MINI WRC Team announce new driver Dani Sordo
Banbury/Munich, 05.01.2011. Spanish driver Daniel “Dani” Sordo will strengthen the new MINI WRC Team in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. He will team up with Kris Meeke (GB) when MINI makes its return to rallying with the MINI WRC this coming season.

“There has been a great deal of excitement surrounding MINI’s return to the WRC, so to be part of this new team is a fantastic opportunity for me," says the 27-year-old Sordo. “I’m sure MINI has a big future in the sport. I’m looking forward to working with Kris Meeke, having completed a very successful test with him in Sardinia last November.”

Raikkonen was reportedly very close with his father, a road builder, who supported his sons' careers from an early age and died suddenly at the age of 56 two days before Christmas.

"Since the death of Matti Raikkonen, all the plans (of Kimi Raikkonen) are on ice," confirmed the Finn's rally co-driver Kaj Lindstrom.

He added: "Let's hope he stays in rallying. The chances of success are much better in the second year than the first, because you don't have to be learning all sorts of things all of the time."

Νίκες Οδηγών:
Sebastien Loeb 8 (61.5% των αγώνων)
Jari Matti Latvala 2 (15.4% των αγώνων)
Sebastien Ogier 2 (15.4% των αγώνων)
Mikko Hirvonen 1 (7.7% των αγώνων)

Νίκες Κατασκευαστών:
Citroen 10 (76.9% των αγώνων)
Ford 3 (23.1% των αγώνων)

Τερματισμοί στο πόντιουμ – Οδηγοί:
Sebastien Loeb 12 (92.3% των αγώνων)
Petter Solberg 8 (61.5% των αγώνων)
Jari Matti Latvala 6 (46.2% των αγώνων)
Sebastien Ogier 6 (46.2% των αγώνων)
Dani Sordo 5 (38.5% των αγώνων)
Mikko Hirvonen 2 (15.4% των αγώνων)

Τερματισμοί στο πόντιουμ – Κατασκευαστές:
Citroen 31 (79.5 των αγώνων)
Ford 8 (20.5% των αγώνων)

Τερματισμοί στους βαθμούς:
Sebastien Loeb 13 (100% των αγώνων)
Jari Matti Latvala 12 (92.3% των αγώνων)
Sebastien Ogier 12 (92.3% των αγώνων)
Petter Solberg 12 (92.3% των αγώνων)
Dani Sordo 11 (84.6% των αγώνων)
Matthew Wilson 11 (84.6% των αγώνων)
Mikko Hirvonen 10 (76.9% των αγώνων)
Henning Solberg 9 (69.2% των αγώνων)
Federico Villagra 7 (87.5% των αγώνων)
Kimi Raikkonen 5 (45.5% των αγώνων)
Mads Ostberg 4 (66.7% των αγώνων)
Khalid Al Qassimi 3 (37.5 των αγώνων)
P. G. Andersson 3 (50.0% των αγώνων)
Xavi Pons 3 (42.9% των αγώνων)
Martin Prokop 2 (28.6% των αγώνων)
Patrick Sandell 2 (42.9% των αγώνων)
Armindo Araujo 1 (14.3% των αγώνων)
Ken Block 1 (14.3% των αγώνων)
Aaron Burkart 1 (20.0% των αγώνων)
Juho Hanninen 1 (50.0% των αγώνων)
Juha Kankkunen 1 (100.0% των αγώνων)
Dennis Kuipers 1 (11.1% των αγώνων)
Andreas Mikkelsen 1 (33.3% των αγώνων)
Frigyes Turan 1 (25.0% των αγώνων)
Mark Val Eldik 1 (100.0% των αγώνων)
* Τα ποσοστά αναφέρονται ανάλογα με τους αγώνες που έχει λάβει μέρος κάθε οδηγός.

