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Lowes returns to podium at Brno

Aboard the Team Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Kalex machine Sam Lowes crossed the finish line of today’s rain hit Czech Grand Prix at Brno in third place: despite treacherous conditions the 25-year-old British rider put in an excellent performance, recovering from fifth to third position in the early laps of the race and maintaining the position until the checkered flag, behind winner Jonas Folger and Spaniard Alex Rins, second.

After two races in which he was forced to retire, Lowes was therefore back on the podium reinforcing the third position in the overall standings with 137 points ahead of his home Grand Prix at Silverstone, scheduled for September 4th.

Sam Lowes: The result gives me great conference

“Given the situation, this third place is a very important result for me: in the dry I had a great chance to win, because I rode well all weekend and I felt very competitive, but that’s okay , because I was able to keep a good pace also in the wet and I didn’t expect to be so fast. Today we still managed to beat Zarco, while for Rins, with 7-8 laps to go I thought it would be possible to reach him, then I preferred to avoid risks because we come from two DNFs and today it was really important to finish the race. This performance is also important ahead of my home race at Silverstone, because also there we may face a variable weather variable and today’s result gives me great confidence”.

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The Top 10 Motorcycle Racing Venues in the World

We all know that motorcycle racing is an incredible sport and that some of the races we have witnessed will stay with us for a long time to come, but aside from the superhuman athletes their selves, it tends to be the venue that lends itself wonderfully. Let’s take a look at some of the most iconic circuits all around the world and see why they have become known to deal us fans some incredible racing.

10.) Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia

Sepang has been a track that has thrown up some of the most extraordinary races in the past, and in 2015, it also became host to one of the most controversial moments in GP history (I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what happened). Its long sweeping chicanes make it a favourite for riders to prepare a move in one corner and execute it in the next, similar to Mugello and Brno. In 2015, WSBK visited for the second year and we were given two of the best races ever. The first was Jonathan Rea and Chaz Davies going side by side to finishing line on the last lap, for Rea to just pip Davies. The second was slightly more aggressive with Davies throwing his Ducati up the inside of Rea for what was simply one of the most explosive races in recent Superbike years. However, Sepang lands itself a top 10 place not just for the layout of the track, but also for the sheer climate of Malaysia. Humid would be an understatement, and the weather really can be unpredictable, with sun beaming through one minute and rain lashing down the next. It puts riders and bike, as well as mechanics and journalists through the paces, and that’s why winning at Sepang could mean something extra special.

9.) Kyalami, Gauteng, South Africa

Kyalami in South Africa has been on and off the World Superbike calendar for a number of years and is currently having a makeover to hopefully bring MotoGP and WSBK back to that part of the world. The old track lent itself beautifully to bike racing, with some of the fastest and scariest corners in the world at this facility. The first turn was a right hand kink before sweeping left into a triple left hander. Then they would head along the old front straight into Sunset bend, before two more right handers were tackled. Perhaps the scariest part of the track was the mineshaft, the place where Regis Laconi nearly lost his life in 2009. The track has played host to some of the best races in history, including the sensation 2000 WSBK season opening round, when Edwards and Haga went head to head in not one, but two races. South Africa would dearly love to return to the MotoGP calendar, whether it be at Kyalami or Welkom, and it is for the frightening corners and ferociously fast straights, along with the atmosphere and fan support that earns Kyalami a place in the top 10.

8.) Laguna Seca, Monterrey, America

Laguna Seca made a welcome return to the World Superbike calendar in 2013 after an eight-year hiatus, and although the racing hasn’t been too spectacular, it’s the fact that it is edging a deprived World Superbike Championship back to its best by being there on the calendar. Let’s face it, after all the memories that have been made and saved at Laguna Seca, it would be hard to imagine the WSBK grid not being there. From Doug Chandler’s and Akira Yanagawa’s huge crash in 1998, to Colin Edwards’ sensational double four years later, this track has had it all, and is known for one thing. The Corkscrew. The Corkscrew has been home to many memorable moments at Laguna, including Valentino Rossi’s antics on Casey Stoner in 2008, as well as the site of Wayne Rainey’s number one salute on the final lap of the 1990 US GP. The track itself is incredibly dangerous, with the front straight lined with concrete walls. However, the trackside marshals at Laguna Seca are simply second to none, and had they not been as efficient as they had in the catastrophic start line pile up for the WSBK race one restart, there could have been a lot more serious injuries. It is the track, the features and the memories that put Laguna Seca in the category of great motorcycle racing tracks.

