Massive viewing figures for COI

The IFM Sports Group, an independent research consultancy group, has published the viewing figures for the Circuit of Ireland Rally held in April, Round 3 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The world second-oldest rally saw 8.9 million people tune in to watch the spectacular battle between Skoda pairing Juho Hanninen and Andreas Mikkelsen, making it one of the most watched rounds of the IRC.

Rally Director, Bobby Willis, said: “Since taking over the rally in 2010, our main aim has been to bring the rally to the people and widen its appeal across Ireland. The 2012 event certainly realised this dream – not only across Ireland, but also, around the world.”

One of Eurosport's
helicopter-mounted cameras

“The event attracted thousands of spectators but to think a further 8.9 million people across the world tuned in to watch the Circuit is incredible. According to the statistics provided by IFM Sports Group, the rally was widely viewed across Europe and Asia, with viewers in Australia, Mexico and Russia also tuning in to see our beautiful landscapes come to life.” he added.

This year saw the Circuit of Ireland host a round of the IRC for the very first time, and it was a huge success. A massive battle throughout the rally between Mikkelsen and Hanninen only ended after Mikkelsen's mistake sent him into a bale, but it was more than enough to hold the interest of the world of rallying throughout the rally's 2 days. The rally has been included on a provisional list of rallies for next years European Rally Championship, the new name for the IRC from 2013 onwards.

“This was a decision made by FIA and Eurosport Events to strengthen the ERC as future World Rally Championship events are likely to be less-Euro centric. Eurosport will be the new promoter and broadcaster of the FIA European Rally Championship from 2013, for the next 10 years. At this stage the Circuit of Ireland has been included in the provisional calendar of events." Willis said of the decision to bring the IRC and ERC together in 2013.

“The 2012 IRC featured a number of events in breathtaking locations including San Marino, Sicily, and Gran Canaria and I am delighted that the thrilling action from the Northern Ireland countryside, and indeed Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, attracted such a significant audience for Eurosport.” said Francois Riberio, Eurosport Events' Motorsport Director.

Ford announce works withdrawl

Ford of Europe have announced that they will withdraw their works backing from the World Rally Championship at the end of this season, bringing to an end the 15 year works association with M-Sport, the Cumbrian rally preparation specialists.

“Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision. At this time, however we determined that it was better for the company and the Ford brand to reduce our commitment to the WRC and deploy our resources in other areas.” said Roelant de Waard, Ford of Europe's Vice President.

Speculation has been rife that Ford were about to pull their works presence from the WRC, having only made a last minute decision to enter this year's Championship. However this announcement has sent shock waves through the rallying world, much like when Subaru withdrew entirely in 2008, but de Waard is proud to have been associated with M-Sport, saying:

“We have great respect for M-Sport and Malcolm Wilson, who have run the Ford WRC team since 1997, and there is no organisation with more expertise and commitment to winning. Working together, we have reached a point where the Ford Fiesta has become the car of choice in rallying, and we want to see this continue in the future.”

Malcolm Wilson, who heads up Ford's assault on the WRC, said: “M-Sport is extremely proud of our history with Ford since 1997; 208 podium finishes, scoring points on 156 consecutive events and 52 wins from 225 starts in the WRC along with two world titles underlines the dedication and commitment of the whole team in Cumbria.”

The statistics mentioned by Wilson go in a big way towards Ford's current standings in the WRC record books, sitting second in the all-time rally wins list with 82, as well as joint-fourth in the all-time championship wins list with four.

M-Sport are planning to run a team in the WRC for next year, running a brace of Fiesta RS WRC's. Their driver line up as well as the number of rallies they plan on doing is still a mystery however. Jari-Matti Latvala, the team's current No. 1 driver, has recently announced he will drive for Volkswagen next season. However, 2003 World Champion Petter Solberg's fate is still unknown.

“Confirmation of our key championship programmes for 2013 is our first priority and a challenge that the team here is very much looking forward to. After that we can review all options and determine the right direction for the future,” Wilson concluded.

