MINIs in Oz - Day 2

 

Nathan Quinn and his fellow Australian Glenn MacNeall are 9th overall at the end of day 2 of Rally Australia, an excellent result for Quinn who had never driven his Motorsport Italia MINI WRC before the event. Quinn explained "It has been a pretty awesome day for me out there, driving the stages I love in a car that just continues to blow my mind on every stage I do, I can guarantee you that I have had more fun out there today than anyone else at this event."

Tomorrow the Australian pair complete two runs through the gruelling 50 kilometre Nambucca stage. Stages of this length are both mentally and physically demanding and require complete focus from the crew. "Where we are sitting right now is a good place for us to be. If we can just sit tight and maintain our position then we will finish the day just as happy as today," says Quinn.

Alexander Gelvez has driven his MINI RRC conservatively to bring home a straight car to the Motorsport Italia team. As the Rally Team Venezuela driver explained "There is a big difference between a production car (like the Evo Alex usually drives) and the MINI RRC car and we are just very focused on keeping the car in a straight line. Each stage we improve so we will try to keep doing this."

 

Motorsport Italia Team Manager Bruno De Pianto was pleased with the performance of both his MINI drivers today: "Nathan's stage times today were very encouraging. We all knew that he had potential, but I was impressed with his positive attitude and competitive stage times. At the moment, there's a group of eight experienced WRC drivers sitting tight in front of him on the leader board, but the rally is long. With the 50km Nambucca stage run twice tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised if we see things change up at bit. Alex also realises that today was a short day compared to the weighty itinerary tomorrow and practised a sensible strategy to make sure he brought his MINI home safely to service this evening."

 

Rally Australia MINI round up - Day 1.

Motorsport Italia are running two MINIs in the Rally Australia, a WRC version for Nathan Quinn and a RRC version for Alex Gelvez. The cars may be a long way from home but Nathan Quinn is hoping to use local knowledge to his advantage, Nathan is a native of Coffs Harbour where the rally is based.

At the close of today's stages Quinn is sat in 10th overall which is an excellent result for the young Australian. Despite having driven less than 50kms in the WRC MINI Quinn is setting an impressive pace. The local driver is expected to shine when the rally enters the forests early on Friday.

Alex Gelvez and the RRC Mini are currently 9th in the WRC2 class, the car proving very different to Gelvez's usual Mitsubishi Evo. Gelevez wanted to survive the 2 spectator stages today with the aim of gauging and increasing his pace once the WRC2 cars head out onto the challenging (and currently very dusty) gravel stages of days two and three.

Volkswagen keeps same drivers for 2014

Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito has confirmed that the team will contest the 2014 World Rally Championship with the three drivers currently competing in Australia. Therefore Sebastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen all continue for another year in the WRC.

Whilst Ogier has all but clinched the 2013 WRC driver's title neither Latvala nor Mikkelsen have provided consistent pace to ensure their seats were guaranteed for 2014 - both have certainly made a few errors during the season so far. However Capito said " We have a great team and great team spirit and have achieved far more than we really expected. Why would we want to change anything?"

 

Judging by the first day performance in Australia Capito and Volkswagen seem to have made the correct choice!

Rally Australia - Day 1

Rally Australia after SS2:-

1. Andreas Mikkelsen
2. Meeke +0.9
3. Jari-Matti Latvala +1.4
4. Sébastien Ogier +1.5
5. Hirvonen +1.9

Currently all three Volkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRCs are in the top 5 overall with Andreas Mikkelsen holding the overnight lead.

Audi Sport Quattro concept

Audi have a new Sport Quattro on display at the forth coming Frankfurt IAA Motorshow. Inspired by the ever popular Sport version of the Ur-Quattro the 2013 concept might take its styling concept from the short wheel base Group B rally car but it benefits from a very modern combination of electric and petrol powerplants that offer a total of 700PS (800Nm of torque) when working together. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine develops 552PS with the electric motor providing a healthy 148PS on its own (driving range on the electric motor alone is claimed as 31 miles). Power is transmitted via an eight-speed automatic gear box with a claimed top speed of 189mph and the the 0-62 dash taking 3.7 seconds.

The Sport Quattro concept is slightly shorter than an Audi A5 Coupe, although it has a longer wheelbase, it is however slightly wider than an A5 Coupe. Many of the car's design details hark back to the original Sport Quattro with modern composite and aluminium panels keeping weight to around 1850kg.

Whilst there are no concrete plans for production just yet it is more than possible that a small production run of Sport Quattros could be ready for customers by 2016. As a range topping halo model the Sport Quattro would certainly find buyers, although the expected price of £150,000 means a production run similar to the original's 224 could be as many as Audi can sell.