7.) Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

Jerez may have not given us a last lap thrill in the premier class for a few years but in the past it has been a track that has thrown up an unbelievable finish to a race. World Superbikes returned to the track in 2013, and immediately, Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri went head to head, and it was the Irishman Laverty who snatched the win from ex GP star Melandri. Who can forget Rossi and Sete Gibernau clashing in 2005. The crowds of people that were on their feet in anticipation as two of the best riders of the time put on a sensational show. The lap starts off slowly but opens up through turn three and four before the Sito Pons corner forces you to get a good drive down to turn six, a prime overtaking opportunity. However, what really makes the track special is the double right hander heading back towards the pits and the final corner of Lorenzo (previously the Ducados Hairpin). The incredible atmosphere from the Spanish crowd all around the track has made it one that is loved by fans all over the world, but recent political issues in Spain could see an end to the Jerez circuit on the GP calendar, but WSBK looks set to continue at the venue. It really has got the perfect build up for a bit of ‘Argy Bargy’ in the final corner on the final lap.

6.) Misano, Rimini, San Marino

Misano has had something of a renaissance in the world of motorcycle racing in recent years, with the circuit being completely revamped, races now being held in the opposite direction and also the rise of Italian stars from the Adriatic Coast has made it a real fan favourite. When Valentino Rossi won back in 2014, the place went from a motorcycle circuit to an all-out street party, and it really is a special venue for all fans of the sport. However, it has seen some incredible races outside of the premier class of racing, particularly in World Superbikes. Back in 2001, Ben Bostrom romped home to take his first WSBK double; in 2007, Japanese legend Noriyuki Haga bought down Max Biaggi and also in the Moto3 race in 2015, we saw Italian Enea Bastianini take his first and so far only GP win. However, the track was renamed in 2012 to ‘World Circuit Marco Simoncelli’, in memory of the Italian 250cc champ of 2008, and you can really see why. The fast circuit asks a rider to be brave, flamboyant and determined, everything the late Italian was. And it is this combination of heritage entwined with a superb circuit that makes this a very special place!

5.) Old Hockenheimring, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The Old Hockenheimring in Germany was for years one of the greatest rounds in the WSBK season. With more than eight riders battling it out for the lead, it was a massive fans favourite, as well as a rider’s favourite. However, this thrilling and exciting spectacle wasn’t without danger. In 1999, Igor German had a huge crash on his Bertochi Kawasaki, so violent that it ripped the front wheel off. In 1996, Troy Corser crashed out not just once but twice, both times were very fast. In 1989, Ivan Palazzese lost his life in a tragic 125cc GP accident. However, there have been brighter times too. In 1996, WSBK erupted into life with two smashing races; the first saw Aaron Slight and Frankie Chili go head to head right down to the final corners, until Chili crashed in a huge way. The second race was simply spectacular, with 24 lead changes, with Paolo Casoli, Carl Fogarty, Aaron Slight, Troy Corser, Simon Crafar, Anthony Gobert, Frankie Chili and John Kocinski all taking the helm at some point during the race! It was Foggy though who triumphed to the roar of everyone in the stands, to take one of just a handful of wins on the Honda! In 2000, Nitro Nori Haga stormed through to mug Colin Edwards of victory with just 3 corners to go, to claim Yamaha’s first WSBK win at the circuit. Hockenheim did consist of long straights, fast chicanes and hard braking points and is now merely a shadow of what it once was, although it is still a great track. It is for the memories and for the raw speed of the place that it earns itself a place on the Top 10 Motorcycle Race tracks.

4.) Suzuka, Ino, Japan

Suzuka is a track that isn’t used as much for bikes as it is for cars anymore, since Daijiro Kato was tragically killed in the MotoGP event back in 2003. However, the track is still home to the Suzuka 8 hours’ endurance race and most of the circuit has remained unchanged since its MotoGP days. The first section really is all about keeping your momentum up through the corners and through the elevation change, before you plunge downhill for the Degna corners. One of the best corners is that of the long right hander just before you arrive at spoon corner, which is itself a prime opportunity to overtake. However, one of the best corners in the whole world is that of 130R, just after the figure of eight crossovers. We have seen many races won and lost there, and some pretty big crashes too. Eddie Lawson and Michael Doohan had a major crash there at the start of the 1990 500cc championship, as well as seeing the 2003 125cc GP race decided at that very corner too. Despite being one of the most dangerous circuits still in existence and despite the negative press it often gets, Suzuka has all the essential ingredients to make it one of the best tracks in the world for bike racing.