Even with the news breaking of Ford's departure as a works effort, the team plans on going out on a high, targeting as many stage wins and overall wins as they can, as well as developing the Fiesta RS WRC for next season's rallying.

“My intention is that we will continue to push to secure stage wins and overall results on the forthcoming events for Ford and to push forward with the development work that was started in March this year to improve and refine the Fiesta WRC even further, ready for the 2013 season.” Wilson added.

Jennings does the (Double) treble!

Garry Jennings

Garry Jennings completed the Donegal treble yesterday as he sealed a comprehensive win on the Abbey Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally, accompanied by his Donegal International Rally-winning co-driver Neil Doherty.

Declan Boyle

Having won the Donegal Forestry at the start of the year in his Subaru Impreza 555, he followed that up with an emphatic win on the Donegal International Rallyin the hired Impreza S14, Jennings was under a bit of pressure to win the Harvest Rally to clinch the treble, as well as a hat-trick of wins on the Harvest Rally.

Brian O'Mahoney

Pushing his Kenny McKinstry prepared Subaru Impreza S10 to the limit at times, and even over it, Jennings landed both trebles after a hard day's driving on the rapid but bumpy Donegal lanes. Second overall Declan Boyle lead after SS1 in his recently purchased Subaru Impreza S12, but couldn't keep the ever-spectacular Jennings behind, who rocketed into the lead on SS2.

2 mins behind winner Jennings was Brian O'Mahoney, who took third place to land the Dunlop National Rally Championship title. Brian didn't have a quiet rally however, after he had to carry a message to a radio point after an elderly resident on SS5 took ill.

Declan Gallagher

Niall Maguire, who was in contention for the title in Donegal, suffered brake problems in his Subaru Impreza WRC, an overshoot and just wasn't able to get into the groove. A pair of vice grips helped the brake problems a bit, but he only took fourth. Another man in contention for the title, Thomas Fitzmaurice, took fifth place in his ex-Patrick Elliott Subaru.

Martin Doherty

Kevin Kelleher took his example of the Subaru Impreza WRC to sixth place, benefiting from Donagh Kelly's late problem when a vibration developed in the front-left of the car and they decided it better to retire than risk possible catastrophic damage. Kelly and co-driver Kevin Flanagan were fighting over second place with Boyle when he went out.

Garry Jennings and Neil Doherty

Declan Gallagher put in a massive drive to win the 2WD class in his Toyota Starlet, beating off stiff opposition from drivers such as Camillus Bradley and Dessie Keenan. He took seventh while Group N winner Martin Doherty in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo took eighth just behind. Bradley and Keenan rounded out the Top 10.

Gary McElhinney doing a bit of
entertaining as 00 car

With Brian O'Mahoney taking the overall National title, Frank Kelly had to keep it between the hedges to take the overall 2WD honours. It didn't all go to plan however, as, at one point, he and co-driver Liam Brennan vanished off into someone's garden, through a bush and a fence, at 70mph!

Frank Kelly

Joseph McGonigle, sporting GRN stickers on his glorious Renault Clio R3, took 23^rd overall and first in Class 7, leading his class from start to finish.







All images copyright Jordan Murphy/Global Rally News. No images may be used without expressed permission of the owner.

All hail King Sebastian!

“All hail King Sebastien” wouldn't sound too untoward these days. A week ago, he was preparing to clinch his record-breaking 9^th World Title (Seb has held the record for number of World Driver's Titles since he claimed his fifth title, four years ago). This week, however, the most successful rally driver ever to live is contemplating what he'll do now that he's going to cut back on his WRC outings.

A tribute to the now legendary driver will follow soon, but for now we'll concentrate on the Rally de France Alsace, which, unsurprisingly, Loeb won to clinch his 9^th World Title. Perhaps fittingly, he took the title in front of his adoring home fans, as well as family and friends.

Theirry Neuville was fastest out of the blocks on Thursday evening, winning the 3km Strasbourg street stage that opened the rally by 0.8 secs over Jari-Matti Latvala. Loeb was seventh, 1.6 secs off the pace. However that's the closest anybody came to beating him at home.

