MINI is making a comeback on the international rally circuit. From 2011, the brand will compete at selected rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and will go on to contest the entire season from 2012 onwards. This involvement is planned for several years.

The car charged with this task is the MINI Countryman WRC, which is being developed by Prodrive, in close cooperation with MINI, and is based on the production model. The powerful heart of the racing car is a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine from BMW Motorsport.

The car complies with the new Super2000 regulations put in place by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which stipulate the use of turbo engines with 1,600 cc displacement and four-wheel drive combined with an increased emphasis on road relevant technologies. The result is a significant 25 per cent reduction in overall costs. The first test drive for the MINI Countryman WRC, which will also be available to customer teams, is planned for autumn 2010.

This decision sees MINI continue its success story in the world of rallying. In the 1960s, the MINI Cooper S caused a sensation with victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. The company also tasted success on many occasions in the European Rally Championship. Having already demonstrated the sporty character of its models in many countries in the MINI CHALLENGE, the brand is now taking its presence in motorsport to a new level with the commitment to the WRC.

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing, says: “I am delighted MINI will be represented on one of the most popular stages in international motorsport. The success enjoyed on the rally circuit has made a vital contribution to the image of the brand. MINI customers have always shown great interest in motorsport. I am convinced we will add a few more chapters to our success story in rallying. The MINI Countryman provides an excellent basis, from which to create a competitive racing car for the world championship. In Prodrive, we have a strong and experienced partner. We will work hard together over the coming months to ensure we get the project on track right from the word go.”

“This is a very exciting new motorsport programme,” said Prodrive Chairman, David Richards. “During the 1960s MINI captured the imagination of the world when the tiny car took on the might of V8 powered Fords and won what was then one of the toughest motorsport events, the 4000km Monte Carlo rally. I believe our new MINI will become a firm favourite of the latest generation of rally fans, just as it is adored by its millions of owners across the world. We already have a significant number of confirmed customer orders for the new MINI rally car with the first deliveries scheduled for the start of the 2011 season.”

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This year’s exclusive Salon Privé event live from the lawns of the Hurlingham Club, London.

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Team BMW Motorsport has made a triumphant return and won the 2010 24-hour race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Five years since the manufacturer’s last victory, the no. 25 BMW M3 GT2 claimed BMW’s 19th victory at this endurance classic on Sunday. The winning car, with Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR), Uwe Alzen (DE) and Pedro Lamy (PT) at the wheel, crossed the finish line first after 154 laps of the 25.378-kilometre circuit. The quartet of drivers produced a flawless performance and fought their way onto the top step of the podium despite gearbox problems in the last three hours.


An impressive fight back saw the second BMW M3 GT2, car number 26, driven by Dirk Werner (DE), Dirk Müller (DE), Andy Priaulx (GB) and Dirk Adorf (DE) race through the field to finish in seventh in front of 220,000 spectators. A crash, while swerving to avoid a collision, resulted in the four drivers losing an hour in the pits early on in the race and dropping back to 182nd. In cool, but dry conditions, car number 26 worked its way back up the field lap by lap. The drivers’ fighting spirit was ultimately rewarded.

The two private BMW Z4 GT3 cars with numbers 76 and 69, run by Schubert Motorsport and Dörr Motorsport respectively, rounded off an excellent overall result for BMW by finishing in fourth and ninth. In addition to the win, BMW teams secured ten class wins at the Nordschleife. These results have further strengthened BMW’s position as the most successful manufacturer in the history of the race. Of the 198 cars lining up for this year’s event, 63 were BMWs.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: “That was a fantastic return for us at the 24-hour race here on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. This win reminds me of the triumph in Le Mans in 1999. I have never known excitement like I experienced today. After some of our direct rivals fell by the wayside, our victory was also hanging by a thread. At about 12.00 the winning car developed a gearbox problem, resulting in the loss of one gear. Shortly after 13.00 other gears gradually gave up. It was a masterful performance how Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen brought the car home in first place in this crucial phase. The tension was enormous for all of us, so the relief was all the greater when the car crossed the finish line. I must say a big thank you to every single member of the team. Everyone worked perfectly together. Thanks also to our loyal fans, who have taken us to their hearts after a five-year break and given us such great support.”

For the Schnitzer Motorsport team this is the fifth win in the “Green Hell” after previous victories in 1989, 1990, 2004 and 2005. Team Manager Charly Lamm said: “Days like this are the ultimate reason why I love my profession so much. The commitment shown by the entire team today is really unique. We had to overcome some tricky situations, but always believed in ourselves. The preparation time was tough, as we had to get the best possible package on its feet within a relatively short timeframe. We obviously succeeded. It goes without saying that I feel sorry for the rivals who did not finish the race. However, reliability is crucial in a race like this, and in that regard we were number one today.”

The fast and flawless work which Schnitzer Motorsport has demonstrated for decades played a big role in this triumph. Following Werner’s crash on the eighth lap, the mechanics changed the front-left suspension, the radiator and the rear-left shock absorber on the number 26 BMW M3 GT2. The winning car also experienced difficulties: tyre damage on lap 46 and a damaged radiator just six laps later also required unscheduled pit stops. In addition, the car developed a gearbox problem in the last three hours. However, the team and drivers stayed calm and refused to be denied victory once they had taken over at the head of the field with two hours remaining.

A fifth victory on the Nordschleife sees Pedro Lamy draw level in the all-time winners’ list with Marcel Tiemann (DE), who is the only driver to have enjoyed as much success at the 24-hour race as the Portuguese BMW driver. For Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen this was the second victory at probably the most challenging circuit in the world. Augusto Farfus also goes into the Nordschleife history books following his first 24-hour start in a works car.

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Playing a key role in helping to finalise the development of the LFA before it enters production in December, the gruelling 24h race offers Lexus and Gazoo Racing the unique opportunity to not only foster the peerless quality, durability and reliability by pushing cutting-edge technology to the extremes of mechanical endurance but also to hone the technical skills of the personnel involved in the development of future Lexus and Toyota production vehicles. 

Furthermore, by participating in the 24 Hours Endurance Race Lexus and Toyota aim to showcase their dedication through Gazoo Racing to produce more emotional cars and becoming more attractive and desirable to a wider range of customers.

This year’s race marks the third consecutive entry of the Lexus LFA and, significantly, the first participation of the car in standard production guise.

Competing in the SP8 (‘Near production’) class, the race version of the LFA does not differ substantially from the road car, particularly with regard to construction, engine and transmission. Mandatory safety equipment has been installed and other modifications such as a refined aero package including a fixed rear wing and a larger fuel tank are made to reflect the format of the 24h race and the Nürburgring circuit.

Led by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC)’s master test driver Hiromu Naruse, the Gazoo Racing team will make its fourth appearance at the Nürburging 24h race. It is a team comprised of engineers and technicians from TMC, and, whilst they’ve regularly come together over recent months to support the LFA in the build-up to the 24h race, their ‘day-jobs’ are within the TMC engineering community. This kind of virtual organisation ensures that the collective learning is transmitted directly back into the core of the engineering activity.

The driver line-up includes four Japanese and three German pilots with outstanding endurance and GT racing credentials, including three champions from the Japanese Super GT series.

As part of the preparation of the cars and the drivers, Gazoo Racing entered the first three VLN races of 2010. Consistently finishing in leading positions in its SP8 class, the LFA has also demonstrated its competitiveness against track-prepared specialist racing cars, with a best finish of 17^th overall in VLN2.

Gazoo Racing team for 38^th 24 Hours Nürburgring

Gazoo Racing drivers for 38^th 24 Hours Nürburgring

Specifications of Lexus LFA for 38^th 24 Hours Nürburgring

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Jason Plato achieved the first ever victory for the Silverline Chevrolet team in Round 5 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham.