3.) Brands Hatch, Fawkham, Great Britain

Brands Hatch in Kent, England has seen more people than any other venue in Europe pay to get in through the gates. Back in the early naughties, over 150,000 bike fanatics would squeeze into one of the most exhilarating courses in the world, creating an atmosphere that you could only experience if you were there. The track itself has some of the best corners in motorcycle racing, including Paddock Hill, the immensely fast Hawthorn corner, Dingle Dell and the final corner of Clearways, all of which have played host to some of the most audacious overtakes we have ever seen. The track itself is situated with in a forest, with trees lining the track from Surtees all the way back to Clearways. The fast challenging corners along with the electric atmosphere and air horns makes Brands Hatch one of the most iconic circuits in superbike racing; some would even argue that it is the signature of World Superbikes, despite it not being on the calendar any more.

2.) Assen, De Haar, Netherlands

Assen for me, is one of the greatest motorsport venues anywhere in the world. It’s tight and twisty first section may be one of those that is very much one-line and one that is hard to pass on, but as soon as we get past the Struben hairpin, the track opens up into a sensationally elegant and sophisticated surface, with passing opportunities one after the other. However, the last section from the fast double right hander down to the infamous chicane is one that hasn’t just decided races, but its seen host to some of the most controversial moments in our sport. From Frankie Chili and Carl Fogarty in 1998 right up to the recent 2015 clash between Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez, the final six corners have dealt us some of the best racing in the sports history. This, coincided with the roars of the crowd makes the circuit live up to its name as the ‘Cathedral of Speed’.

1.) Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia

Phillip Island in Australia has thrown up some of the best motorcycle races in both MotoGP and World Superbikes. From the sensational 2015 Australian MotoGP back to the start of the year where World Superbikes put on a spectacular show, this circuit has never failed to deliver top class racing, testing not just the riders, but the bikes and mechanics too. Notorious for its fast sweeping corners of Doohan, Stoner, and the Hayshed, it is the perfect match of excitement and danger. There have been some huge crashes at the circuit; Alex Barros had a massive get off in 2005 at the Hayshed, Jordi Torres crashed at the fast turn one in the second WSBK race in 2015 and of course the huge crash at the Southern Loop that nearly cost Britain’s Danny Kent of title success in the 2015 Moto3 race. Phillip Island is what is known as a ‘rider’s circuit’, with its sensationally fast Gardner straight leading into incredibly fast sweeping corners, there is no surprise that everyone connected to WSBK and MotoGP can’t wait to get here, let alone the fans. It is for these reasons that Phillip Island is not just the best MotoGP circuit, but also the best race track in the world!

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Q&A With Porsche Club Driver Natalie McGloin

 

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Nathalie McGloin at Brands Hatch this weekend just passed, a delightful lady who currently is the only female within the UK with spinal injuries to hold an ARDS. We had been chatting throughout the previous week after I’d seen the youtube video of Nathalie completing her required 7 second emergency exit. From the very second I saw the video,  I knew I wanted the opportunity to interview her, at first I was in awe, let’s face it I would struggle to make the 7 second exit requirement on the best of days. This quickly fell away to wanting to know more about her, knowing she must have a strong character to have chosen motorsport as her thrill.

She completed two races this weekend and amazingly she finished 12th in her second ever race, considering at one point earlier in the day she’d been on two wheels, this was an amazing comeback to what must have been a confidence knock. I was fortunate to be up at Stopwatch Hospitality and had a fantastic view of most of the track, the group I was with were also supporting Nathalie, if only she could have heard all of our shouts of encouragement and at times our amateur advice on braking and when to get back on the gas, although this would probably have been more a hindrance than a help, Nathalie is after all the one who knows what she is doing. What was clear even to all of us was that we were witnessing an improvement in every lap, she was certainly fearless and made a few overtakes and more importantly made them stick. Overall I was so impressed with Nathalie’s talent, that it’s clear she will only improve over the season and with more race experience and I, for one cannot wait to see what happens. Bring on the next round!

Here’s what Nathalie told me of herself and I got to ask her some questions too :-

Being in a car crash aged just 16 Nathalie was left paralysed from the neck down, she spent a year in a spinal injury rehab centre and afterwards returned to school to obtain her A Levels and then on to University studying English.

Nathalie with her nature to be stubborn wouldn’t accept any help with care and was determined to live a completely independent life. Signing up to wheelchair rugby got her the fitness she needed and she was soon invited to her first tournament, she fell in love with the sport and even said she loved the aggressive nature of the sport and how you were allowed to hit one another with the chairs! She quickly decided she wanted to be a serious competitor, she started to train to make the national team. Studying at university and training for the GB wheelchair rugby trials at the same time, once she had graduated she knew she wanted to move to London to play for the London team. The more she trained the more her passion grew for the sport. She went from the ‘girl in the wheelchair’ to an ‘athlete’ and she felt she was conquering her injury.

