Championship winning Welsh co-driver turned successful WRC team manager Ken Rees recalls working with Prodrive, Colin McRae, Petter Solberg and … shaved heads! Success achieved in motorsport is the sum of many parts, not least of which is effective team management and slick organization and for these two key aspects of success the focus is firmly on the ‘backroom boys’ who perform these crucial … [Read more...]
Rallying
Rally.TV launched for fans
In an era where innovation meets adrenaline, WRC Promoter continues to set new benchmarks for rally broadcasting. It pushed the envelope in 2018 by providing more live content than ever thought imaginable and will soon introduce Rally.TV: Your 24/7 home of rally and rallycross that promises to reshape the landscape of motorsport coverage worldwide. Just launched, the revolutionary Rally.TV app … [Read more...]
Evans takes second Finnish win & closes on WRC lead
Elfyn Evans stormed to victory at Secto Rally Finland on Sunday afternoon to keep alive his chances of fighting for this year’s FIA World Rally Championship title. A dramatic crash for WRC-leading team-mate Kalle Rovanperä propelled Evans into the lead on Friday afternoon and the Welshman reeled off a stunning seven back-to-back stage wins on Saturday to leave closest challenger Thierry Neuville … [Read more...]
Toyota WRC aim for the top on home event
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team aim to strengthen their lead in the FIA World Rally Championship when they compete on home roads at Rally Finland 3 – 6 August, the fastest event of the season. The rally will be a homecoming not only for TGR-WRT, who are headquartered in host city Jyväskylä, but also for their reigning world champions (below) Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen, who both … [Read more...]
Toyota make it three in Estonia and extend WRC lead
Kalle Rovanperä has stormed to a dominant Rally Estonia victory for the third year in a row with Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, extending his lead in the FIA World Rally Championship. Guided by co-driver Jonne Halttunen, Rovanperä (below) once again looked completely at home aboard his GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid on some of the fastest roads in the WRC. He held a narrow lead at the end of … [Read more...]
Toyota tighten belts for fastest WRC event
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team are ready to increase the pace for round eight of the 2023 season at Rally Estonia, 20-23 July, the first part of a double-header in northern Europe that takes in some of the fastest roads in the FIA World Rally Championship. After a trio of rough and increasingly demanding gravel rallies in Portugal, Sardinia and Kenya, attention now turns to smoother and … [Read more...]
Goodwood Festival’s bright spots
Bad weather disrupted this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed but couldn't blow away or wash out participants and spectators' enthusiasm marking its 30th anniversary. McLaren factory driver Marvin Kirchhöfer won the sensational Sunday afternoon Shootout final in the recently unveiled McLaren Solus GT, while over at the prestigious Festival of Speed concours de elegance at the Cartier Style et Luxe … [Read more...]
Hirst closer to keeping Welsh Rally Championship
Matthew Hirst has moved one step closer to retaining his Motorsport UK Pirelli Welsh Rally Championship title after scoring maximum points for the fourth time in four rounds on the Nicky Grist Stages last Saturday. Co-driven by Declan Dear, the Doncaster driver was the class of the Welsh field – finishing over a minute and a half ahead of his nearest championship rival in his Pirelli-shod Delta … [Read more...]
The Metro 6R4 Diaries
Welsh automotive engineer Wynne Mitchell has accrued considerable motorsport experience, having started his career as a student apprentice with the Rootes Group before studying mechanical engineering at Birmingham University. In July 1984 Wynne joined Austin Rover Group (ARG) to work on the company’s sensational offering for the Group B era – the MG Metro 6R4 – with overall responsibility for all … [Read more...]
Hirst heads Nicky Grist Stages field
Matthew Hirst heads a star-studded Nicky Grist Stages entry as six major rally championships arrive in Builth Wells this weekend. Matthew Hirst will lead a star-studded field away at the start of the Nicky Grist Stages on Saturday 8 July, as the Doncaster rally ace is seeded at number one in his Delta Salvage/Witham Group Ford Fiesta R5 (below). Co-driven by Declan Dear, Hirst won the Nicky … [Read more...]