Rally - Win for Evans/Barritt

Earlier today and ahead of this weekend’s fourth round of the FIA Rally Championship, the XION Rally Argentina, eleven of the top teams took part in the inaugural ‘WRC TV Wheel Change Challenge’ in Villa Carlos Paz.

And for once the VW boys didn’t win! That honour fell to top Brits, Elfyn Evans and Dan Barritt, who were crowned Kings of the Wheel Change.

The competition started with the crews strapped up inside their cars. Against the clock they had to unfasten their seat belts, jump out of their cars and change the rear left wheel. Then the jack had to be replaced and the ‘punctured’ wheel put back in the boot before grabbing an Argentine flag to signal the finish.

The M-Sport twins completed the task on their Ford Fiesta RS in a blistering 46.00sec to defeat Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20) in 47.07sec, with Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R) in third in 47.13sec.

“It worked out really well, but let’s hope we don’t have to put it into more practice on the rally! We’ve spent quite a lot of time over the last few years trying to get the best system and it showed. It’s a great way to start the event but repeating this win on the rally might prove a bit more difficult,” said Evans.

And finally, last to finish were Martin Prokop and Jan Tománek who entered into the spirit of the event by donning hi-vis jackets before starting their change. The ‘H&S safety first’ approach took a leisurely 3min 08sec.

A short clip of the WRC TV Wheel Change Challenge can be seen here on WRC YouTube:

https://youtu.be/TcP9ANRAb8g

Rally - Fabia R5 debut

The new ŠKODA Fabia R5 will make its competition debut this weekend on the 50^th Rally Šumava Klatovy in the Czech Republic. Reigning Asia-Pacific champion Jan Kopecký (CZ) and his co-driver Pavel Dresler will assume the responsibility!

Winner of this event in 2012, in a Fabia S2000, Kopecký will contest all six rounds of the Czech national series as the WRC2 team puts development mileage on the new car.

Rally - Mystery guest

Guess who’s coming to Knockhill next month for the McRae Rally Challenge. It’s only Jaggy Bunnet’s cousin from Finland!

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/04/20-apr-mikkola-for-knockhill/

Rally - DCC Stages

Full Entry List in the on-line mag for Saturday's event but this is a NON-SPECTATOR rally, so if you can't be there, you'll have to stick with this to find out what is going on!

http://www.jaggybunnet.co.uk/2015/04/21-apr-dcc-stages-entry-list/

Rally - Accidents

As if the sport of rallying isn’t under enough scrutiny and pressure already, two accidents at the weekend will only heighten concern. Two children and adults were injured in an accident on the Circuit of Kerry while two more adults were injured on Rally Elba in Italy.

It would appear that a Course Car was involved the in the Irish accident while the spectators on Rally Elba were standing in a no-go area.

It is believed at this stage that none of the injuries are life threatening, but that’s the only good news.

Rally - Honour restored

As you may recall, the Scots were well and truly gubbed on the Circuit of Ireland Rally a couple of weeks back so thank goodness for the Weston and Riddick clans. Some honour has been restored.

A quick scan through the results of the weekend’s Somerset Stages Rally (held somewhere down near northern France apparently) reveals a pretty incestuous state of affairs.  David Weston and Kirsty Riddick won the event outright in a Subaru Impreza while David’s wee brother Ryan and Mark McCulloch  finished 37^th overall, and were second in class in their 1400cc Proton Satria.

Completing the family outings were Kirsty’s wee brother and sister, Keith and Mairi Riddick who finished 48^th overall and won their class in their MG ZR.

The only ‘fly in the ointment’ is of course Mark McCulloch - no relation (yet!) who is being urged to change his name by deed poll!

Maybe the Westons and Riddicks should host a rallying ‘master class’ for all aspiring rally crews!