Εγκαταλείψεις – Κατασκευαστές:
BP Ford WRT 5 (14.7% των αγώνων)
Citroen Total WRT 2 (7.7% των αγώνων)

Εγκαταλείψεις – Οδηγοί:
Mathieu Arzeno 3 (60.0% των αγώνων)
Alessandro Broccoli 3 (60.0% των αγώνων)
Harry Hunt 3 (33.3% των αγώνων)
Michel Jourdain 3 (42.9% των αγώνων)
Thierry Neuville 3 (60.0% των αγώνων)
Nuno Pereira 3 (75.0% των αγώνων)
Kimi Raikkonen 3 (27.3% των αγώνων)
Christian Riedemann 3 (60% των αγώνων)
Bernando Sousa 3 (42.9% των αγώνων)
Ott Tanak 3 (42.9% των αγώνων)
Alexander Villanueva 3 (100.0% των αγώνων)
Kevin Abbring 2 (40.0% των αγώνων)
Sultan Al-Meri 2 (100.0% των αγώνων)
Khalid Al Qassimi 2 (25.0% των αγώνων)
Majed Al Shamsi 2 (33.3% των αγώνων)
Jouni Arolainen 2 (100.0% των αγώνων)
Ken Block 2 (28.6% των αγώνων)
Mikko Hirvonen 2 (15.4% των αγώνων)
* Τα ποσοστά προκύπτουν με βάση τους αγώνες που έχει λάβει μέρος κάθε οδηγός.

Νικητές Ειδικών Διαδρομών – Οδηγοί:
Sebastien Loeb 96 (36.9% των ε.δ.)
Petter Solberg 51 (19.6% των ε.δ.)
Sebastien Ogier 37 (14.2% των ε.δ.)
Jari Matti Latvala 27 (10.4% των ε.δ.)
Dani Sordo 25 (9.6% των ε.δ.)
Mikko Hirvonen 16 (6.2% των ε.δ.)
Marcus Gronholm 1 (0.4% των ε.δ.)
Martin Prokop 1 (0.4% των ε.δ.)
Kimi Raikkonen 1 (0.4% των ε.δ.)
Henning Solberg 1 (0.4% των ε.δ.)
Federico Villagra 1 (0.4% των ε.δ.)

Νικητές Ειδικών Διαδρομών – Κατασκευαστές:
Citroen WRT 210 (80.8% των ε.δ.)
BP Ford WRT 47 (18.1% των ε.δ.)

Επικεφαλής Αγώνα ανά ε.δ. – Οδηγοί:
Sebastien Loeb 118 (45.4% των ε.δ.)
Sebastien Ogier 49 (18.8% των ε.δ.)
Petter Solberg 34 (13.1% των ε.δ.)
Jari Matti Latvala 32 (12.3% των ε.δ.)
Mikko Hirvonen 21 (8.1% των ε.δ.)
Dani Sordo 6 (2.3% των ε.δ.)

Επικεφαλής Αγώνα ανά ε.δ. – Κατασκευαστές:
Citroen WRT 207 (79.6% των ε.δ.)
BP Ford 53 (20.4% των ε.δ.)

Μέση Ωριαία Ταχύτητα – Ράλλυ:
Φινλανδία 122.80 χλμ./ώρα
Σουηδία 109.28 χλμ./ώρα
Βουλγαρία 108.15 χλμ./ώρα
Μ. Βρετανία 106.10 χλμ./ώρα
Γαλλία 105.97 χλμ./ώρα
Τουρκία 105.23 χλμ./ώρα
Γερμανία 101.98 χλμ./ώρα
Νέα Ζηλανδία 97.43 χλμ./ώρα
Καταλονία 97.15 χλμ./ώρα
Ιαπωνία 95.63 χλμ./ώρα
Μεξικό 93.64 χλμ./ώρα
Πορτογαλία 92.18 χλμ./ώρα
Ιορδανία 87.95 χλμ./ώρα

Αγωνιστικά Χιλιόμετρα – Ράλλυ:
Γερμανία 407.31 χλμ.
Νέα Ζηλανδία 369.50 χλμ.
Τουρκία 356.64 χλμ.
Πορτογαλία 355.32 χλμ.
Μεξικό 354.60 χλμ.
Βουλγαρία 354.10 χλμ.
Γαλλία 352.88 χλμ.
Σουηδία 345.15 χλμ.
Καταλονία 344.88 χλμ.
Μ. Βρετανία 344.66 χλμ.
Ιορδανία 339.48 χλμ.
Φινλανδία 310.05 χλμ.
Ιαπωνία 303.54 χλμ.

