Vota Articolo
Skoda has vowed to make up for the disappointment of losing out on victory on Sata Rallye Acores earlier this month when it makes its debut on Rali Vinho Madeira from 5-7 August. The Czech manufacturer was in contention for a one-two finish in the Azores but lost out in a dramatic finale when Juho Hanninen stopped to change a punctured tyre before Jan Kopecky crashed out of the lead on the final stage of the event.
“We had bad luck in [the Azores] and now we have to look at the future,” said Skoda Motorsport head Michal Hrabanek. “The next rally is Madeira. We will do our best to make up for [the] loss and win points in both driver and brand competitions, although we all know that it will be very difficult, especially because it’s going to be our first appearance there.”
Despite its disappointment in the Azores, Skoda still heads the IRC drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings. Its challenge in Madeira will be boosted by Belgian Freddy Loix, who will drive a Fabia Super 2000 Facelift for the privateer Rene Georges Rally Sport operation. Loix won round six of the IRC in Ypres last month and finished sixth in Madeira in 2009.
Rossetti to uphold Abarth honour in Madeira IRC
Although Giandomenico Basso’s bid for a fourth Rali Vinho Madeira victory has been scuppered after he was forced to withdraw his entry due to a funding shortage, the Abarth marque will still be represented on the Atlantic island by Luca Rossetti.
Rossetti, a four-time IRC event winner, will drive a Grande Punto Super 2000 for the Italian Procar operation as he bids to extend his lead of the European Rally Championship, which will also be contested in Madeira.
He said: “Madeira is a tough race in a beautiful island with wonderful and passionate people. I will be at the start to honour one of the most beautiful and important rallies in the world. I am aware that it will not be easy to get a positive result but I will try.”
Rossetti, 34, will be co-driven by regular navigator and fellow Italian Matteo Chiarcossi.
Meeke expects close Madeira fight with Magalhaes
Kris Meeke is predicting a close fight with fellow Peugeot 207 Super 2000 driver Bruno Magalhaes when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes in Madeira next month.
Meeke, the defending IRC champion, could only manage fifth place on his debut on the island last season while Magalhaes came within a whisker of winning the event, losing out by 3.5 seconds to Giandomenico Basso.
The Portuguese underlined his rise in prominence with victory on Sata Rallye Acores earlier this month, a result that Meeke expects Magalhaes to repeat on the Funchal-based contest.
“We know Peugeot are very strong on asphalt and we have a very good history on asphalt so we have to get the full potential out of the car in Madeira,” said Meeke. “But Bruno will be incredibly fast there – his speed there is incredible so it will be a big fight in Madeira.”
Victory for Magalhaes in the Azores elevated him to third place in the IRC drivers’ standings, 18 points behind Juho Hanninen. Meeke, who finished second, is 25 points adrift of the Finn.
Wittmann targets Zlin for IRC return
Franz Wittmann will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on Barum Czech Rally Zlin in late August and is scheduled to complete his second season in the series with appearances in Sanremo and Cyprus.
Wittmann, 26, hasn’t appeared in the IRC since crashing heavily on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna in early June. His Interwetten Racing Peugeot 207 has now been rebuilt and he will resume his campaign on the Czech asphalt rally from 27-29 August when he will team up with co-driver Klaus Wicha.
“When we saw the real damage after Sardinia we knew it was not possible to go to the Azores,” said Wittmann. “Madeira was never on our list of events so we will come back in Zlin when we hope to get the best result possible.”
Wittmann’s backer, the Interwetten chief executive Wolfgang Fabian, added: “Since the ship has sailed for Franz in this year’s IRC I think that this [new] schedule is sensible and financially affordable regarding a possible next IRC season.”
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