Hirvonen on top in Finnish qualifying / Hirvonen domine la qualif

Mikko Hirvonen kicked off his bid to win his home round of the WRC by claiming this evening’s Qualifying Stage. The 33-year old Citroën-Michelin driver completed the 4.62km test (‘Ruuhimäki) in 2m15.5s. ‘Latin’ drivers Sébastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville were second and third fastest. Hirvonen decided to start Leg 1 in 14th position on the road.

Le jour de ses 33 ans, Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën/Michelin) a remporté la Qualifying Stage du Neste Oil Rally Finland 2013 devant les « Latins » Sébastien Ogier et Thierry Neuville. Le Finlandais a choisi de partir en 14e position pour la première journée de course.

For the moment, there are no qualifying stages to decide who goes first on the Qualifying Stage, so the WRC drivers started this evening’s test in championship order. This meant that Volkswagen’s Ogier was the first to tackle the short run.

That didn’t prevent the Frenchman from establishing a good initial benchmark time (2m15.7s) which only Hirvonen would end up beating, by two-tenths of a second. Ogier confirmed that the stage was very fast but, surprisingly, added that he wasn’t perfectly happy with his Polo R WRC’s suspension...

His Finnish VW team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala was next to show, but he ended up with only the fifth-best time (+0.7s). That left him scratching his head at the Stop Control, but he also suggested that start order is perhaps not so important on this event.

Ford’s Thierry Neuville was only 0.4s off the pace, despite almost stalling on the start line, while Citroën team-leader Mikko Hirvonen produced the evening’s best performance. That gave him the right to choose his start order for Friday’s action, although his immediate reaction was to admit that he needed to think hard before choosing his position on the road…

Novikov and Ostberg were fourth and seventh respectively for Ford, and Citroën’s WRC returnee Kris Meeke seemed happy with ninth place, 1.8s off Hirvonen’s pace. Team-mate Sordo was 10^th(+1.9s).

At the start order choosing ceremony, Hirvonen announced that his decision was finally to run 14^th on the road, i.e. the last of the WRC drivers. “Start order is not so important here in Finland, unless the weather is bad. From what we hear, it won’t rain much tomorrow, so I am making the conventional choice,” he announced.

The thinking of his 13 colleagues followed the same lines, so there were no surprises…

Pour l’heure, il n’y a pas de qualif pour décider qui va s’élancer en premier dans la Qualifying Stage, alors les pilotes ont parcouru Ruuhimaki (4,62 km) dans l’ordre du classement du championnat Pilotes, Ogier en tête.

Cela n’a pas empêché le Français de signer un bon chrono de référence en 2min15s7, que seul Mikko Hirvonen a battu de 2/10^e de seconde. Ogier a confirmé que la spéciale était très rapide et qu’il n’était pas pleinement satisfait des réglages de suspension sur sa VW Polo R WRC/Michelin.

Son équipier finlandais Jari-Matti Latvala a échoué à 7/10^e de seconde de son compatriote et signé le 5^e meilleur temps. Il secouait la tête au point stop, mais se rassurait en disant que l’ordre des départs n’était peut-être pas si important en Finlande. Thierry Neuville (Ford Fiesta) s’est classé à seulement 4/10^e de seconde du meilleur temps, malgré avoir presque callé au départ.

La perf de Mikko Hirvonen lui a permis de choisir sa position de départ en premier sur l’estrade du parc d’assistance de Paviljonki. Il a longtemps réfléchi pour finalement opter pour la 14^eposition, c’est-à-dire la dernière des pilotes WRC prioritaires. « L’ordre des départs n’est pas trop important sur ce rallye, sauf si la météo est mauvaise. Or, d’après nos informations, il ne devrait pas beaucoup pleuvoir demain alors j’ai fait un choix disons classique. »

Novikov et Ostberg ont signé respectivement le 4^e et le 7^e temps, alors que Kris Meeke semblait heureux avec le 9^e temps pour son retour en WRC, à 1s8 d’Hirvonen. Dani Sordo a réalisé le 10^etemps à 1s9.

Ordre des départs 1ère étape

1. Tahko (Mini) - 2. Prokop (Ford) – 3. Andersson (Ford) – 4. Nikara (Mini) – 5. Sordo (Citroën) – 6. Meeke (Citroën) – 7. Hanninen (Ford) – 8. Ostberg (Ford) – 9. Mikkelsen (Volkswagen) – 10. Latvala (Volkswagen) – 11. Novikov (Ford) – 12. Neuville (Ford) – 13. Ogier (Volkswagen) – 14. Hirvonen (Citroën). Etc.