“It’s incredible. We were dreaming about this moment at the start of the rally having lived this two years ago. Now we are here again with the victory and the championship in front of all these wonderful people. It’s not possible to get better than this, it was a dream all weekend in front of all these fans. We couldn’t believe the atmosphere two years ago, it was amazing then and it’s amazing now.” said Loeb at the finish.

Rocketing into the lead on SS2, that's where Loeb was to stay until the end. However, on what he hailed as his best ever Tarmac rally, Latvala kept Loeb honest throughout the rally. In the end he was only 15 secs behind Loeb, but it could be argued that Loeb was only doing what he had to do in order to win the title, and taking no risks at the same time. What is undoubtedly true, however, is that Latvala is rapidly gaining pace on Tarmac.

“To be honest it is my best Tarmac result. I have never ever been so close to Sebastien Loeb on a Tarmac rally if you think about the overall gap so I need to be happy.” said the Finnish Ford star.

Mikko Hirvonen took the final podium spot, 44 secs off team-mate Loeb, after a fight with Petter Solberg early in the rally, an excellent result on only his second full tarmac rally in the Citroen DS3 WRC. Theirry Neuville cemented his position as a man to watch in the very near future with a fine fourth place after having lead after SS1.

Mads Ostberg moved ahead of works driver Petter Solberg in the overall points table with fifth place in France. He now sits six points from Jari-Matti Latvala, the top Ford driver in the WRC Driver's table. Ott Tanak and Evgney Novikov took sixth and seventh places, respectively.

Chris Atkinson took eighth place on his second event in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC on Tarmac. Former regular co-driver Glenn Macneall returned to co-drive for Atkinson after Stephane Prevot wasn't available for the rally. The last time Macneall sat in a WRC car was Rallye de Portugal five years ago (admittedly with a much less 'refined' Atkinson), with the Aussie pairings rally ending after the Subaru Impreza S12 WRC was launched off the road at a rapid pace, landing in a field with a fair thump.

“It’s definitely been a lot of fun so far: although these cars are mightily quick I don’t seem to have forgotten too much. So I’m loving every minute of it, and it’s been great to catch up with Chris again. The cars are just as exciting as they always were: who wouldn’t enjoy it?” said Macneall.

Martin Prokop took ninth place while WRC newcomer Sebastian Chardonnet took tenth place, on his début in a Citroen DS3 WRC.

Perhaps the most spectacular retirement from the rally was of Petter Solberg, who's Ford Fiesta RS WRC rocketed off the road and into some vines on SS9. As most drivers would do, he kept his foot down in the hope he would find the road again and continue on. With leaves and branches flying in through a large hole left in the roof after the roof vent was torn off by vine, Solberg drove in the direction he thought the road was. However he found the road a bit too soon, launching out of the vines, across the road and straight into an electric pole, taking it down in the process. The impact broke the steering arm and track control arm, rendering the Fiesta un-drivable.

Explaining the crash, Solberg said: “All the driving before was absolutely perfect. I knew the road was going up on the right again but there were leaves on the windscreen and I couldn’t see. From the outside it looks like ‘why don’t I brake’ but I knew the approximate distance and I was waiting for an open area. I went more on the throttle to get back up to the road again so I don’t get stuck but that’s obviously the decision you take in a split second.”

Others not making it to the finish were Nasser Al-Attiyah, Daniel Olivera, Paulo Nobre and Dani Sordo.

Craig Breen has moved into a two point lead in the S-WRC after his second straight victory in the class. Yazeed Al-Rajhi went off the road on the second-last stage, but still held onto second place. PG Andersson took third after alternator failure put him out at the end of Day 2. His fellow PROTON driver Andreas Aigner took fourth and last of the S-WRC finishers, after Hayden Paddon found himself in a ditch on Day 3.

Evan Evans took yet another win in the FIA WRC Academy in France to round off a fantastic year for the Welsh ace, with it all culminating in the FIA WRC Academy title. Jose Suarez took second, 42 secs off Evans, with John MacCrone third.