rally Championship events. Rally Hokkaido is an event Team MRF has won on several occasions, and we’re hoping for a similar result this weekend.”