The first half of the season wraps up in Greece. Round 8 of the WRC is the BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally and Marcus Grönholm, the defending rally winner, will try to repeat in his BP sponsored Ford.
Greece has been included in the WRC Drivers Championship 27 times, dating back to 1979. The rally was rotated to 2-Litre Championship in 1995. The Greek WRC round has had three names:
Acropolis Rally (1979-1993, 2000-2004)
Acropolis Rally of Greece (1994, 1996-1999, 2005)
BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally (2006)
Debut WRC wins in Greece:
Walter Röhrl (GER) - 1975 in Opel Ascona pre drivers championship
Harry Källström (SWE) - 1976 in Datsun 160J pre drivers championship
Ari Vatanen (FIN) - 1980 in Ford Escort RS1800
Carlos Sainz (ESP) - 1990 in Toyota Celica GT-Four
Markko Märtin (EST) - 2003 in Ford Focus RS WRC 03
Notable WRC debuts in Greece
Alexandros Maniatopoulos (GRE) - 1975 finished 5th in Audi 80 GT
Ioánnis Papadimitríou (GRE) - 1996 (retired) in Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Bruno Thiry (BEL) - 1989 finished 13th in Audi 90 Quattro
Aris Vovos (GRE) - 1993 (retired) in Lancia Delta HF Integrale
For complete list of Winners and Historical Stats click here.
Did You Know?
Ford leads all manufacturers with 10 wins in the 27 events since 1979 and Finland's 7 wins is also tops in that span. This bodes well for defending rally winner Marcus Grönholm, from Finland and driving for Ford.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
WRC Sardinia Historical Rally Stats
This weekend is the 4th inclusion of Sardinia in the World Rally Championship Calendar. In 2004 it replaced San Remo as the Italian round of the WRC. It has been know by three slightly different names:
Rally Italia – Sardinia (2004)
Supermag Rally Italia – Sardinia (2005)
Rally d’Italia Sardegna (2006 & 2007)
Petter Solberg won the inaugural event in 2004 (one of his career high 5 rally wins that season) and Sébastien Loeb has won the next two rallies in Sardinia.
Numbers Game
If Loeb can pull off victory on the gravel of Sardinia this weekend, it will be his 3rd consecutive win on this event. It would be his 33rd career win and give him his second straight trifecta (he won his third straight Rally Argentina earlier this month).
A notable career began in Sardinia. Alessandro Bettega (son of Attilio) debuted on the 2005 Supermag Rally Italia. He retired in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI. In the following year he drove a Ford Fiesta ST en route to the Fiesta Sporting Trophy championship, winning entry to this year’s Junior Rally Championship.
For a complete list of winners click here. Don’t forget to check Sardinia’s Historical Rally Stats.
For history buffs, you can also check out the previous Italian round, Rally Sanremo by clicking here.
Rally Italia – Sardinia (2004)
Supermag Rally Italia – Sardinia (2005)
Rally d’Italia Sardegna (2006 & 2007)
Petter Solberg won the inaugural event in 2004 (one of his career high 5 rally wins that season) and Sébastien Loeb has won the next two rallies in Sardinia.
Numbers Game
If Loeb can pull off victory on the gravel of Sardinia this weekend, it will be his 3rd consecutive win on this event. It would be his 33rd career win and give him his second straight trifecta (he won his third straight Rally Argentina earlier this month).
A notable career began in Sardinia. Alessandro Bettega (son of Attilio) debuted on the 2005 Supermag Rally Italia. He retired in his Subaru Impreza WRX STI. In the following year he drove a Ford Fiesta ST en route to the Fiesta Sporting Trophy championship, winning entry to this year’s Junior Rally Championship.
For a complete list of winners click here. Don’t forget to check Sardinia’s Historical Rally Stats.
For history buffs, you can also check out the previous Italian round, Rally Sanremo by clicking here.
Preview of DTM & Speed World Challenge
Both series are in action this weekend, each with their respective 3rd races of 2007. The DTM will be at EuroSpeedway in Lausitz and SWC will race at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
DTM
So far, after two races, we have seen six different drivers claim the six available podium positions. Also a tribute to parity was the victory by Gary Paffett last race in Oschersleben which he won driving a 2006 spec Mercedes.
In the points chase, Mattias Ekström, Paul di Resta and Martin Tomczyk all sit with 12 points atop the leader board. Paffett is just 1 point behind that trio in 4th.
Injury Update: Following a hard crash at Hockenheim, Tom Kristensen and Alexandre Prémat were unable to compete at Oschersleben. This weekend Prémat has been cleared to drive and will return to the #17 Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi A4 DTM 06. Kristensen is still not fully healed and Audi Sport Team Abt has signed Markus Winkelhock sub in the #7 Audi A4 DTM 07.
For a list of winners at EuroSpeedway Lausitz, click here. Don't forget to check out all the action at www.dtm.de.
SWC
The 2007 Season turns to Miller Motorsports Park for round 3. All eyes will be on championship leader Eric Curran to see if he can go 3 for 3 in 2007. Curran has a 22 point advantage over Andy Pilgrim in the points standings. 2006 series champion Lawson Aschenbach looks to bounce back from his first finish outside the top ten and make up ground in the championship chase.
In the manufacturer's standings, Chevrolet leads thanks to Curran's success. Cadillac is lurking in second, just 5 behind. Then there is a sizable gap to Porsche and Dodge in 3rd and 4th.