The Oxford-based driver came home ahead of the pack in Round Five of the series after a stunning start that saw him pass both Hondas on the opening straight, driving a very clean and technical race to earn him his 54th BTCC victory, and the Chevrolet Cruze its first.

Plato fought off pressure from Rob Collard’s BMW to cross the line just fractions of a second ahead of the 2009 champion, in the second of three races that saw him take the outright lead in the overall driver’s championship.

The victory followed an impressive first race, where Plato climbed his way up to third from fifth on the grid on a very tricky surface. With a wet track drying out, he chose to run on slick tyres front and rear, which cost him time in the early part of the race, but more than compensated later on, as drivers who had elected to run slicks at the front and wets at the rear fell victim to premature tyre wear.

Later on, the BTCC’s lottery-style reverse grid led to Plato starting 9th on the grid in the third race, with team-mate Alex MacDowall starting from 12th.

The youngest driver on the grid had a frustrating afternoon. Having qualified an impressive third for the first race, a mixture of slick and wet tyres led to a fall down the rankings for the 19-year old in the first race, while two finishes outside the top 10 meant he was on the sixth row for the final race. Things went from bad to worse after he span out on the second lap of Round Six, sustaining damage to the rear of the car.

The third race of the day was better for Plato – despite being forced to start on the fifth row, Jason climbed three places to finish sixth overall, adding a credible 6 points to his total, bringing his tally for the day to 33.

Plato now leads Matt Neal by 17 points in the championship, with the Silverline Chevrolet team leading Honda in the manufacturers/constructors standings with 118 points to 100.

“There’s still plenty of scope for us to get even more out of the car,” said the championship leader. “We proved today that our car is capable of winning races, and the changes we made between the first and second races saw us improve the car considerably – but I think we’ll be even faster as the season progresses.”

The Silverline Chevrolet Team will have little time to rest ahead of the next round of the championship, as the BTCC heads to Brands Hatch on Sunday May 2nd. For more information on the Silverline Chevrolet BTCC team, or to chart its progress through the season, visit www.chevroletbtcc.co.uk

Manufacturers/Constructors Standings after Round 6

Driver Standings after Round 6

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The new Silverline Chevrolet racing team enjoyed a promising start to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, amassing 74 points to leave the team first overall in the manufacturers’ standings.

And thanks to a solid day’s work, Jason Plato finished the day in second place in the overall drivers’ championship, having set out to lay a firm foundation for his championship campaign.

“I set myself a target of 30 points and came away with 31,” said the Oxfordshire-based former champion. “Our championship campaign starts in earnest at Rockingham – there, we’ll be really going for it.”

In the first of three races, Plato finished second to bring home 12 points, from starting fifth on the grid.

Jason made an early pass on Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek Racing Vauxhall, taking fourth place and defending fiercely to keep Onslow-Cole’s Aon Ford at bay as the pair raced door-to-door through the chicane. With both Hondas suffering tyre problems, the door was opened for Plato to charge through to a solid second place. The grid’s youngest driver, 19-year old Alex MacDowall, came home a strong seventh overall.

Speaking to ITV after the race, Jason commented: “It’s always tough here, and this is the Vauxhall hunting ground. We played it conservative with the tyres, because it is hard here on them.  The game plan for us was to finish strongly.  Second place is a lot of points; it’s a good start to our campaign.” 

In the second race, Plato came home fourth after a minor altercation with Matt Neal’s Honda at Club two laps from the finish, while MacDowall improved on his first race performance to come home in sixth.

“Matt had such a good run, so I knew he’d have a go,” said Jason. “I thought, I’d let him come round the outside of me and I’d hold him out as long as I could, so he wouldn’t be able to get up the inside. But it didn’t quite work.  As we got onto the brakes, I lost the rear of my car, so it sent me in to him and it was game over.  I was trying to be crafty but it was a bit of a mistake from me.  It would have been nice for a second, but we’ll take fourth.  My championship campaign begins at Rockingham.”

The draw for grid positions in race three saw MacDowall start from fourth position, with Plato a row behind in sixth.

But a slow start from MacDowall saw him drop down to 14^th, working his way back up to ninth as the race went on to secure a points finish.

The gap was left open for Plato to secure his second podium position of the day, taking advantage of a collision between Matt Neal and Rob Collard to move up to third overall, after fighting off a tough challenge from Fabrizio Giovanardi and Gordon Shedden.

“Thruxton was primarily about turning in a solid points performance,” said Jason. “It’s a hard circuit, it really takes its toll on tyres and BTCC cars are heavy things – my aim was to make the car last and get some decent points on the board ahead of Rockingham and Brands, where we’ll really go for it.”

For Alex MacDowall, Thruxton was a great opportunity to familiarise himself with the Cruze ahead of the rest of the season.

“It was a little daunting at first,” said the Carlisle-based youngster, “I was thinking I’m on a grid surrounded by BTCC drivers, and they’re not renowned for being gentle, but after the first two races I really settled in.

“The car is great – it has a lot of straight line speed, and I’m sure that with the RML team behind us, as well as Chevrolet and Silverline, we can get plenty more out of it as the season progresses.”

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The newest manufacturer-backed team in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has shown off its cars in full livery for the first time, at the same time setting a benchmark time in testing.

Driven by Jason Plato, the first distinctive blue Silverline Chevrolet Cruze was the fastest car in testing by two-tenths of a second, giving the team high hopes for the 2010 season.

“We made really good progress with the car,” said Plato. “Starting where we left off after testing at Oulton Park, we validated a number of changes we had made to the set-up and also found a few that didn’t work – just what a testing session is for.

“It was great to get even more familiar with the Cruze, and after setting the fastest time of the day we’re all geared up for when we get to Thruxton – we’re after big points.”

Plato’s team mate Alex MacDowall, the youngest driver in the series, was also pleased with the car.

“It feels quick and I’m getting increasingly confident with it,” said the Carlisle-based 19-year old. “I was a couple of tenths off the pace in testing, but we were trying out various set ups with the car and I know I could get it to go a lot quicker.”

The first race of the season takes place at Thruxton, Hants, on Sunday April 4th. Or if you can’t wait to see the Cruze BTCC car in action, visit www.chevroletbtcc.co.uk

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With a fine motorsport heritage behind it, Chevrolet is one of the most evocative names on any starting grid.

And in 2010, motorsport fans in the UK will get the chance to see an official Chevrolet team in action, with two manufacturer-backed Cruzes entering the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

Two Silverline Chevrolet Cruzes will appear on the grid for the 2010 season, expected to be one of the closest and most exciting in the series history. The cars will be prepared by the Wellingborough-based RML team, which also looks after Chevrolet’s WTCC Cruzes.

“The Cruze has already shown itself to be a superb racing car in the World Touring Car Championship,” said Chevrolet Managing Director, Mark Terry. “So the decision to enter it in the most high profile series in the UK was made much easier. We’re looking forward to an exciting season, and one that will raise the profile of both the Chevrolet brand, and the style and dynamic appeal of the Cruze – a car that has already proven to be a success both on and off the track.”

As far as drivers are concerned, the Silverline Chevrolet team sports an exciting mixture of both youth and experience, with former BTCC champion and 2009 runner-up, Jason Plato, driving the first car, and 19-year old Alex MacDowall driving the second. It’s the Carlisle-based teenager’s first season in BTCC, having previously competed in the top rankings of the Renault Clio Cup.

Plato has already driven a Chevrolet in the BTCC through 2009, a privately entered Lacetti sponsored by Silverline Tools, which continues to be a major team sponsor alongside Chevrolet UK.

