Vota ArticoloSkoda UK confirms 2011 IRC bid
Skoda UK will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2011, contesting up to 10 rounds of the series, which gets underway with the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo in January.
After claiming a debut victory with Guy Wilks on RACMSA Rally of Scotland in November 2009, Skoda UK embarked on an expanded programme of rallies this season with Wilks again at the helm of a Fabia Super 2000.
With one event of the 2010 campaign remaining, this week's FxPro Cyprus Rally, Wilks is set to maintain his sixth place in the drivers' standings, which comes courtesy of three podium finishes earlier in the season.
Robert Hazelwood, Skoda UK Director, commented: "We had some great results in 2010. Our entry in the IRC has generated a lot of excitement for the brand among our customers, retailers and staff and we're keen to continue. We're looking forward to a strong assault on the top in 2011."
Skoda UK plans to reveal its line-up for 2011 in the near future after Wilks announced recently that he would be switching to the rival Kronos Racing-run Peugeot UK operation for next term.
Colin McRae Vision to make Cyprus presentation
Colin McRae Vision, an official partner of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will make a substantial donation to ELPIDA, a charitable foundation for children with leukaemia and other cancers living in Cyprus.
The money, which has been topped up by donations from the Cyprus Automobile Association and Cyprus Rally sponsor FxPro, will be used to purchase electronic infusion pumps for the delivery of chemotherapy.
Colin McRae's mother and father, Margaret and Jim McRae, will attend the 2010 IRC Awards Ceremony on Sunday 7 November to make the presentation to representatives of ELPIDA, which was founded in 1991 by doctors, nurses, parents, scientists and friends of children suffering from cancer. Its mission is to help children with cancer in any way possible.
Colin McRae Vision, which was established following the death of the 1995 world rally champion in 2007, and Eurosport Events, the promoter of the IRC, announced their official partnership in June of this year with the specific aim of identifying suitable projects and initiatives that help young people living close to the route of IRC events.
Cetinkaya confident for Cyprus IRC run
Leading female driver Burcu Cetinkaya says that her first Intercontinental Rally Challenge points on RACMSA Rally of Scotland recently have given her a confidence boost heading into the season finale in Cyprus this week.
The Peugeot Sport Turkey runner became the first lady driver to score IRC points when she finished seventh on the gravel event last month.
"It's always good to be driving on gravel because it is the surface I like the most," said the 29-year-old. "I must say I don't like the idea of the Tarmac sections but I have more experience now of driving on Tarmac with gravel tyres so it shouldn't be a problem. After Scotland I feel quite confident. My aim is to be as fast as I can but to also be at the finish of the rally."
Like the bulk of the IRC crews tackling the Cyprus Rally, Cetinkaya will remain on the island for the Love Cyprus Golden Stage Rally, which takes place on 7 November over a single 25-kilometre stage run twice.
Meanwhile, Cetinkaya's growing legion of fans will be able to follow her progress in the IRC on Eurosport's new Turkish website, www.eurosport.com/tr, which went live on Tuesday night. Launched in partnership with MCD Digital, this latest addition to Eurosport's international online network will deliver unrivalled content for Turkish sports fans.
Peugeot UK head backs Wilks to succeed
Peugeot UK's Managing Director Jon Goodman has backed new signing Guy Wilks to add to the company's success in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Wilks, 29, will replace countryman Kris Meeke in Peugeot UK's IRC attack next season. During his two-year tenure with Peugeot UK, Meeke notched up five victories and secured the coveted drivers' title in 2009.
Goodman said: "I am delighted to have both Guy and Phil [Pugh] join the Peugeot UK team. We had a difficult year this year but I am sure that together with Kronos we can get back to our winning ways in 2011. Rallying is in the DNA of Peugeot and it is a great way to demonstrate that "Motion and Emotion" work together at Peugeot and rallying shows off the dynamic qualities of our cars and especially the 207. We know we have a winning car, and in Guy and Phil we can also have a winning team."
Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh will make their competitive debuts for Peugeot UK on next January's Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2011 IRC season.
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