After the Paralympics things began to change within the sport, politics became heavily involved in team selection and she forgot the reason she once fell in love with the sport, so eventually she left the GB squad and continued to play on a recreational level ,but it wasn’t enough.

Nathalie has always loved cars and has been known for buying fast cars even if they were wholly impractical for a wheelchair. She had been tracking her 911’s for about 6 years, she looked into getting her racing licence and discovered how difficult it was going to be but that didn’t stop her, she made it her next challenge.!

Nathalie passed her ARDS test in October 2013. She had to complete several sprint events, a medical and seemingly impossible 7 second car exit to qualify. The determined women she is this didn’t stop her, she was set up with a race team at Silverstone and bought a Cayman S and decided to enter the Porsche Club Championship in May 2014. The date grew closer and Nathalie realised she needed more time to gain experience or time to complete the sprint events and that she wasn’t with the right team.

After a messy departure she met James Cameron who runs Mission Motorsport, a charity that rehabilitates injured soldiers back into working life through motorsport. Nathalie spent half a day with them she knew they were the right team for her and even though she had no army background they wanted to help.

The Cayman was handed over to them and she realised there was a lot of work to do for the wrongs of the previous race team. The cage was not suitable for her to use , barely getting into the car how could she make that 7 second exit? A lot of time was spent sorting the problems but by the end of the season only 3 out of 4 required sprints were complete.

Her race car was out of action she had to complete in her heavy 4WD 911 Turbo for most of them, the 500hp engine was a big advantage and to her surprise she finished 1st in class in her first ever sprint. She took this confidence into the winter season and and booked her last required sprint for the next season in March and got focused for the racing come May.

Before Christmas, Nathalie traded in her 4WD Turbo for a GT3 so that whilst the preparations were ongoing, she had a car to practise in. She fast realised she would need to change her driving style to ‘keep it on the black stuff’, learning her craft and falling in love with her new car so when her sprint date arrived in March she felt nervous but ready.After a year and a half Nathalie completed her sprints, sorted the car and nailed that 7 second car exit. Her race license was rubber stamped just over a week before her first race. After how long it has taken to achieve it she felt ready and knew it has been totally worth it all.

Q) What adaptions have you got in your car for you?

A) I have Radial controls in my race car, they are a type of hand control located to the right of the steering wheel. You push down for throttle and forward for brake.

Q) What are your targets for the season?

A) I’d like to finish all of my races and I don’t want to come last!

Q) Do you get to pick your race number? What is it be and why?

A) I did get to pick my race number, I chose 5. It was the lowest number available and single digits are always good. It doesn’t mean anything now but I’ll stick with it and hopefully it might mean something in the future.

Q) Tell me about your helmet design?

A) Its carbon, it’s light and it looks ace!

Q) In 3 words describe your racing style?

A) Immediate boundary pusher!

Q) In 3 words describe yourself ?

A) Driven, enthusiastic, passionate.

Q) How’s the training and preparation been going for this weekend?

A) Erm….training? My plan is: turn up and drive. My race car has only just been finished this week so training has been somewhat limited. But I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

Q) Have you got any other formulas you have your eyes on for the future?

A) With getting my race licence and car sorted I haven’t really had time to think about anything else. We’ll see how this season goes first.

Q) Have you found any of the wheelchair rugby skills that have swapped over into useful for racing?

A) They’re both adrenaline junkie sports that require huge amounts of discipline. Obviously the stakes are much higher in Motorsport, but what you do on court affects your team mates and what you do on the race circuit affects your competitors. You have to make the right judgement calls and this transfers over both sports.

Q) You are going to dinner with up to 4 people that have influenced you in your life,or heroes of yours who would you choose & why?

A) Noel Gallagher. I grew up with his music and I absolutely love the guy. I wouldn’t need anybody else there!

Q)  KFC or McDonalds?

A) McDonalds!

Q) Dirty Dancing or The Terminator films?

A) Dirty Dancing.

Q) Tom Boy or Girlie Girl??

A) Neither, I just like what I like and do what I do!

Q) How does it feel to be the only spinal injured female with an ARDS??

A) It’s an honour to be the first, I hope I’m not the last.

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McLaren German GP Review

McLaren are heading in to the summer break with a points scoring finish in Germany. This was the team’s 7th points scoring finish this season. Both Jenson and Fernando ran inside the top 10 for most parts of the race, but due to some fuel saving needed for both drivers it ended up where Jenson would remain in the top 10 at the end finishing 8th. Fernando sadly fell back in the closing stages to 12th place. The team are showing clear signs of progress at the half way point of the season now. The Hockenheim circuit was felt like it was going to be a tricky race for the team but a points finished ended up being well deserved.