“I always had confidence that teaming up with RML and Chevrolet would mean wins, The Lacetti of 2009 was a formidable piece of kit,” said Plato, 42. “Now in 2010 we have manufacturer support from Chevrolet and a very exciting new car in the Cruze. We are very motivated to make this our year, the opposition had better be ready –Roll on Thruxton!”

The first race in the 2010 BTCC season – and Chevrolet’s debut as an official manufacturer-backed team – takes place on Easter Sunday, April 4, at Thruxton, Hants. Fans can follow the progress of the Chevrolet team at a dedicated website –www.chevroletbtcc.co.uk

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Automotive glazing services company, Auto Windscreens has confirmed its second season as a sponsor in the UK’s leading Motorsport series; The 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Auto Windscreens has thrown its support behind Team Aon, which will be running drivers Tom Chilton (25) and Tom Onslow-Cole (23). Each driver will run an LPG-powered Ford Focus ST – the first ever LPG cars in the 30 race BTCC.

Commenting on the sponsorship deal, Nigel Davies, Auto Windscreens’ Sales and Marketing Director, said: “We are proud to be back as a sponsor in the 2010 BTCC. Being the only LPG cars on the grid this season, all eyes will be on the Team Aon drivers. Chilton and Onslow-Cole have both youth and ambition on their side and I am confident they will not disappoint in the 2010 season.”

Team Aon Team Principal Mike Earle added: “We are looking forward to a competitive season with new Calor powered Ford Focus and we are delighted to welcome Auto Windscreens on-board for an exciting new partnership for a thrilling new season of racing.” 

Chilton, who has recently been signed as The Sun’s online columnist, took pole position at the final meeting of the 2009 BTCC, held at Brands Hatch, and in doing so he became the first Ford driver to do so for over nine years.

Chilton is also credited with being the youngest ever competitor in the BTCC. Chilton is also the youngest ever driver to win a race in the BTCC and youngest ever podium finisher back in 2004.

The 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship starts at Thruxton, Hampshire, on Sunday 4^th April.

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Audi will fight for victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours on June 12/13 with an evolution of the R15 TDI diesel race sports car. An extensive testing program with the revised LMP1 vehicle has just begun in the United States.

“From Audi’s perspective, the LMP1 is the better alternative to Formula 1 because this motorsport category features technologies and developments which are relevant to production vehicles,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “At Le Mans, efficiency is of paramount importance – and today, more than ever before, it is a key deliverable of production vehicles as well and it is one of Audi’s special strengths.”

Therefore, efficiency was a focal point during the R15 TDI evolution project – particularly in the complex area of aerodynamics. “This year, the Le Mans regulations prescribe air restrictors with a smaller diameter and reduced supercharging pressure for diesel-powered vehicles,” says Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Technology at Audi Sport. “Due to the reduction of engine power as a result of the regulations we have tried to make the car’s aerodynamics even more efficient than before and to improve the Cd value and downforce parameters.”

A late change in regulations that was announced only in November made the work of the engineers more difficult and forced Audi to completely modify the front section of the R15 TDI. Consequently, the diesel race sports car that is internally designated as “R15 plus” now has a new, distinctive face featuring a split nose.

The entire shape of the R15 TDI’s body has been revised for maximum efficiency. The same is true for the modified cooling and fuel tank system. The V10 TDI engine has been optimized for the smaller air restrictors and reduced supercharging pressure. “Our objective was to keep power loss to a minimum despite the limitations imposed by the regulations,” explains Ulrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Technology at Audi Sport. “We managed to do that through a lot of detailed work.” The 5.5-liter power plant continues to deliver more than 440 kW.

“After Le Mans 2009, our specifications for the R15 plus listed about 20 key items,” says Dr. Martin Mühlmeier. “Efficiency and reliability were at the top of the list but we also looked at details like improved night time lighting of the track. We were able to meet this wish of the drivers with a new headlight concept.”

The evolution version of the Audi R15 TDI completed its roll out on the Audi test track at Neustadt (Germany) on March 3. The vehicle was subsequently flown to the United States for two weeks of in-depth testing. Before the race at Le Mans in June, Audi Sport Team Joest will complete an extensive testing program on various European race tracks and test races at the 8 Hours of Le Castellet (France) on April 11 and at the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on May 9.

A new partner has now joined the project: the logo of the renowned watchmaker TAG Heuer will be featured on the Audi R15 TDI. Some of the brand’s fame stems from U.S. actor Steve McQueen wearing a TAG Heuer watch in the movie “Le Mans”.

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Following unprecedented competitor demand, the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB is now full, with a 28-car entry confirmed for the first time in the history of the category.

The Carrera Cup GB set a new grid record at Brands Hatch last year when a 27-car field lined up for the deciding races of the season. That marker should be bettered when the 2010 season gets under way at Thruxton, Hampshire, on April 3/4.

“This is an incredible situation for the Carrera Cup GB,” said Porsche Cars GB Managing Director, Andy Goss. “The entries for the 2010 season are impressive. The drivers and teams have worked very hard to get to this stage and we are set for the best season ever. I’m particularly pleased that the field is a great mix of established competitors and an influx of newcomers.”

One of the largest teams on the grid will be the six-car squad from Motorbase Performance, based near Tonbridge, Kent, and team boss David Bartrum says that the capacity grid is testimony to the performance of the 911 GT3 Cup race cars, the brand appeal of racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship and not least the commitment of Porsche Cars GB.

“I said a year ago that the Carrera Cup was buzzing and it’s now off the scale,” said Bartrum. “It proves that the work of Porsche Cars GB and the Carrera Cup team has really paid dividends. It’s really good to see a sell-out grid in the current climate.”

Now entering its eighth season, the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship comprises a superb 20-race programme alongside the MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Using the Carrera Cup format that is established in many countries around the world, the Championship sees drivers racing identical versions of the 420bhp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. And, with minimal modifications permitted to the cars, it is only the drivers’ skill, talent and experience that make the decisive difference in the fight for victory, points and prize money. Spectacular action is always a feature of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and with high calibre drivers taking part, close racing between the cars is guaranteed.

The prize fund of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB is one of the largest in national motorsport and a purse in excess of £150,000 will be shared across the grid. In addition, the overall 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Champion will also be presented with a new Porsche 911 Carrera, on loan for twelve months following their victory.

For the 2010 Championship, the field has been capped at 28 cars to ensure that all registered contenders can start each of the races. However, the Championship organisers have now opened a reserve list in case any slots become available. It is also possible that spaces at specific race meetings may become open and these will be offered to any teams or drivers on the waiting list.

The full Carrera Cup GB entry list will be unveiled at the Championship’s pre-season test and media day at Silverstone on Wednesday 17 March.

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Curitiba – It has been the sweetest possible start of the 2010 WTCC season for Chevrolet: a triple win in race 1, another podium in race 2 and six finishes in the points in total have put the team in the lead of the Manufacturers’ standings, while Yvan Muller tops, together with Tarquini, the Drivers’ ranking.

Race 1 in a rain-soaked track in Curitiba was a Chevrolet show, with the three Cruzes of Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu dominating from the start and signing an impressive triple victory. In race 2, despite the reversed grid, the Cruzes were again able to repeat a trio, this time in 3rd, 4th and 5th positions, with a different order: Menu, Muller and Huff, respectively.

Curitiba marked a great team achievement, with the Cruze impressing both for its performance level and its reliability. The team is leaving Brazil as leader in both championships, a position which is both the best reward for the hard work done by the entire team and a wonderful start to 2010. 