Last year's race was won by Lou Gigliotti in a Chevy Corvette. It was the first inclusion in the series for the new facility. Gigliotti will try to defend his victory in the #28 LG Motorsports Corvette.
Joining The K-Pax team will be Rob Holland. He will drive the #24 and team with Michael Galati (#23) and Randy Pobst (#22) in Porsche 911 GT-3's.
For all the action check www.world-challenge.com and click here for Miller Motorsports Park information and results.
DTM
So far, after two races, we have seen six different drivers claim the six available podium positions. Also a tribute to parity was the victory by Gary Paffett last race in Oschersleben which he won driving a 2006 spec Mercedes.
In the points chase, Mattias Ekström, Paul di Resta and Martin Tomczyk all sit with 12 points atop the leader board. Paffett is just 1 point behind that trio in 4th.
Injury Update: Following a hard crash at Hockenheim, Tom Kristensen and Alexandre Prémat were unable to compete at Oschersleben. This weekend Prémat has been cleared to drive and will return to the #17 Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi A4 DTM 06. Kristensen is still not fully healed and Audi Sport Team Abt has signed Markus Winkelhock sub in the #7 Audi A4 DTM 07.
For a list of winners at EuroSpeedway Lausitz, click here. Don't forget to check out all the action at www.dtm.de.
SWC
The 2007 Season turns to Miller Motorsports Park for round 3. All eyes will be on championship leader Eric Curran to see if he can go 3 for 3 in 2007. Curran has a 22 point advantage over Andy Pilgrim in the points standings. 2006 series champion Lawson Aschenbach looks to bounce back from his first finish outside the top ten and make up ground in the championship chase.
In the manufacturer's standings, Chevrolet leads thanks to Curran's success. Cadillac is lurking in second, just 5 behind. Then there is a sizable gap to Porsche and Dodge in 3rd and 4th.
Last year's race was won by Lou Gigliotti in a Chevy Corvette. It was the first inclusion in the series for the new facility. Gigliotti will try to defend his victory in the #28 LG Motorsports Corvette.
Joining The K-Pax team will be Rob Holland. He will drive the #24 and team with Michael Galati (#23) and Randy Pobst (#22) in Porsche 911 GT-3's.
For all the action check www.world-challenge.com and click here for Miller Motorsports Park information and results.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
WRC Rally Argentina Historical Stats
After a month off, the WRC is back in action. This weekend it makes the only trip to South America on the championship calendar. Rally Argentina achieves some of the highest altitudes in the series and has had several dramatic finishes.
Argentina has been included in the WRC Drivers Championship 25 times, dating back to 1980. No event was held in 1982 due to the Falklands War. The rally was rotated to 2-Litre Championship in 1995. Rally Argentina has had three names:
Rally Codasur (1980-1981)
Marlboro Rally Argentina (1983-1988)
Rally Argentina (1989 to present)
Debut WRC wins in Portugal:
Guy Fréquelin (FRA) - 1981 in Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
Massimo Biasion (ITA) - 1986 in Lancia Delta S4
Jorgé Recalde (ARG) - 1988 in Lancia Delta Integrale
Mikael Ericsson (SWE) - 1989 in Lancia Delta Integrale
Notable WRC debuts in Portugal
Marcos Ligato (ARG) - 1998 (finished 14th) in Subaru Impreza WRX
Luís Pérez Companc (ARG) - 2001 (finished 13th) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
Gabriel Pozzo (ARG) - 1998 (retired) in Subaru Impreza WRX
Juan Pablo Raies (ARG) - 1992 (retired) in Renault 18 GTX
For complete list of Winners and Historical Stats click here.
History in the Making
With a win, Sébastien Loeb can tie Tommi Mäkinen's Argentine record with 3 consecutive victories.
Did You Know?
Of the 16 drivers to win in Argentina, all but three of them have also won world championships. The last winner who has not achieved a WRC crown was in 1989, the late Mikael Ericsson. This bodes well for Loeb, Grönholm and Solberg, but we could see a FUTURE WRC champ, like Hirvonen or Sordo as well........
Argentina has been included in the WRC Drivers Championship 25 times, dating back to 1980. No event was held in 1982 due to the Falklands War. The rally was rotated to 2-Litre Championship in 1995. Rally Argentina has had three names:
Rally Codasur (1980-1981)
Marlboro Rally Argentina (1983-1988)
Rally Argentina (1989 to present)
Debut WRC wins in Portugal:
Guy Fréquelin (FRA) - 1981 in Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
Massimo Biasion (ITA) - 1986 in Lancia Delta S4
Jorgé Recalde (ARG) - 1988 in Lancia Delta Integrale
Mikael Ericsson (SWE) - 1989 in Lancia Delta Integrale
Notable WRC debuts in Portugal
Marcos Ligato (ARG) - 1998 (finished 14th) in Subaru Impreza WRX
Luís Pérez Companc (ARG) - 2001 (finished 13th) in Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
Gabriel Pozzo (ARG) - 1998 (retired) in Subaru Impreza WRX
Juan Pablo Raies (ARG) - 1992 (retired) in Renault 18 GTX
For complete list of Winners and Historical Stats click here.
History in the Making
With a win, Sébastien Loeb can tie Tommi Mäkinen's Argentine record with 3 consecutive victories.
Did You Know?
Of the 16 drivers to win in Argentina, all but three of them have also won world championships. The last winner who has not achieved a WRC crown was in 1989, the late Mikael Ericsson. This bodes well for Loeb, Grönholm and Solberg, but we could see a FUTURE WRC champ, like Hirvonen or Sordo as well........
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