 

FERNANDO ALONSO, MP4-31-02

Started:    13th
Finished:    12th
Fastest Lap:    1m20.132s on lap 50 (+1.690s, 13th)
Pitstops:    Three: laps 14 (2.58s), 28 (2.95s) and 47 (2.65s) [Option-Prime-Option-Option] 

“It was a very tough race, possibly one of the toughest so far this season, especially towards the end, when my tyres were finished and I had to do a lot of fuel-saving.

“We knew before we came here that it might be a tough weekend. Ultimately, I lost 10th position at the end of the race, so we didn’t score that last point that we were hoping for. But we just didn’t have the pace throughout the entire race.

“Getting ready for the Belgian Grand Prix is our priority now – hopefully we’ll come back stronger after the summer break.”


JENSON BUTTON, MP4-31-03

Started:    12th
Finished:    8th
Fastest Lap:    1m19.781s on lap 48 (+1.339s, 9th)
Pitstops:    Three: laps 13 (2.54s), 31 (2.40s) and 46 (2.74s) [Option-Prime-Option-Option]

“I made a very good start and made up most of the places there. After that, it was just about looking after the tyres, which were degrading faster than we’d expected. We also had to do a fair amount of fuel-saving, too, particularly in the last 10 laps. In fact, I went off the circuit towards the end, just because I was doing so much fuel-saving that I hit the brakes and they were just stone cold. I hadn’t even been braking hard.

“At the end, I was able to pick off Valtteri, who was struggling on his tyres. It feels satisfying to have beaten both Williams, but eighth was as good as it was going to get today – we were 20 seconds behind the car in front, and there’s still quite a bit to go before we catch those guys.

“Still, we’ve made good progress: we’re consistently fighting in the points, and the team are doing a great job this year, bringing something new to pretty much every single race. I want to say thank-you and well done to the whole team for their efforts.

“I’m looking forward to coming back and fighting after the summer break – but, right now, I’m looking forward to a holiday!”

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Haas F1:German Grand Prix Review

Hockenheim, Germany.
Sunday 31 July 2016.
World Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _V2I7307

Haas F1 Team drivers Esteban Gutiérrez and Romain Grosjean drove to hard-fought 11th- and 13th-place finishes, respectively, in the German Grand Prix Sunday at the Hockenheimring.

While the effort did not yield a point-paying result, it was still a strong showing from the American team as both drivers had to rally from deep within the 22-car field. Gutiérrez got bottlenecked at the start and dropped to 18th while Grosjean started the 67-race from 20th after incurring a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change on Saturday.

The duo employed a two-stop strategy, but with differing tire selections. Gutiérrez started the race using the Pirelli P Zero Yellow soft tire and Grosjean started with the Red supersoft. Pit stops began on lap eight, but the Haas F1 Team drivers stayed out for as long as they could before making their first stops, allowing each to gain considerable track position.

Grosjean came in for his first stop at the end of lap 17 after climbing to eighth. Gutiérrez was the last driver to make his first stop, hitting pit lane at the end of lap 25 after rising to 12th. Grosjean went with a new set of Yellow softs while Gutiérrez switched to Red supersofts.

The team’s final round of pit stops began on lap 43 when Grosjean came in for a switch to Red supersofts. Gutiérrez followed at the end of lap 47, also taking Red supersofts.

While both drivers were a lap down after their pit cycles, they remained on the cusp of the top-10, with Gutiérrez 14th and Grosjean 15th with 16 laps remaining. Each driver made separate, masterful passes to get around the Renault of Kevin Magnussen, with Gutiérrez overtaking him on lap 52 and Grosjean doing the same on lap 55.

The moves, along with Carlos Sainz Jr. bringing his Toro Rosso to pit lane for his final stop, allowed Gutiérrez and Grosjean to climb to 12th and 13th, respectively.

Twelve rounds into the 21-race Formula One schedule, Haas F1 Team remains eighth in the constructor standings with 28 points. However, seventh-place McLaren widened the gap over the American team to 14 points via Jensen Button’s eighth-place finish. Haas F1 Team’s 22-point advantage over ninth-place Renault went unchanged as neither Magnussen nor Jolyon Palmer finished in the points.

Lewis Hamilton won the German Grand Prix by 6.996 seconds over Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. It was Hamilton’s 49th career Formula One victory, leaving him but 2 wins from typing Alain Prost for second place on the all times win list.

Nine races remain on the 2016 Formula One schedule, with the next event coming in three weeks with the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps.

