Marco Melandri signs with Aprilia factory WSBK team

Marco Melandri will be riding for Aprilia’s WSBK factory team next season. The official statement was released the other day when Melandri’s contract with the BMW Goldbet squad expired.

It wasn’t exactly the best kept secret in the paddock, at the Italian was spotted in the Aprilia garage during the final round of the World Superbike championship at Jerez, much to the chagrin and disappointment of Eugene Laverty, who finished as runner-up in the 2013 standings and chalked up a double victory at the Spanish circuit and scored the same number of victories over the season as new World Champion Tom Sykes did.

While Eugene Laverty is poised to sign with FIXI Crescent Suzuki for 2014 with the promise of a ride with MotoGP returnee Suzuki in 2015, for Melandri it will be his fourth team since he debuted in World Superbikes in 2010 - after Yamaha, the BMW factory team and BMW Goldbet who have all pulled out of the championship.

For the 31-year old Melandri won the 2002 250GP World Championship on an Aprilia, this is like a return home, even if Gigi Dall’Igna will no longer be working for the Noale based company who took home the 2013 manufacturers title.

Dall’Igna will be working with Ducati’s MotoGP effort and has been replaced by Romano Albesiano.

Melandri has already tested the RSV4 during the one day post season test at Jerez, with new team mate Sylvain Guintoli, and they will be testing the machine again at the Aragon Motorland circuit in mid November and after his first test Melandri said, “It was amazing, when I went back to the pits, especially after the first run, I was truly happy and I felt like I finally found something I have been looking for a long time. I tried to hide it, though. The bike seems to suit my riding style very welland its compact size allowed me to find a good riding position almost immediately. The testing day was not an easy one, as the weather kept changing the whole time and there were also strong winds. Lap-times were not important, I just wanted to understand the bike and the way of working of the team.”

On the upcoming two-day test he added, “The next test will take place at Aragon on November 14-15, I hope the weather will be on our side so I can try both Laverty’s and Guintoli’s bike configurations, which are quite different. After the test I will decide whether to undergo surgery to remove some malleolus bone fragments from a previous injury, that the doctors found during a recent scan. Anyway I’m so happy of this opportunity and I can’t wait to ride the bike again.”

Polanski’s Ferrari 275 GTB/4: On sale, for the first time in 25 years

Any 275 GTB/4 is an exquisitely special car, but this one has more right than most to make that claim. Ordered new by Roman Polanski in November 1966, it was a generous present to himself to celebrate his early success...

Polanski chose Rosso Chiaro paintwork and sophisticated black leather upholstery for his Ferrari, which was originally to be a ‘standard’ GTB, although he later re-ordered it as a GTB/4 (with the highly desirable four camshafts). We particularly like the fact that under the ‘accessories’ section on the original order form, he casually added a Mini Cooper S 1275cc. Sadly, this useful little add-on was dropped on his final order.

Although, later in life, Polanski said that the 275GTB/4 was the car for which he held the fondest memories, it was also the one which brought back the saddest thoughts, too. It was a favourite of his late wife, Sharon Tate, murdered by Charles Manson’s followers in 1969. After her death he presented the Ferrari to her father, Colonel Paul James Tate.

The actual Ferrari that was delivered to Polanski in 1967, chassis 09729GT, is now available from Kidston SA (boasting a fully documented mechanical rebuild that cost CHF120,000) but still with matching numbers, its original colours, plus the original tools and purchase correspondence. We’re told that it’s the first time in 25 years that this car has been offered on the market.

Photos: Kidston SA

You can find more Ferrari 275 GTB/4s for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

Wales Rally GB 2003: Glory days for Subaru / Gloire à Subaru

Following up on our series of ‘10 Years Ago’ articles published during last month’s Rally Catalunya, we take a look back at the 2003 Wales Rally GB which saw Subaru celebrate the first world title of Petter Solberg/Philip Mills… and the swansong WRC outing of Tommi Mäkinen.

Suite de notre série « Il y a dix ans » entamée au dernier Rally Catalunya… Au Wales Rally GB 2003, Subaru a fêté un double événement devant le Château de Margam : le premier titre mondial de Petter Solberg/Philip Mills et le dernier rallye WRC de Tommi Mäkinen.