2013

1984

Congratulations to Abdo Feghali who sealed the 2013 Lebanese rally championship in his Prodrive built Tok Sport run MINI RRC.

Smart ForJoy - IAA Concept

The IAA in Frankfurt is the debut show for Smart's FourJoy concept which, according to Smart themselves, previews its new four seater (ForFour) model that is due to go on sale in late 2014.

The ForJoy offers glimpses of the new ForFour as well as traditional concept car styling. The Smart FourJoy does not have any doors nor does it have roof or tailgate glass but its silhouette and dimensions are expected to be very close to the new incarnation of the ForFour (which was dropped in 2006 because of poor sales). The ForJoy is a design study that focuses on adventure and pleasure (why else would you include two electric powered longboards??) but lurking underneath is an important model for Smart, their return to 'family' motoring. Whilst the FourJoy emphasises the traditional Smart Tridion cell (an exposed metal frame or exo-skeleton to which the body panels attach.) by using polished aluminium, the production model will use less dramatic painted steel. Expect a return to original Smart styling for the rear lights though, these are almost certain to follow the ForJoy's lead and be sculptured within the rear Tridion area.

The production version of the ForFour may well have both the electric drive line from the ForJoy and current ForTwo (55kW motor) as well as a new 900cc three-cylinder direct-injection petrol engine.

The new Smart ForFour will be built alongside the new (3rd generation) Renault Twingo Slovenia, continuing the tradition of the ForFour being a joint venture.

Rally Germany

After 2 stages (and the end of the first day) Volkswagen have a firm grip on the Rally Germany leaderboard with Sebastien Ogier holding a lead of more than 5 seconds over team mate Jari-Matti Latvala. With only two Polo R WRCs competing this weekend the results could be no better for the German team.

Top Ten Overall:
1 S. Ogier/J. Ingrassia Volkswagen Polo R WRC
2 J-M. Latvala/M. Anttila Volkswagen Polo R WRC + 05.7s
3 T. Neuville/N. Gilsoul Ford Fiesta RS WRC + 12.7s
4 D. Sordo/C. Del Barrio Citroën DS3 WRC + 20.5s
5 M. Hirvonen/J. Lehtinen Citroën DS3 WRC + 25.7s
6 M. Ostberg/J. Andersson Ford Fiesta RS WRC + 30.7s
7 N. Al-Attiyah/G. Bernacchini Ford Fiesta RS WRC + 41.4s
8 M. Prokop/M. Ernst Ford Fiesta RS WRC + 45.6s
9 M. Kosciuszko/M. Szcezepaniak Ford Fiesta RS WRC + 51.0s
10 R. Kubica/M. Baran Citroën DS3 RRC + 59.8s

The teams head out tomorrow onto the tight and twisty vineyard roads that present such a demanding challenge to driver and car alike.

Victory for the Nani Roma and the PCR Sport Mini Cooper Countryman.

PCR Sport ‘s Mini Cooper Countryman completed a spectacular debut victory at the recent Rally Sprint Les Corbes  (first round of the Catalonian Rally Championship) with Nani Roma at the wheel.

The event comprised 4 runs of a gravel special stage totalling 52.8 kilometers. Roma built up a healthy leader over the first 3 runs allowing him to nurse the Mini when an engine mount broke. His winning margin was reduced from over a minute down to 28 seconds on the final stage but this was more than enough to show the dominance of the PCR Sport Mini.

With such a sensational debut the PCR Sport team are looking forward to further successful outings throughout the year. Having proven the capabilities of the Mini on gravel their next challenge is to make the car competitive on tarmac.

2nd Rallysprint Les Corbes results:-

1.       Barceló-Nani Roma (Mini Cooper Countryman) 55 mins 09 seconds
2.       Llinas-Torra (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) +0:28 
3.       Fores-ALUJU (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) +1:49 
4.       Gaig-Astudillo (Mitsubishi Pajero Proto) +3:49 
5.       Blancafort-Blancafort (Opel Astra G 2.0) +5:38

....something exciting is happening to German Cars Blog soon....

Le Mans 2013

An eventful and traumatic Le Mans 24 hours has drawn to a close and despite numerous safety car periods, ever changing weather conditions and the tragic accident that befell Allan Simonsen both Audi and Porsche are able to look back on a successful race.

Audi Sport Team Joest won the 2013 event outright with their Audi R18 e-tron quattro (car number 2) ably driven by Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval. Third overall was Audi number 3 driven by Marc Gené, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis. Last year's winners (car 1) Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer endured a difficult race finally claiming fifth overall.