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Race Retro’s new live rally stage has a host of famous names and an array of cars pleasing the crowds as they did in races past. Celebrating the best in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive action, the live rally stage gives visitors the chance to see what rally cars were like in the past – cars like the family-saloon-turned–rally-hero works Triumph 2.5PI, which will be driven by Brian Culcheth.

Stig Blomqvist will be delighting Race Retro-goers – alongside reigning British Rally Champion Keith Cronin – by driving a range of ex-works Audi quattros and the mighty Aston Martin V8 Rally GT.

Rally stars getting behind the wheel include Russell Brookes, driving an Opel Manta 400 and a Ford Sierra Cosworth. Russell made his name driving cars sponsored by ‘Andrews Heat for Hire’, and fans of those cars are in for a treat, as Russell will be reunited with all the Andrews-sponsored cars slated to take part.

Possibly the most crowd-pleasing era for rallying was the Group B period, and the live stage is serving up some fire-breathing treats from this illustrious period. A Metro 6R4, Ford RS 200, Peugeot 205T16 will show just how fast and exciting these cars really were.

Rally cars from the glam rock era include a V8-engined Chevrolet Firenza, a Datsun 260Z and for rear-engined sideways action, an Alpine-Renault A110. Slightly later, but also bringing tail-out action is a 1980 Porsche 911 SC.

Other cars taking part in the live rally stage are a Fiat Ritmo (Strada) Abarth, Fiat 131 Abarth, Lancia Delta Integrale EVO, Triumph TR7 V8 and a Rover V8 Vitesse. It all adds up to plenty of tail-sliding, rip-roaring action!

Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and £15 for Saturday and Sunday when booking in advance or upgrade to a VIP ticket with fantastic hospitality and a chance to meet our special guests. Children’s tickets are £5 on Friday or Saturday and free on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com

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Guy Wilks will swap the wintry north east of England for the hot and humid interior of Brazil, when the Škoda UK Motorsport driver contests Round 2 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Rally International de Curitiba (4-6 March), in his Fabia S2000.

In preparation for the dramatic change in temperature, Guy has added sauna and steam room work-outs to his gruelling fitness regime of daily runs across the County Durham countryside, and is in peak physical shape for the sauna-like in-car temperatures that he is expecting to face in Brazil.

The 29-year old driver from Darlington currently lies 6th in the IRC standings after a faultless performance on Rallye Monte Carlo (19-23 January). Another points-scoring result in Brazil is likely to see Guy move up the table, as only two of the drivers ahead of him in the series, fellow Škoda Fabia S2000 drivers Juho Hänninen and Jan Kopecký, are contesting the event.

A top eight finish won’t be easy, as the Rally International de Curitiba has attracted a strong 48 car entry, with drivers from Great Britain, Czech Republic, Finland, Portugal, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil.

Whilst this will be Guy’s first rally in Brazil, he and co-driver Phil Pugh (Tywyn) are no strangers to rallying overseas and against local experts, and have contested events as far afield as Argentina and Mexico. It will also be their first gravel rally since winning the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland three and a half months ago, although Guy did complete a very productive 112 mile (180 kms) test near Osilo, in the northern part of Sardinia (February 19-20), where he concentrated on getting the car set-up to exactly how he likes it. With temperatures topping just 14ºC on the Mediterranean island, the Škoda UK Motorsport team hopes that it will merely be a case of adjusting the settings for the anticipated 28ºC conditions when it runs the Fabia S2000 at the pre-rally shakedown in Brazil.

Based 255 miles (410 kms) south-west of Sao Paulo, the Rally International de Curitiba will be a difficult event, as the terrain is flat and very fast, with lots of high-speed crests and dust to contend with. Drivers who have contested the event before will be at a distinct advantage, yet Guy’s aim is to challenge for a top position and score as many IRC points as he can.

Guy Wilks: “We had a very good test in Sardinia.  We found a four kilometre section of gravel road that was flat and very fast – just what we expect to find in Brazil.  We were also lucky it stayed dry, and although it was a lot colder in Sardinia than it will be in Brazil, it was certainly the best conditions we could have hoped for in Europe at this time of year.

“Brazil will be a difficult rally, but I like the challenge of new events and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve trained hard and I’m in good physical shape, and I feel ready for the heat and humidity. If all goes to plan, we’ll just need to make a few minor adjustments to the set-up of the Škoda Fabia S2000 during the pre-event shakedown, and then we’ll be ready for what promises to be two days of very tough competition.

“The trip to South America isn’t just about the rally in Brazil, as twelve days after we’ll be starting Rally Argentina. The focus will be very much on returning to the UK with a good haul of points after two strong performances.”

The Rally International de Curitiba begins with a ceremonial start in the city centre on Thursday 4 March. The action begins the following day, with Leg 1 competition taking place over three separate fast and flowing gravel stages located to the west of Curitiba.  The longest of these, the 11.8 mile (19 km) opening Campo Magro stage, is repeated three times, and the day contains a total of seven stages equalling 64 miles (103 kms).

Leg 2 takes place on Saturday 6 March and is the longer of the two legs, as it contains 73.5 miles (118.3 kms) of competition. Five gravel stages (two of which are repeated) are planned in the countryside north east of Curitiba, beginning with the 17.4 mile (28 kms) Baocaiuva test, which is the longest stage of the rally. The climax to the event is the spectacular 2 mile (3.38 km) Super Prime Pinhais stage, which takes place on a purpose-built arena adjacent to the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba; the venue for the opening round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, which takes place the following day. 

The rally winner is expected to complete the 15th and final super-special stage at 16.00 local time (19.00 UK time) after two days and 137.5 miles (221.3kms) of competition.

Eurosport will broadcast recorded highlights from each day of the Rally International de Curitiba, beginning on Friday 5 March. Eurosport and Eurosport 2 will then broadcast a Magazine programme, featuring the event (Monday 8 – Wednesday 10 March). Please check TV listings for details.

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The year 2010 marks 75 years of the Jaguar name on both road and race cars.
As a continuation of this great heritage, Jaguar can confirm it will return to the famed Le Mans 24 hours. With a total of seven wins between 1951 and 1990, Jaguar is the single most successful British make in the race’s history. Jaguar will return to Le Mans this year lining up on the starting grid on 12th June 2010 with an XKR GT2 run by JaguarRSR. 

Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner, JaguarRSR commented: “We are delighted the ACO has granted us entry in the prestigious 24 hours of Le Mans. It is a race that is held dearly in the hearts of motorsport fans across the world and for Jaguar to be racing again is something special.

“We are fortunate to bring an international line up of the world’s finest driving talent including Scott Pruett and Marc Goossens as our drivers for this race.”

Gentilozzi, who will drive the JaguarRSR XKR GT2 in the 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) added: “Spirits will be high around Jaguar’s return to Le Mans but we must remember the incredibly high level of competition – a podium place in our category will not fall into our hands. That said, I can guarantee 100 per cent commitment from JaguarRSR and urge fans of Jaguar and Britain’s racing heritage to support the team whole heartedly.”

C.J. O’Donnell, Global Marketing Director of Jaguar Cars said: “Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. It was twenty years ago that Jaguar last won Le Mans with a TWR Jaguar Sport entry driven by John Nielsen, Price Cobb and Martin Brundle. Returning to Le Mans will reignite excitement for the marque across the globe, all the more poignant in our 75th year.

“With the introduction of the new XK, XF and XJ, the Jaguar brand has advanced cutting-edge technology, stunning design and our ‘R’ performance driving experience.  We now return to motorsport to demonstrate this achievement and the prowess of the Jaguar XKR.”