The eagerly awaited showdown for the 2003 Drivers’ crown between Petter Solberg (Subaru), Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) and Carlos Sainz (Citroën) was dealt a blow after the first handful of stages in Wales when the Spaniard crashed out on SS3. Citroën Sport’s senior management consequently instructed team-mate Loeb to make sure of Manufacturers’ points, even if that meant forfeiting his fight with Solberg for the Drivers’ title.

Even so, the Frenchman managed to stay on the Norwegian’s tail all the way to the finish but ultimately came second, leaving Solberg to celebrate his crown after SS18 (Margam Castle)! Before diving rock-star fashion into the crowd, he was given a congratulatory embrace by his Subaru team-mate Tommi Mäkinen (3^rd).

November 9, 2003, was a big day for the 39-year old, Puupola-born Finn who, after contesting 139 WRC rounds and harvesting 24 wins and four titles, brought a halt to his glittering career with a 45^th world class podium finish.

After claiming his first victory on the 1994 1000 Lakes Rally in a Ford Escort Cosworth, he progressed rapidly on every type of surface, including asphalt, as demonstrated by his wins in Catalonia and Sanremo, not to mention consecutive Rallye Monte-Carlo successes between 1999 and 2002.

Mäkinen’s most successful period was his spell with Mitsubishi which reaped Drivers’ titles in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 in a series of Group A Lancers which seemed a little uncompetitive at times against the latest WRC machines. His third title will be remembered for a long time to come… After failing to finish RallyGB, he was already on his way back to Finland when he learnt that Sainz had retired 800 metres short of the final stage, making him the 1998 champion!

In 2002, Tommi switched to Subaru and immediately took a win – after a protest – on the Rallye Monte-Carlo. It was already the beginning of the end, though. After three retirements in a row, a frightening accident in Argentina seemed to have a big effect on him. He failed to recover the famous ‘sisu’ fighting spirit for which the Finns are famed and finally bowed out of the sport at the end of 2003.

Après les premières spéciales du Wales Rally GB 2003, Brechfa, Trawscoed, Rheola, Resolfen, le grand match à trois entre Petter Solberg (Subaru), Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) et Carlos Sainz (Citroën) pour le titre Pilotes a tourné court : Sainz est sorti dans l’ES3 et les dirigeants de Citroën Sport, Claude Satinet et Guy Fréquelin, ont alors demandé à Loeb d’assurer les points Constructeurs pour la marque française, quitte à abandonner son duel avec Solberg pour le titre Pilotes.

Sébastien Loeb est néanmoins resté au contact du Norvégien jusqu’à la fin du Wales Rally GB 2003, terminant deuxième derrière Petter Solberg, sacré Champion du monde des Rallyes à l’arrivée de l’ES18 devant le Château de Margam dans l’hystérie générale ! Avant de se jeter dans la foule comme une rock star, Petter « Hollywood » Solberg est tombé dans les bras de son équipier Tommi Mäkinen, troisième.

Pour le Finlandais, ce dimanche 9 novembre 2003 restera une date importante. A 39 ans, après 139 rallyes WRC, 24 victoires et quatre titres constructeurs consécutifs, l’enfant de Puupola a mis un terme à sa carrière sur un 45^e podium mondial.

Depuis sa première victoire au Rallye des 1000 Lacs 1994 sur une Ford Escort Cosworth, le « Flying Finn » n’a cessé de progresser sur tous les types de surfaces, y compris l’asphalte. Il s’est imposé en Catalogne, au Sanremo ou encore au Rallye Monte-Carlo quatre fois de suite entre 1999 et 2002.

Tommi Mäkinen a connu ses plus belles heures chez Mitsubishi avec quatre titres mondiaux consécutifs de 1996 à 1999 sur des Lancer Gr.A parfois « dépassées » face aux nouvelles WRC. De ces quatre titres, celui de 1998 restera dans les mémoires : après avoir arraché une roue au Rallye de Grande-Bretagne, Tommi était en route pour la Finlande lorsqu’il a appris son sacre après l’abandon de Sainz à 800 mètres de l’arrivée !