Romain Grosjean – Driver #8

“It wasn’t too bad. I think we had a good pace, but the middle stint behind the Renault saw my brakes massively overheat, and I lost them completely for a few laps. That clearly put us on the back foot. I couldn’t get by, and that cost us having a shot at points. We need to understand that, but generally the car behaved in the race. I’m happier this afternoon than I was yesterday. Overall, it’s been an awesome first half of the season. I want us to be able to come back and score regularly in the top-10. There are a few things we need to unlock. We’ve got the potential in the car. We just need to put it all together.”

Esteban Gutiérrez – Driver #21

“It wasn’t an easy start. I had too much wheel spin and I was passed by quite a few cars. We were the only ones on soft tires, which was an aggressive strategy, so we were expecting to struggle for the first stint. After that I started to hold as much as I could and then began to fight back in the second stint. I was pushing all the way, trying to recover as much as I could, as well as trying to handle fuel saving. We’re not satisfied where we ended up, as we didn’t get the points we were aiming for. Now we head into the summer break, which will be good for the team after four races in five weeks. We’re all going to recharge our batteries and come back stronger, fighting for points at Spa.”

Guenther Steiner – Team Principal

“In general, we had a good race, though Esteban had a bad start. We need to look into that, and do better there, because we finished 11th again, one position out of the points. We basically started 18th and 20th and not 11th and 20th. Romain went from 20th to 13th. There wasn’t a lot more to do there, and obviously Esteban finished 11th. The car showed the pace and we had no mistakes, but when you start in those positions, sometimes that’s the best you can achieve. We know the pace is there. We can do it, we just have to pull it all together and get it done. We’ve showed that we can do that, which is ultimately a positive for the team moving forward.”

Next up – – VACATION!

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Rally Finland Preview…. Round Eight

This is a very important rally. It’s one of the absolute classics. Formerly known as the 1000 Lakes Rally, the roads are so specialized that it took years for someone not born in the region to win. First held in 1951, it took till 1990, when Carlos Sainz won driving a Toyota Celica GT-Four.

The drivers with the most wins are Hannu Mikkola and Marcus Gronholm, each winning the rally seven times.

Now this event features one of the most spectacular stages in the world. It’s called Ouninpohja. It is 33km (21 miles) long and is a real roller coaster of a stage! This year it features twice on Saturday and the drivers will need to be ready, as it is the first stage on Saturday morning! That will make them wake up for sure! It’s also being run in the opposite direction this year, so this adds a further twist!

Here are the details of this year’s stages.

Thursday evening

SS1 Harju 1 2,31km 19h00

Friday Morning

SS2 Mökkiperä 1 13,84km 07h13

SS3 Halinen 7,07km 07h46

SS4 Jukojärvi 1 21,24km 09h02

SS5 Surkee 1 14,95km 10h39

SS6 Horkka 1 15,01km 11h32

Friday afternoon

SS7 Äänekoski-Valtra 7,39km 14h10

SS8 Mökkiperä 2 13,84km 15h08

SS9 Jukojärvi 2 21,24km 16h38

SS10 Surkee 2 14,95km 18h15

SS11 Horkka 2 15,01km 19h08

SS12 Harju 2 2,31km 20h30

Saturday morning

SS13 Ouninpohja 1 33,00km 08h08

SS14 Päijälä 1 23,50km 09h11

SS15 Pihlajakoski 1 14,51km 10h34

SS16 Saalahti 1 4,23km 11h52

Saturday afternoon

SS17 Ouninpohja 2 33,00km 14h48

SS18 Päijälä 2 23,50km 15h51

SS19 Pihlajakoski 2 14,51km 17h14

SS20 Saalahti 2 4,23km 18h32

Sunday

SS21 Lempää 1 6,83km 08h28

SS22 Oittila 1 10,15km 09h21

SS23 Lempää 2 6,83km 11h15

SS24 Oittila 2 (Power Stage) 10,15km 13h08

The total competitive distance of the stages is 333,60km over the three days and this promises to be an exciting weekend of fast and flowing stages and hopefully a big battle for the win.

We can expect the drivers from the Nordic states to be near the front, so watch out for Jari-Matti, and Andreas from Volkswagen to challenge for the podium. The other driver I expect to be near the front, if not in the lead is Ott Tanak. After his total domination last time out in Poland, and finishing 4th last year in this rally, he will want to fight at the front again.

This was the result from last year

J.M Latvala / M. Anttila (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) 2:33:03.8

S. Ogier / J. Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC) +13.7

M. Østberg / J. Andersson (Citroën DS3 WRC) +1:36.8

T. Neuville / N. Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 WRC) +3:58.7

O. Tanak / R. Molder (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +4:29.3

J. Hänninen / T. Tuominen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +4:44.3

M. Prokop / J. Tomanek (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +6:20.3

E. Lappi / J. Ferm (Škoda Fabia R5) +7:11.2

P. Tidemand / E. Axelsson (Škoda Fabia R5) +8:52.2

L. Bertelli / L. Granai (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +9:37.4

D. Sordo / M. Martí (Hyundai i20 WRC) +10:17.8

Here are the thoughts of the drivers ahead of shakedown then.