In 1951, the C-type won Le Mans at its first attempt, with a further victory in 1953.  The D-type took Le Mans wins in 1955, 1956 and 1957 while this racing success was followed in 1988 with the Jaguar XJR-9LM, a V12-powered Group C car. Another outright victory would follow in 1990 with the Jaguar XJR-12.

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The all-new Ford Fiesta is fun to drive, but for Monster World Rally Team driver Ken Block, fun takes on a different meaning.

When you spend your time dreaming up ways to push your rally car to new limits and create stunts that will create the next “must see” YouTube video, fun is a mixture of horsepower, race fuel and adrenaline. This weekend, Block and his newly formed Monster World Rally Team will debut their Ford Fiesta Rally America program at Sno*Drift in Atlanta, Mich. as they demonstrate their definition of fun. 

Block and the Monster World Rally Team will campaign seven rally events in North America in 2010 for Ford, including the Summer X Games in August. Block will pilot a 2011 Ford Fiesta based on the race-winning European Rallycross Fiesta prepared by Olsbergs Motorsports Evolution.

“I am very excited to finally be in the Fiesta,” said Block. “The Fiesta is the car that beat me last summer at X Games.  Ford has a great platform with the Fiesta, and I can’t wait to see what I can do in the Rally America championship and at the X Games later this year.”

Fiesta’s North American racing debut came at the 2009 Summer X Games where it took the Gold in rally competition.  Block’s 2.0-liter turbocharged Fiesta, modified to the Open Class specification for Rally America, is capable of producing over 490 hp at 8,000 rpm, but due to a required turbo-inlet restrictor by the series, the Fiesta will be running in the range of 330 hp.

Block, who will be co-driven by Italian Alessandro Gelsomino, will tackle all six rounds of the Rally America series in his Fiesta, which will be backed by Monster Energy Drink and Ford.  His North American program will culminate at X Games 16 in Los Angeles in early August.

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Peugeot UK’s Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle will fly to Sao Paulo next month for the Rally Curitibia Brazil, the next round of the IRC Series, after an eventful 2010 Monte Carlo Rally.

At one stage, the reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge Champions looked to be ready to take the lead, probably the most challenging of all asphalt rallies. They went into Day Two of the event, ready to do battle with Ford’s WRC stars Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen.

Problems developed on Stage 5. Their Peugeot 207 S2000 touched hidden black ice on the approach to a bridge. The car slid slightly wide and went down an embankment. The car could not be recovered. Meeke and Nagle stood on the approach to the corner, sportingly warning fellow competitors to slow down.

Meeke insisted the fault was all his, but there were no recriminations from team chief Marc Van Dalen. “These things happen. We are a team. We win together, we lose together, and we will go to Brazil to win once more” he told iRally. “I have complete confidence in Kris and Paul”.

Tyre choice is always crucial in the Monte Carlo Rally, but in this instance, the car would have slid off whatever tyre combination was fitted.

There was a certain sense of déjà vu about the incident. A similar “off” happened in last year’s Monte Carlo, but Meeke and Nagle then went on to win the IRC Drivers Championship, and helped Peugeot retain their manufacturers’ title. Van Dalen says the same can happen this year, and head of Peugeot Sport Olivier Quesnel, speaking to Rally Radio in Monte Carlo, warmly praised Meeke’s ability.

The final night of the rally saw an exciting battle on the legendary Col de Turini stages between Mikko Hirvonen and Sébastien Ogier. Hirvonen the overnight leader defied the pundits by holding the Frenchman at bay on SS12 and13. Ogier eventually retired ahead of the final 2 stages with a broken alternator drive shaft, gifting a very comfortable victory to Hirvonen.

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge takes participating drivers to some of the most exciting and evocative rallies of the world. Peugeot has won the Manufacturers’ Championship every year for the last three years.

Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle’s campaign is backed by Peugeot UK, who use the IRC to showcase the rally version of their popular 207, the S2000. This is a full-blown 2-litre 4-wheel drive rally car, capable of competing on asphalt, gravel, snow and ice.

You can follow Kris & Paul’s campaign on www.peugeot.co.uk/rally and www.twitter.com/Peugeotrally. Every night during each event, acclaimed filmmakers Crown House Media produce vidcasts from the series, which can be viewed on the peugeot.co.uk website, on YouTube and key motorsport websites. During events, fans can tune in through the Internet to listen live to Rally Radio from the IRC, supported by Peugeot UK. Peugeot UK also supports iRally, the leading rally App for the iPhone, featuring timings, text commentaries, standings, calendars, driver and co-driver biographies, images, videos, audio podcasts and direct links to Rally Radio and World Rally Radio.

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Škoda UK Motorsport driver Guy Wilks continued to place only safe bets on the opening round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Rallye Monte Carlo, by making good tyre choices and driving without risk on the middle day of the event.  Whilst others gambled and lost, Guy drove his Fabia S2000 faultlessly to move from 10th to 7th by the end of the day.

Heavy overnight snow on the event’s most northerly stage (SS6) made tyre choice for Leg 2 all the more difficult, as the two other stages on the loop were mostly wet. Co-driven by Phil Pugh, Guy went out on snow tyres – and returned to Valence for the mid-day service halt (and the halfway point in the rally) having moved up to 8th position after an excellent run through SS7.

The three stages were repeated in the afternoon, and whilst conditions were generally drier, there were patches of snow, ice and mud to ensure snow tyres remained the safest option. After a good run, Guy finished the day in 7th, just 13.5 seconds behind Franz Wittmann.

Guy Wilks: “I’m pleased, because this was a typically tough Rallye Monte Carlo day and we’ve had a very solid performance, made no mistakes and moved up the leaderboard.

“Conditions have been very tricky.  Where Kris [Meeke] crashed this morning, our ice note crew said that it was a sheet of black ice, and to drive as slowly as I would in a supermarket car park.  They were right!

“We had a very good afternoon. However, 600 metres into the final stage, my headset flew out of its net and landed under the clutch pedal. It was a bit of a distraction and we lost about 15 seconds, but it’s a good day on the Rallye Monte Carlo if that’s been your only problem.”

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Škoda UK Motorsport stuck to its plan and made a solid start to its 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge campaign today, when its star driver Guy Wilks completed the opening day of the Rallye Monte Carlo in 10th position.

Freezing conditions, rain and low cloud made conditions extremely difficult as Guy, partnered by co-driver Phil Pugh, successfully completed his first day rallying a Fabia S2000 on asphalt. Having only previously attempted the Rallye Monte Carlo in smaller 1.6-litre, front-wheel drive machinery, Guy planned and executed a no-thrills start in the smart 2-litre, four-wheel drive, 265bhp Škoda.

With two stages successfully completed in the morning, Guy was 1minute 21seconds quicker over the same stages in the afternoon, despite losing 30 seconds with a spin on the final stage of the day.

Guy Wilks: “Conditions have been relatively stable today, but in the morning the set-up of the car was too firm and we struggled a little with confidence. It wasn’t a problem with the car, just how collectively we’d prepared the car for the conditions.

“For the afternoon we softened the car quite a bit, but were too cautious on tyre choice. We used snow tyres when wets would have been better, but despite this we had a good run through SS3. We put slicks on the front for SS4, but with snow tyres on the rear, the back of the car was loose and it was oversteeering quite a lot.  Unfortunately after 43kms driving like that we spun on a narrow section and lost about thirty seconds getting going again.

“This is the our first day rallying a Fabia S2000 on asphalt, so it’s been our dry asphalt test today – and we’ve done it in fog, snow and ice. We have to be patient regarding the stage times.  We’re not going to drive like the guys who are doing Rallye Monte Carlo as a one-off event and throwing caution to the wind – we have to think of the IRC and try to score some points. If we get our heads together and really sort out set-up and tyre choice then we can definitely go forward.”