Tommi a rejoint l’équipe Subaru en 2002 avec une première victoire sur tapis vert au Rallye Monte-Carlo. Mais c’était le début de la fin. Après trois abandons d’affilée, une impressionnante série de tonneaux au Rallye d’Argentine 2002 a marqué un coup d’arrêt à sa carrière. Jamais Tommi n’a retrouvé ce « Sisu » et a sagement pris sa retraite à l’issue de la saison 2003.

The WRC season’s finale in Wales / Bouquet final au Pays de Galles

The 2013 FIA World Rally Championship is poised to end this weekend in the forests of Wales where the planet’s best drivers will be free to fight for victory.

Le Championnat du monde des Rallyes FIA 2013 va se terminer par un grand bouquet final dans les forêts galloises où les meilleurs pilotes mondiaux ont quitus pour se disputer la victoire.

With the all the 2013 WRC titles now settled, the only remaining battle of note is that for the Driver’s runner-up prize opposing Thierry Neuville and Jari-Matti Latvala.

That basically means everyone will have a green light to drive as they see fit. For Neuville, Mads Ostberg and Evgeny Novikov, that will involve trying to earn the Ford Fiesta RS WRC’s first win of the year, while Latvala and Sébastien Ogier will want to wrap up the year in style for Volkswagen, with even Andreas Mikkelsen under no instructions to reach the finish at all cost. Meanwhile, Mikko Hirvonen, Dani Sordo and Robert Kubica all have their own personal reasons to shine this weekend in their respective Citroën DS3 WRCs.

This year’s Wales Rally GB has traded the relative indifference of Cardiff for a return to its roots in North Wales where it will hopefully attract fans from nearby population centres like Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. The event itself will be based in Deeside, near Chester, with competitive action focused on the forests of northern and central Wales.

There consequently promises to be a high number of spectators, despite the rally’s traditional cocktail of mud, wind, fog and rain on some stages which haven’t been used for a decade or two, or more.

Hostilities are scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 14, with shakedown, the Qualifying Stage (Llandegla, 3.11km) and three short night-time tests. Friday will feature two loops of three classics (Hafren, Sweet Lamb and Myherin), followed by Saturday’s seven stages before the last day which will include a blast over the asphalt of the magnificent Great Orme. Competitors face 312.38km of competitive action divided into 22 stages.

Toutes les couronnes WRC 2013 ont déjà trouvé tête. Ne restent plus que Neuville et Latvala à départager pour le titre de vice-champion du monde et les troisièmes places honorifiques des championnats Pilotes et Constructeurs à attribuer.

Autant dire que tout le monde aura le feu vert pour partir à la conquête de la victoire : Thierry Neuville, Mads Ostberg, Evgeny Novikov pour offrir à la Ford Fiesta RS WRC un premier succès cette année. Jari-Matti Latvala et Sébastien Ogier pour clore la saison en beauté pour l’équipe Volkswagen où même Andreas Mikkelsen aura carte blanche. Mikko Hirvonen, Dani Sordo et Robert Kubica auront tous des raisons personnelles de briller ce week-end sur les Citroën DS3 WRC…

Le Wales Rally GB quitte enfin l’indifférence de Cardiff pour retrouver ses racines au nord du Pays de Galles et espérer reconquérir ses fans abandonnés là, aux portes de Liverpool, Manchester et Birmingham, depuis de trop longues années. L’épreuve est basée à Deeside, près de Chester et sillonnera une grande partie du nord et du centre du Pays de Galles.

On attend donc des milliers de spectateurs, des tonnes de boue, des rafales de vents, du brouillard, des millions de litres d’eau de pluie le week-end prochain sur les spéciales du Wales Rally GB dont la plupart n’ont plus été empruntées depuis une ou deux décennies. Un fabuleux retour aux sources pour cette 40^e édition du Rally GB comptant pour le Championnat du monde des Rallyes WRC !

Début des hostilités jeudi 14 novembre avec le Shakedown, la Qualifying Stage à Llandegla (3,11 km) et trois courtes spéciales nocturnes. Vendredi, deux fois trois spéciales connues (Hafren, Sweet Lamb, Myherin) sont au programme. Samedi, sept ES sont prévues avant la dernière journée et la magnifique spéciale de Great Orme sur asphalte. Les concurrents auront 22 spéciales et 312,38 km chronométrés pour se départager