Volkswagen

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1

“The Rally Finland is unquestionably one of the highlights of the year. I love driving there, because rallying is everything in Finland. I am also looking forward to Finland, because the Finns manage to produce perfect route conditions. The roads are not only beautiful, but are tailor-made for rallying. The starting order has denied me any realistic chance of winning any of the gravel events this year. As such, the weather situation will also play a major role again in Finland. Let’s wait and see, and keep our fingers crossed that it is nice and damp. Admittedly, what matters most in the end is that we defend our title. We are looking good in that regard at the moment, but it would be nice to have another fair shot at winning a rally in similar conditions. Particularly as the series is blessed with some very strong drivers at the moment.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #2

“The Rally Finland is obviously the highlight of the season for me. I am really looking forward to it, even though the pressure is naturally greater than at any other rally. That can also serve as a motivation, as you obviously want to do well in front of your home crowds. The expectations of the Finnish fans are huge, particularly as I have only won once so far this year. The characteristics of the rally suit me. Fast gravel roads and big jumps – that is my kind of rally. The keys to this rally are ensuring the pace notes are correct and choosing the right line for jumps and fast sections. I will relax ahead of my home race in a very Finnish manner – in the sauna.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #9

“The way I see it, it will not be easy to repeat our victory in Poland at the Rally Finland. The rally has a completely different character. The surface is much harder and there are many more crests and jumps. On the whole, the rally is far more demanding than the one in Poland. It is particularly important to get the pace notes spot on. As such, we will focus hard during the ‘Recce’ to get the pace notes as accurate as possible. Because there are a lot of blind crests, you need to know exactly what to expect on the other side. That then gives you the confidence you need to be fast. One of the new features this year will be the ‘Ouninpohja’ stage, which we will drive in the opposite direction to recent years. That will add a bit of extra spice to the occasion.

Hyundai

Thierry Neuville said: “Finland is probably one of the most challenging rallies of the season. Everybody is always a bit nervous going there. It’s a very fast event with huge grip and big jumps. You need to get everything 100% right to be fast and not make any mistakes. It’s very enjoyable once you get a good feeling and you are ‘on it’. It is the rally where you get the best sensations. But, it can be a difficult rally if you don’t find the best settings and get a good feeling, then it can quickly turn into the worst rally of the season! Nicolas and myself have had some positive results recently, so we want to build on that in Finland.”

Hayden Paddon said: “The result in Poland was really important for us and allowed us to bounce back after two tough results. I think Finland is the one we always look forward to the most. It’s like the home of rallying, the Monaco Grand Prix of the World Rally Championship. It’s a rally that I aspire to win one day, it’s very high on my list! We have a good car and a good package this year, so for sure we are going to try and fight right up near the front. But the Scandinavians on home turf are also very fast so we’ll have our work cut out for us. We’re feeling up for the challenge.”

Now, Dani Sordo was injured in pre event testing in an accident, so Kevin Abbring will be stepping into the i20 for this weekend. He’s not driven the new generation i20 competitively yet.

Kevin Abbring commented: “First of all, I would like to wish Dani a speedy recovery and thank Hyundai Motorsport for this opportunity. Our debut in the New Generation i20 WRC will be at rallying’s most challenging event. We’re obviously really excited for it, but we know that it’s a tall order. Rally Finland is just special; the roads are really fast and the fans are passionate about rallying. It has such an amazing atmosphere! The plan will be to continue to gain as much experience as possible and get more acquainted with the New Generation i20 WRC – I cannot wait to tackle the amazing stages this week.”

M-Sport

Mads Østberg said:

“It’s time for a comeback and we’re fully focussed on Rally Finland. We’ve all been working really hard in the lead-up to this event, and myself and Ola have spent a lot of time preparing. We’re determined to return to the stage-winning pace we showed in Sardinia.

“Eighth place in Poland was not what we came for, but I was ninth there last year and ended up on the podium in Finland. We need to keep that in mind and focus on being as competitive as we can from the very first stage.

“This is one of the events that everyone looks forward to. It’s such an adrenaline rush and when you hook up that perfect stage there really is no better feeling. We’re looking forward to that, and I can promise you that we’ll be aiming for a strong result. If everything goes to plan, there is no reason why we can’t be challenging for the podium again.”