Leg 2 begins tomorrow at 08.30 and contains three stages north-west of Valence in the morning and a repeat run in the afternoon. The total competitive distance is 90 miles (145kms), which makes it the longest day of the event.

Leg 1 results (top 6 after SS4)
1. Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Fiesta S2000)…1hr 34min 01.8secs
2. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000)…+41.9secs
3. Juho Hanninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000)…1min 04.4secs
4. Nicolas Vouilloz/Benjamin Veillas (Škoda Fabia S2000)…1min 20.3secs
5. Sébastien Ogier /Julien Ingrassia (Peugeot 207 S2000)…1min 51.1secs
6. Bruno Magalhaes/Carlos Magalhaes (Peugeot 207 S2000)…2mins 28.1secs
10. Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Škoda Fabia S2000)…4mins 27.1secs

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Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today introduced the HSV-010 GT, which will compete in the GT500 class of the 2010 Super GT Series (managed and run by GTA Co., Ltd.).

Honda HSV-010 GT
Specifications and performance characteristics

Length x Width x Height (m): 4.675 x 2.000 x (not disclosed)
Wheelbase (m): 2.700
Vehicle weight (kg): 1,100 or more
Engine name: HR10EG
Configuration: Liquid-cooled, naturally aspirated, longitudinal V8
V angle (°): 90
Valve train: Gear-driven DOHC: 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder
Displacement (cm3): 3,397
Bore x stroke (mm): 93.0 x 62.5
Compression ratio: (Not disclosed)
Maximum output: 500 or more
Maximum torque(N•m): 392 or more
Throttle control system: Mechanical
Fuel supply system: Programmed fuel injection system (Honda PGM-FI)
Fuel: Lead-free premium gasoline
Lubrication: Dry sump
Transmission mechanism: Constant mesh
Transmission shifting method: Steering paddle shifter
Steering system mechanism: Rack and pinion system with electric power steering (EPS)
Tyres: Front 330/40R18, Rear 330/45R17
Brake type and mechanism: Hydraulic ventilated disc system
Suspension system: Double wishbone
Stabilizer: Torsion bar

Note: The letters “HSV” stand for Honda Sports Velocity.

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Ten years after contesting his first rally, Guy Wilks will begin the most exciting challenge of his career, when he tackles the opening round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), Rallye Monte Carlo (January 19-23), in a Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000.

Monaco and the famous Alpine special stages above it are a long way from Croft Circuit, near Darlington, and the Jack Frost Stages Rally that saw an 18-year old local make his rally debut. In the least powerful car in the field, Guy held an incredible 4th place in his small 68bhp hatchback, before the snow and ice melted and the more powerful cars pushed him outside the top ten by the finish.

How things have changed. Guy, a double British Rally Champion with vast international rally experience, will have around 200bhp more and one of rallying’s most modern and desirable cars in Monte Carlo, as he celebrates ten years in the sport.

This will be the fourth time Guy has contested Rallye Monte Carlo – each time with co-driver Phil Pugh reading the pace notes.  The three previous attempts at such a notorious specialised rally, plus an excellent pre-Christmas test in south-east France, have prepared Guy well and he hopes to celebrate his 29th birthday on the final day of the rally (Friday 22 January) by giving Škoda UK Motorsport a solid points-scoring start to the IRC.

Guy Wilks: ‘Rallye Monte Carlo is a very specialised event, and experience is a big help. The rally’s not only a great sporting challenge, it’s a big test of your mind. In the ever changing road conditions, tyre choice is often a compromise and you have to control your emotions when you’re on the wrong tyres and losing time. Only with experience can you be comfortable in that situation and be ready to regain the lost time, and more, on the next stage, when conditions favour your tyres.

‘We had a very good test in the Škoda Fabia before Christmas near Grenoble. Twenty-five per cent of the mountain pass we used was dry Tarmac, and the rest was covered in ice and snow, so we were able to test all variants of tyre, from full slicks to studs. We were able to see exactly how much time was lost and gained running different tyres on different surfaces, and that’s ideal preparation for Rallye Monte Carlo.

‘On every surface, the Fabia S2000 is fantastic.  The balance of the car is excellent and the engine is very strong; it’s almost just a case of getting the damper settings right, putting on the tyres and driving it as fast as we can! Juho Hänninen led Monte Carlo last year in a Škoda Fabia S2000, and that shows how competitive the car can be on the event.

‘I’m not thinking of victory in Monte Carlo, because with experience comes the knowledge that you don’t win a championship on the opening round. It’s more important get a good start to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and leave Monte Carlo with a secure haul of points. Winning Monte Carlo is a dream for any rally driver, but it’s not the overall aim in 2010 for myself and Skoda UK Motorsport – although a podium finish would be nice!’

The official start of the 78th Rallye Monte Carlo takes place at 17.00 (local time) on Tuesday 19 January in the Champ de Mars in Valence, situated 65 miles (105kms) south of Lyon.  From there, crews go directly to a 9km prologue stage, which will determine the starting order for the following day.

Leg 1 on Wednesday 21 January sees crews compete over the classic Burzet – Lachamp Raphael and St-Pierreville – Antraigues stages (both run twice) in the Ardeche, with stops to change tyres in Vals les Bains. Leg 2 on Thursday 21 January sees three more stages run twice, with service in Valence.

Leg 3 begins early on Friday 22 January with the Montauban Sur l’Ouvèze-Eygalayes stage. From there a 148 mile (239km) road section takes crews to Monte Carlo, for service and a short rest, before the final four stages of the event that evening – including two runs over the famous Col de Turini. 

After 15 special stages totalling 251.7 miles (405.1kms), Rallye Monte Carlo ends at 01.15 on Saturday 23 January, with the official prizegiving at 13.00 the same day.

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Lotus Motorsport announces the Evora Cup race car together with an innovative European points based race series for 2010. The race car will make its first public appearance at the Autosport International racing car show in Birmingham, UK on the 14th January 2010.

The Lotus Evora is a highly acclaimed road car that incorporates many race car elements to give it incredible handling and performance. The Evora has a mid-engine layout, high-tech, super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and double wishbone suspension all round. These elements mean that it is a relatively easy progression from the production car to a competitive race car.

The Evora Cup race car has been developed by Lotus Motorsport and is designed to offer a level of performance that would make it competitive in GT4 racing. The race car will be eligible to compete in a number of different national and international series, with options for endurance racing and sprint racing.

The Evora Cup show car is finished in Epsom Green with a Solar Yellow stripe down the centre. It is an evocative sports car that will offer a great platform to race in high level motor sport.

At the heart of the Evora Cup race car is a new 4 litre V6 race engine that boasts more than 400 PS and a dry sump system for the high cornering forces encountered during racing. The mid mounted engine is mated to a Cima six speed sequential paddle shift dog gearbox, which is designed for international motor sport.

The efficient Evora body has received a Dallara developed aero package, which includes a number of updated carbon fibre parts and significantly improves performance for racing applications, giving greater downforce and improved cooling.

‘Performance through light weight’ is a Lotus philosophy and the Evora Cup race car has been pared down to less than 1200 kg, which translates into a reduction of more than 200 kgs over the production car. This weight saving has been achieved by using high performance parts and materials and deleting parts not required for motor sport

The Evora Cup race car will come with adjustable motor sport dampers and six piston front brake callipers, with two piece aluminium belled brake discs. The car has an electrical cut off, fire extinguisher, traction control and is designed to have all the relevant FIA compatible motor sport equipment to race.

Claudio Berro, Director of Motorsport at Group Lotus plc stated, ‘Lotus has an enviable heritage of producing very competitive racing cars and we wish to continue this heritage with the Evora Cup race car. The company started by creating world beating racing cars and this is evident from the design of Lotus cars as the production cars have many racing car design features and perform exceptionally well on track.’

