Drew joins Solberg for Finland speedfest wrc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wrc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Asphalt form cheers Latvala ahead of Croatia
Having won both the last two FIA World Rally Championship rounds featuring asphalt, Toyota Gazoo Racing team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has every reason to be optimistic ahead of the Croatia Rally (22 - 25 April).
The Yaris World Rally Car topped the podium at last season’s ACI Rally Monza finale and this year’s opening Rallye Monte-Carlo in the hands of Sébastien Ogier.
Another reason for the Finn’s cheer is that his drivers hold three of the top four championship positions – meaning they will take a preferential place in the first day start order at the Zagreb-based sealed-surface third round.
Hyundai starts Croatia build-up in Italy
Hyundai Motorsport will warm-up for next month’s Croatia Rally (22 - 25 April) when Thierry Neuville and Craig Breen make guest appearances at this week’s Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio (12 - 13 March) in Italy.
They join a packed entry list in i20 R5 cars for 10 special stages and 92km of Tuscan Tarmac ahead of the sealed surface third round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Neuville will also use the opportunity to spend more time competing and getting comfortable with new co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe.
Following communication issues on their way to third place at last month’s Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox, Neuville asked Flemish-speaking Wydaeghe to work on the pronunciation of certain words to help in the delivery and comprehension of their French pace notes.
Privateer Team Unveils Bespoke Audi Quattro Rally Car For The WRC carscoops.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from carscoops.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
View from the service park: Finland
There was something slightly incongruous about seeing seven-time world champion Sébastien Ogier deep in conversation with Father Christmas in late February.
Welcome to Rovaniemi. Welcome to the WRC’s furthest trip north. Ever. And a very warm welcome to the very cold home town of Mr S. Claus.
The WRC’s first visit to Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox was a towering success last weekend. Not only did it provide a typically fast and fascinating Finnish round of the championship, but it provided a hugely entertaining event.
Not only was Joulupukki in attendance and keeping a watchful eye over the boys and girls driving in his backyard, Lapland provided a whole bunch of other opportunities for the drivers and co-drivers.