Valentino Rossi rules out Suzuki move in 2015

In an interview with Germany’s Speedweek, Yamaha Factory rider Valentino Rossi has released some interesting statements regarding his recent past (in Ducati), the present (with Yamaha) and the plans for the near future, which apparently do not include the possibility of becoming a Suzuki rider. Here are some excerpts:

Around 2005 or 2006 you declared “It’s clear that, for an Italian rider, the greatest emotions comes when you win on an Italian bike, and I know this very well from my time with Aprilia. However, I’ll never join Ducati as they don’t listen to the riders and build the bikes according to the ideas of their engineers”…?

“[Laughs] So I already knew that five years before making the move .. Anyway, I made a mistake.”

The error began in February 2010, when you made some specific requests to Yamaha: “If in 2011 Lorenzo stays, then I’ll leave.” Yamaha took that ‘threat’ very seriously, and soon after they extended Lorenzo’s contract. At that point, in order not to lose face, you had to go..

“Yes, unfortunately. And that was a big mistake. Eventually, maybe, it was good for me to try the Ducati. Anyway, my problem was with Yamaha, because I told them: “It’s either Jorge or me.” At first I did not understand why Yamaha had decided to put Lorenzo in the team. Today, a few years later, I realize that Yamaha did the right thing because they had to think about the future.”

“At that time I was also worried because of other reasons, and Furusawa, a great friend and supporter of mine within Yamaha, was about to retire. I did not know if I was about to receive the same ‘premium’ treatment from Yamaha like in the years under Furusawa’s leadership. Now I realize that those worries were completely unnecessary and out of place: the treatment that I’m getting now from Yamaha is just as good as that of my best days.”

Now you say that the experience with Ducati was also somewhat instructive, and therefore you will not make the same mistake twice. Does this means that you’ll stay away from Suzuki?

[Laughs] “For sure!”

Suzuki is definitely a hot topic for you since your old friend and adviser Davide Brivio is the team manager. It really is an impossible thing?

“[He takes a look around at the Yamaha Hospitality] As far as I am concerned, this is my team! And then, more importantly, the M1 is my bike. As long as I am competitive, as long as I will be able to fight for podium finishes and victories, I will stick with Yamaha.”

via TWOWHEELSBLOG

1969 LAND ROVER IIA HARDTOP 2.25

This beautiful old 1969 Land Rover IIA Hardtop is powered by the tried and tested 2.25 litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine that kept the the iconic off-roader moving for over 3 decades. The Series IIA model introduced a slew of improvements over the Series I, it was a little longer and a little wider, it had a more powerful engine and was far more driver-friendly inside the cabin.

From a pop-culture perspective, both the long and short wheelbase Series II Land Rovers are deeply ingrained into the off-road zeitgeist of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s – despite the fact that the Series III was produced in far larger numbers (440,000 units). This is largely due to the use of the Series II in documentaries and films of the era, like The Gods Must Be Crazy (if you haven’t seen that film, trust me when I tell you that you really need to).

The Land Rover you see here is due to roll across the auction block with Auctions America on the 1st of August 2013, it’s in remarkably good condition for a car of its age as a result of the frame-off restoration it received. It’s now sitting on a galvanised chassis and its corrosion-proof aluminum body is fitted with galvanized steel bracing.

It retains its original forest green body with a white roof and black interior, the 2.25 litre petrol engine is also original as is the 4-speed transmission. Land Rovers as perfect as this are becoming mighty rare in the USA, making this example a combined investment opportunity and weekend warrior.

Old Landies have been known to embarrass far more modern 4x4s across varying terrain so if you’re in the mood for some off-roading and you’re the kind of person that thinks that locking hubs are vastly superior to any form of electronic traction control, you might want to click here to view the lot listing via Auctions America.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Auctions America

via SILODROME

Ford to compete at 2014 Dakar with two Rangers

Prepared by Neil Woolridge Motorsport

Ford has confirmed plans to participate at 2014 Dakar Rally with two South African-built Rangers prepared by Neil Woolridge Motorsport.

The extremely difficult Dakar Rally will take place in South America from January 5-18 where Ford will use two T6 Ranger 4x4 Double Cab vehicles powered by a V8 5.0-liter engine developing 349 bhp (260 kW) at 4,500 rpm and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) at 4,100 rpm.

The thirsty vehicle drinks 90 liters / 100 km in sandy racing conditions and 28 liters / 100 km during normal driving. It has a full composite body and a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox linked to a permanent four-wheel drive setup. These custom Rangers benefit from an independent front/rear suspension, front/rear antiroll bar and ride on 16-inch Evocorse wheels shod in 245/85 Michelin tires.

Stopping power is provided by Brembo with their front air-cooled and rear water-cooled brakes. The 2014 Ford Ranger for Dakar weighs 1,975 kg (4,354 lbs) and should be able to reach a top speed of 106 mph (170 km/h).

The first driver crew will include Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue, while in the second car will be Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst. The 35^th edition of the rally will start in Rosario, Argentina and end in Valparaiso, Chile after more than 5,282 miles (8,500 km) across 13 stages.

Source: Ford