Claudio Berro continues, ‘The Evora Cup racing car is the first step along the route for Lotus Motorsport to realise its racing ambitions. I am looking forward to seeing the Evora racing this year in the Lotus Evora Cup competition and I am excited by the plans for 2011, where Lotus intends to introduce a pan European one make race series for the EvoraCup.’

The 2010 Evora Cup series will be a European event with points initially being awarded to competitors for entering races with the points values awarded relative to Evora finishing positions. There will be five points for attending any eligible national race meeting with five points awarded for the first Evora to finish down to one point for the fifth.

The series will then culminate with two Lotus Festivals, with provisional dates for Donington Park in the UK (16th & 17th October 2010) and the second at Vallelunga in Italy (21st and 22nd November 2010). All the competitors from around Europe will be invited to race at these festivals and there will be double points on offer. The championship winner will be the driver who accrues the most number of points from a maximum of 6 races over the 2010 season.

A prize fund of at least €100,000 will be available.

The final design and specifications will be presented at the Geneva Motorshow in March 2010.

Drivers are invited to register their interest at the Lotus Evora Cup website: http://www.lotusevoracup.com

The Evora Cup race car will go on sale at £120,000 excluding taxes.

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Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Minami-Ooi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Yuichi Sanada; henceforth ‘NISMO’) announced that NISMO just signed the official partnership agreements for the FIA GT1 World Championship with Sumo Power GT (UK) and Swiss Racing Team (CH).

Both teams will run two NISSAN GT-Rs respectively in the inaugural World Championship. NISMO will provide technical support to its new racing partners.

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New for 2010, Motor Racing Legends has launched a brand-new series of historic races: the Sir Stirling Moss Trophy. Inspired by the success of the one-off race of this name at the Algarve in October, the series is for genuine, pre-1961 sportscars and sports-racers.

As Duncan Wiltshire of Motor Racing Legends explains, ‘The reaction from competitors to the Sir Stirling Moss Trophy race at the Algarve was overwhelming; so much so that we want to offer the experience as a regular feature on our calendar – and not just at the Algarve, but as an all-year series of invitation races at some of the greatest race tracks in Europe. It’s also highly appropriate that the series is named in honour of an undisputed hero of motorsport, who regularly races with us in his own OSCA FS 372.

‘Our aim is to offer the most authentic historic motor racing possible, with longer, two-driver races at high-profile meetings. The Sir Stirling Moss Trophy, supported by JD Classics, will build on Motor Racing Legends’ ethos of inviting only genuine cars built to period specification, with an expectation of driving standards that are ‘gentlemanly’ as well as highly competitive.

‘We would not be launching this series were it not for the strong and persistent message from our racers that reinforces, time and again, the desire for longer, two-driver races, with strict eligibility restrictions and careful scrutineering, to make historic motor racing as close to the ‘original’ experience as possible. This is what our racers enjoyed at the Algarve – and what they have asked us to provide more of in 2010.

‘What has finally enabled us to take this big step is the help and support of, first, Sir Stirling Moss in allowing us the great honour of using his name; and secondly, the world-famous classic cars sales and restoration enterprise ‘JD Classics’, which has generously stepped in as the series’ sponsor.’

Derek Hood, JD Classics’ founder and proprietor, commented, ‘The new race series is the perfect alliance for us. Motor Racing Legends and JD Classics have commonality with clients and also with the heritage of motorsport. Increasingly, racers are buying cars of the correct provenance, from the right stable and from trusted sources, specifically to compete in certain top-level historic events. We can definitely see ourselves as a catalyst along this journey with the Sir Stirling Moss Trophy.’   

The new Sir Stirling Moss Trophy will absorb the current BRDC Historic Sportscars series but extend the entry criteria to include GTs, as well as sportscars and sports-racers. The 2010 race calendar will shortly be announced but provisionally includes the Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or at Dijon, the Silverstone Classic, the Oulton Park Gold Cup, the Six-Hours meeting at Spa and the Algarve Historic Festival.

Entry forms, and further information, will soon be available from www.motorracinglegends.com. Or contact Duncan Wiltshire, at Motor Racing Legends, Woodbine Farm, Thorndon, Eye, Suffolk IP23 7JJ. Tel +44 (0)1379 678101. E-mail: enquiries@motorracinglegends.com.

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Forrest Lodge near Dumfries, Scotland hosted a packed entry of 45 cars for last November’s Borders Hill Rally including five Wildcat 200s of varying specification, making their presence felt right from the start.

Because of the rally’s compact location and lack of road liaison sections, it proved a big hit with the competitors and service crews alike and the dry cold conditions really helped with the event creating a great atmosphere all around the pit area.

Although Richard Kershaw took top honours, the Qt Services Wildcat Trophy went to Ian Carson who came home 7th in his rear-engined Chevy powered Wildcat 200.

Two others were not so lucky – newcomer Greg Morris in his Max Traction supported Wildcat rolled on Stage 6, day two, only to be collected by another competitor when upside down, while Andy Graham had a major off when running in 4th overall. Testament to the strength of the cars’ build, neither drivers nor codrivers were hurt in the incidents.

Dave Marsh, boss of Qt Services was on hand at the rally to offer technical support and encouragement to his pride of Wildcats: ‘I was really pleased to see how the new boys, Mike Bain and Greg Morris fared. They had the speed and temperament and I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before they are running at the front.’

The two day event is run on private ground over mostly graded tracks over the weekend of November 28th/29th, with the second day being somewhat tougher than the first as some stages had taken some punishment, having been run the day before.

Organisation by the dedicated team at the Scottish Hill Rally Club (www.scottish-hillrally.co.uk) was very professional, in spite of some tricky stage conditions. ‘This is always a great event and the organisers do a fantastic job,’ says Marsh,’and it’s one I can’t wait to see a Wildcat take top spot.’

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Škoda UK Motorsport will enter a Fabia Super 2000 for Guy Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh on the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

Guy, from Darlington in County Durham, is one of Britain’s most exciting rally talents, having won the British Rally Championship twice (2007 and ’08) and finished runner-up in the 2005 FIA Junior Rally Championship.  The 28-year old driver won the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland last November, driving a Škoda Fabia S2000 in competition for the first time.

Phil, from Tywyn in Gwynedd, enters his eighth consecutive season as Guy’s co-driver. The 39-year old Welshman was British Champion in 2007, and his experience and skill will be of significant importance in the rallies which lay ahead.

Škoda UK Motorsport will contest selected rounds of the IRC, beginning with the opening round of the series, Rallye Monte Carlo (January 19-23). It will also defend its Rally of Scotland title (October 14-16).

The exciting new Škoda UK Motorsport operation is an official satellite team, working independently – but closely – with Škoda Motorsport. The car’s colour scheme will combine Škoda’s iconic motorsport colours of green, white and red with a Union Jack to highlight the proud UK team effort. The car will be unveiled at Autosport International (NEC, 14-17 January).

In preparation for Rallye Monte Carlo, Guy tested a Škoda Fabia S2000 on asphalt mountain roads near Grenoble in south-east France just before Christmas, completing around 62 miles (100kms).

Guy Wilks: ‘I am very excited about the season ahead and driving for Škoda UK Motorsport in the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.  Our victory in Scotland last year showed what potential the Fabia S2000 has.  It’s a fantastic car to drive and it suits my driving style. This year’s programme has come together incredibly quickly, and everyone at Škoda UK Motorsport is highly motivated to succeed. You can guarantee that Phil and I will start every rally with one thing on our minds – and it will involve driving as fast as we possibly can!’