Porsche won two classes in this year's race; 
Porsche AG Team Manthey and the number 92 car of Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb and Richard Leitz won the LM GTE Pro class in their Porsche 911 RSR with the team mates Jorg Bergmeister, Timo Bernhard and Patrick Pilet bringing their Porsche AG Team Manthey 911 RSR home in second.

Meanwhile the number 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR of Christophe Bourret, Raymond Narac and Jean-Karl Vernay took the honours in the LM GTE Am class.

Rally Italia Sardegna

Sébastien Ogier dominated this year’s Rally Italia Sardegna adding yet another victory to his 2013 total in his Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Snatching the lead on the first stage the ever impressive Frenchman extended his margin of victory to over 1 minute 16 seconds by the end of the last stage in Italy.

Jari-Matti Latvala overcame a large loss of time (approx 2 minutes) with a first stage puncture to claim 3^rd overall whilst the third factory Volkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC of Andreas Mikkelsen retired with broken suspension late on in the last day.

Latvala was buoyed by his performance knowing his early time loss was the only reason he couldn’t challenge for victory, his confidence is high as the WRC now moves to Finland, Jari-Matti’s home event. Sébastien is also extremely confident and hopes to continue his good form through to Finland as he aims to be one of the very few non-Scandinavians drivers to win what is commonly known as the Finnish Grand Prix.

Mikkelsen meanwhile may be lamenting the off which resulted in his suspension breaking although team boss Jost Capito was more than please with his young star’s performance saying “things like that happen when you attack”. Andreas had been pilling the pressure on 4^th placed Sordo having noticeably increased his speed during the event as he gains more experience of both the team and the VW Polo R WRC.

Volkswagen Motorsport must be looking forward to Finland and the challenges the fast, flowing crest filled roads offer.

1	S. OGIER / J. INGRASSIA
2	T. Neuville / N. Gilsoul
3	J-M. LATVALA / M. ANTTILA
4	D. Sordo / C. Del Barrio
5	M. Prokop / M. Ernst

Rally Italia Sardegna

Volkswagen Polo driver Sebastien Ogier leads Rally Italia Sardegna at the end of day one by 46.6 seconds.
His Volkswagen team mate Jari-Matti Latvala is fifth overall despite dropping 2 minutes with a first stage puncture (pictured).
The third Volkswagen Motorsport Polo R WRC currently occupies sixth overall, Andreas Mikkelsen having ceded his fifth place to Jari-Matti Latavla on the final night stage of today.

1. S OGIER
2. M Hirvonen
3. T Neuville
4. D Sordo
5. J-M LATVALA
6. A MIKKELSEN
7. M Prokop
8. M Kosciuszko
9. E Evans
10. R Kubica

Volswagen Polo R WRC - Acropolis Rally

Volkswagen Motorsport are hoping to have cured the handbrake issues that have blighted the Polo R WRC so far this season. They have switched to a new hydraulic system for this week’s Acropolis rally.

Rallycross RX 3rd Round, Hungary

Swedish driver Anton Marklund finishes 8th in Nyirad, proving that he’s part of the team of young drivers that will clearly make their mark on rallycross.

This weekend saw thousands of rallycross fans congregate to sunny Nyirad, Hungary, to witness the fuel-filled excitement the third round of the FIA European Championships brought to the track.

Anton, who with 20 years of age is the youngest driver in the Supercar class, impressed with consistent quality driving and speed that meant even long-established competitors were left in the dust. 

Despite some trouble with the steering throughout practice, a tricky start and an involuntary stop due to a spin in front of him during the first two heats, Marklund managed to qualify for the semi-finals in 3rd overall position, having won his third heat and showing great tactical and technical understanding throughout.

A slight hesitation at the start in the semis lead to Marklund being stuck behind Skoda driver Knut Ove Borseth who finished third and grabbed the final place in the finals. Marklund ended the semi-finals in fourth position, finishing this round of the Championships overall in 8th.

“I made a mistake at the start, leaving room on the inside for Borseth to get in front of me – he was driving very safe from then on, leaving me no opportunity to get past him. I’m happy with today’s performance though. This being my first season driving Supercar, I’m taking all this as learning experience. The car is going really well, and I feel we’re improving every time”, comments Anton, “I’m looking forward to showing Finland what we’ve got.”

Marklund and his No. 92 Volkswagen Polo R Supercar are now on 42 points and in 4th position in the Championships, one point ahead of Rallycross legend Petter Solberg. 

{photo QNIGAN.COM}