Éric Camilli said:

“Rally Finland is a very special event, and I can’t wait to discover these stages for the first time in a world rally car. We have some knowledge of the rally from last year, but this year will be a completely new challenge. The speed of the world rally cars on these roads is incredible. We really enjoyed our test and did a lot of work with our engineer which should see us well-placed for the rally.

“Even though the event didn’t go to plan for us last year, we were pleased with our speed. With only a few gravel events under our belt, we were still discovering what it takes to perform on that surface but were able to set some really competitive times.

“We’re keen to keep up the same level of progress that we have shown recently. We’ll take everything in our stride and focus on our own rally, but I hope to build on the speed we had in Poland.”

Elfyn Evans said:

“The WRC 2 field is extremely strong at the moment and it will be a challenge to beat the Scandinavians on their home turf. This is probably one of the most competitive events of the year, but we’re ready to give it our all. We’re feeling well prepared and ready to challenge for the win, but we know it won’t be easy.

“Speed and precision is what we’ll need. The stages are so fast that any time loss is hard to recover. You need to have precise notes and the confidence to drive to the maximum. We’ve shown some pretty good speed here in the past so, if we can couple that with a clean run, anything is possible.”

Citroen Abu Dhabi WRT

Kris Meeke (#7): “Finland is a unique moment in the WRC season. I have excellent memories here, such as my first race with Citroën Racing in 2013 and my podium finish the year after. Every year, I take pleasure, above all, in driving on the most amazing routes in the world. I’m not competing in every race this season, but I was determined that Finland should be part of my programme. It’s a rally that often comes down to just a few tenths of a second and it will provide a good opportunity for me to work on my turn of speed. I won in Portugal, but I don’t have any particular goals. I’ll be doing my best to learn, understand and enjoy myself at the wheel. The weather forecast is for rain every day in Jyväskylä, which will no doubt have an influence on performances depending on the starting orders. But once again, it doesn’t really matter to me, as I don’t have any special aims this season. I think it’s going to be a big challenge from reconnaissance on. There are a lot of new special stages, including Ouninpohja, which we are going to be taking on in the opposite direction from usual. We’ll have to forget our usual markers and approach that sector as if it were totally new.”

Craig Breen (#8): “Obviously, I feel much better prepared for this race than for my first two rallies with Abu Dhabi Total WRT! I’m going to be able to draw on my experience from a month ago and my aim will be to pick up where I left off at the end of Rally Poland. For this rally to be a success for me, I’ll have to produce a consistent race, without making any mistakes, and attacking a little harder when I feel able. I’m familiar with Rally Finland as I’ve already taken part six times. Two years ago, I was at the wheel of a WRC, but in a totally different context, with my dad working on the car and my mum doing the catering! That family effort has got me here and I fully intend to take this new opportunity.”

Khalid Al Qassimi (#24): “I can’t wait to be back in Finland. It’s a really special event for the WRC. The course is known for being fast and for its high-speed jumps. We will be able to draw on our experience from last year, but more than half of the special stages are new and we will have to be focused from reconnaissance on to make sure we take good notes. It will be important to feel good at the wheel again, particularly after such a long break since Portugal. You need a lot of commitment for this rally and we will be working hard to gradually get to grips with the car. I hope we will enjoy ourselves and that Kris and Craig will do the Abu Dhabi Total World Rally Team proud.”

D-Mack

Ott Tänak said: “Finland is always a highlight of the season and all the drivers love the high speeds and rollercoaster roads. Our confidence is good after Rally Poland and once again we will push as hard as possible. I’ve done the rally quite a few times now and have a strong level of experience so, if things feel good, then we should have a chance.”

Karl Kruuda said: “The feeling is quite good after Poland and I’m looking forward to some fast stages again. The aim is to try and be up there with the other guys and pick out a few stages where we can beat them, but Finland is still a tough and sometimes daunting place. Poland highlighted a few areas where we can make some changes so we will aim to improve further.”

Marius Aasen said: “Finland is one of my favourite rallies and I have always dreamed of participating there in a R5 car. This will be my fourth time doing the rally, but I know the Fiesta R5 is much faster than the cars I have driven there before, so it will be a big difference. After our crash in Poland I think we will need some stages to get back into the good rhythm. This time we will use some of our pacenotes from last year and I’m sure that will help us.”

So, can Ott and Raigo challenge at the front again? Will Jari-Matti continue his winning form at home? Can Mads find some good form, and finish on the podium like last year, or will he beaten by his teammate, Eric? What about Kris Meeke, who is back in an DS3? Could we see him challenge at the front? After all, he won in Portugal.

I strongly recommend you follow this event. It is astonishing!

Enjoy!

Warren Nel

27th July 2016

@Warren_S_Nel

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