Robert Hazelwood, Head of Škoda UK Motorsport: ‘Our participation in the 2010 IRC brings added excitement to the brand, and we are looking forward to the season ahead. Guy Wilks, Phil Pugh and the Fabia S2000 rally car proved what is possible by winning last year’s RAC MSA Rally of Scotland. The IRC is a demanding series and the opposition is world class, yet we believe Škoda UK Motorsport has a strong package and the ability to do well at every rally we contest.’

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UK teams got their first look at the all-new Formula Renault 2.0 race car recently as the first batch of deliveries arrived in the UK.

Leading teams Manor Competition, Fortec Motorsport, CRS Racing, ATECH GP (formerly known as Hitech Junior), Mark Burdett Motorsport and newcomers Team Firstair and MTECH all received one car with the remaining deliveries due in the coming weeks.

The new car, which makes its competitive debut at the start of the 2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship, features a new chassis, more powerful 2.0-litre engine (developing 210bhp) and for the first time will see drivers use a seven-speed paddle-shift sequential gearbox.

Dave Moore, Team Manager at Fortec Motorsport, commented: ‘First impressions of the new car are good. It’s one of the few cars you can look over and start up straight away which was never a guarantee with the old car. It feels very robust and the bodywork fits well. Weather depending we hope to start testing it in the UK towards the end of January as well as in Spain later in the year.’

Manor Competition’s Team Manager Tony Shaw, who led Dean Smith to victory last year, added: ‘The new car looks good but we’ll get a better understanding of it when we take it out testing in the next few weeks.’

The new cars are being built at the Renaultsport factory in Dieppe, France.

The opening rounds of the 2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship take place at Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit on 3rd/4th April.

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This year’s Race Retro will see legendary Rally drivers put to the test on an exciting new live action Rally Stage when it returns to Stoneleigh Park from 12th to 14th March.
Featuring more sharp turns and an amazing power slide for the drivers to enjoy, the new course is also much more visitor friendly with a raised spectator viewing bank and all tarmac paddock where enthusiasts can get up close to the cars in service. 

Show Operations Manager David Alderson said: ‘We’ve run the rally stage in its established location for six years now and whilst it was enjoyed by all, it was time to raise the bar for the drivers and give the visitors a better view of all the action. The new stage is also much more convenient, situated less than 200 metres from the front of the exhibition halls. I’m really excited that we can finally bring the action close to the exhibition halls and save our rally enthusiasts from that long cold trek through the park.’

The new rally stage is still all Tarmac, with the start and finish line adjacent to a spectator area. The course begins with a 90 degree left turn into a fast straight with a midpoint ‘yump’, then left again along a shorter straight before a sharp left and right complex. This is followed by a dramatic double left directly in front of the spectator viewing area, so expect the fast boys to make this one long power slide before they make a 90 degree right back to the start/finish. The stage lap length is 0.5 of a mile and cars will complete two laps on each run. This allows two cars to be in action on the stage at any one time.

If the course isn’t enough to get you excited, then the line-up of cars is sure to get the blood pumping. Visitors can expect to see an iconic selection of genuine ex works Audi quattros. From the original long wheelbase A2 coupe that shook the rallying world on its debut in 1980, to the outrageous short wheelbase S1 Evo 2, Audi’s final statement of the Group B era, all will be a part of the show’s celebration of thirty years of the quattro.

Joining the quattros will be a further selection of Group B rallying monsters from the recently formed, ‘Rallying with Group B’ club. Expect to see Ford RS200, MG 6R4, Lancia 037, Peugeot 205T16, Porsche RSR supported by Stratos, Rover V8 SD1, Manta 400, TR7V8, and of course the Rothmans Escort, all the genuine article from Rallying’s illustrious past.

Add to this the full range of ex Russell Brookes ‘Andrews Heat for Hire’ cars all appearing in the hands of the ever popular British rallying maestro, and a new innovation for Race Retro 2010, the inclusion of an invited selection of the most dramatic rally ‘specials’ from the British rally championships.

The historic kart racers will perform their now established warm-up demonstration before the appearance of the rally cars in each of the Saturday and Sunday live action sessions. The karts will use a shorter loop section of the new rally stage immediately in front of the spectator areas. There will be everything from early class 1 machines up to the very fast class 4 250 gearbox karts. The new kart track received an enthusiastic ‘thumbs-up’ on recent inspection by British Historic Kart Club officials who will as always be organising the kart action at Race Retro 2010.        

Adult ticket prices start from just £20 for Friday and £15 for Saturday and Sunday when booking in advance or upgrade to a VIP ticket with fantastic hospitality and a chance to meet our special guests. Children’s tickets are £5 on Friday or Saturday and free on Sunday. Parking is also free throughout. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com

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Pete Barber, one of the UK’s most exciting young motorsport talents, has confirmed his place in the 2010 European Drift Championship (EDC).

And, just as he was last season, the 24-year-old will be supported by performance, modified and imported car insurance broker Swinton Specialist.

This year will be Pete’s third in the EDC. Last season he finished third in the championship, recording his first event win and securing four podium finishes in six starts.

Rob Asher, Head of Swinton Specialist, commented: ‘After all the highs of last season, we are delighted to renew our commitment to supporting Pete. He surpassed all our expectations and deserves our backing 100 per cent. Everyone at Swinton Specialist wishes him well.’

The EDC is the premier series representing the sport of drifting in the UK. Now in its fifth year, 2010 will be the best season yet as the sport grows beyond the enthusiast market and heads for the mainstream.

To reflect that there’s been a shake-up in the format. It’s now an ‘invitation only’ series, to ensure only the most talented and dedicated drivers are taking part – and Pete Barber has got his invite!

‘I’m very much looking forward to the 2010 season, and trying to improve on my third place finish last year. I’ll be aiming for the top spot,’ he commented.

Pete competes in a modified 1995 Mazda RX-7 and for this season the car will be more powerful than ever. ‘The engine output will be around 540bhp – that’s up from 480 last year – to give more mid-range torque. It means it’s easier to control the car on the throttle when I’m drifting,’ he explained.

The season doesn’t officially kick off until April, but there’s a chance to see Pete in action at the Autosport International Show at the NEC, Birmingham, on 16/17 January. Find out more at www.autosport-international.com.

Drifting is high octane motorsport at its most pure. With rear-wheel drive machines heading sideways at up to 80mph, it’s a judged test of speed, skill, elegance, determination and car set-up.

In addition to the main knock-out drifting competition at each round, this year there will a host of new features including on-track demos, eight-car drift trains, the fastest first corner entry speed competition and the thrilling rodeo-drift with each driver half in, half out of their cars.

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The Citroën C4 WRC has scooped the Rally Car of the Year crown at the prestigious Autosport Awards – for the second year in a row. This follows a fifth Manufacturers’ title for the Citroën Total World Rally Team and an unprecedented sixth consecutive World Rally Championship for Sébastien Loeb – secured in dramatic fashion by a single point on the final day of the 2009 season.

The 2010 World Rally Championship will see the Citroën Total World Rally Team enter C4 WRCs for Sébastien Loeb and Dani Sordo. A second team will also now run two C4 WRCs for Kimi Räikkönen and Sébastien Ogier in the colours of Red Bull and Citroën.

Citroën UK Managing Director, Gary Savage, who accepted the award from 1981 WRC Champion Ari Vatanen, commented, ‘It has been a terrific season for everyone at Citroën to win the championship for a fifth time. Next year, I think having Kimi Räikkönen will be great for the WRC – a contemporary F1 driver, and former world champion, racing against Sébastien Loeb, in such a good car, will be really exciting.’

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