Συμμετοχές – Ράλλυ:
Φινλανδία 99
Γερμανία 78
Πορτογαλία 74
Ιαπωνία 70
Γαλλία 67
Μ. Βρετανία 61
Σουηδία 55
Ν. Ζηλανδία 54
Καταλονία 47
Βουλγαρία 42
Τουρκία 40
Ιορδανία 33
Μεξικό 30



TOP 5 των μεγαλύτερων σε μήκος ε.δ. του 2010
Ράλλυ Γερμανίας Ε.Δ. 10 Arena Panzerplatte 48.00 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Καταλονίας E.Δ. 13 El Priorat 42.04 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Ιορδανίας E.Δ. 10 Jordan River 41.45 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Καταλονίας E.Δ. 1 Terra Alta 35.94 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Γαλλίας Ε.Δ. 11 Pays d’Ormont 35.48 χλμ.

TOP 5 των μικρότερων σε μήκος ε.δ. του 2010
Ράλλυ Ν. Ζηλανδίας Ε.Δ. 9 SSS Auckland Domain 1.50 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Μεξικό Ε.Δ. 13 Coca-Cola Street Stage 1.50 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Ιαπωνίας Ε.Δ. 26 SSS Saporo 1.57 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Μ. Βρετανίας Ε.Δ. 16 Cardiff Bay 1.70 χλμ.
Ράλλυ Σουηδίας Ε.Δ. 16 Hagfors Sprint 1.87 χλμ.


TOP 5 ε.δ. με τη μεγαλύτερη μέση ωριαία το 2010
Ράλλυ Φινλανδίας Ε.Δ. 10 Myhinpaa 2 133.09 χλμ./ώρα
Ράλλυ Φινλανδίας Ε.Δ. 4 Urria 2 130.07 χλμ./ώρα
Ράλλυ Φινλανδίας Ε.Δ. 18 Leustu 2 128.12 χλμ./ώρα
Ράλλυ Φινλανδίας Ε.Δ. 9 Sirkkamaki 2 128.00 χλμ./ώρα
Ράλλυ Φινλανδίας Ε.Δ. 5 Jukojarvi 2 127.63 χλμ./ώρα

TOP 5 ε.δ. με τη μικρότερη μέση ωριαία το 2010
Σουηδία Ε.Δ. 16 Hagfors Sprint 2 49.90 χλμ./ώρα
Πορτογαλία Ε.Δ. 1 Estadio Algarve 1 56.52 χλμ./ώρα
Ιαπωνία Ε.Δ. 17 SSS Sapporo 5 66.65 χλμ./ώρα
Τουρκία Ε.Δ. 9 SSS Instabul 68.33 χλμ./ώρα
Μεξικό Ε.Δ. 4 Coca Cola Street Stage 70.50 χλμ./ώρα

Περισσότερες συμμετοχές το 2010 - Κατασκευαστές
Ford 223 (28.09%)
Mitsubishi 199 (25.06%)
Citroen 100 (12.59%)
Subaru 100 (12.59%)
Renault 50 (6.30%)
Skoda 40 (5.04%)
Peugeot 28 (3.53%)
Suzuki 21 (2.64%)
Fiat 10 (1.26%)
Honda 6 (0.76%)
Daihatsu 5 (0.63%)
Toyota 4 (0.50%)
Opel 3 (0.38%)
Seat 3 (0.38%)
Proton 1 (0.13%)

ΤΟP 10 περισσότερων συμμετοχών πληρωμάτων το 2010 – Εθνικότητες:
Φινλανδία 231 (29.09%)
Μ. Βρετανία 128 (16.12%)
Ισπανία 114 (14.36%)
Ιαπωνία 99 (12.47%)
Γαλλία 97 (12.22%)
Πορτογαλία 68 (8.56%)
Σουηδία 67 (8.44%)
Νέα Ζηλανδία 66 (8.31%)
Νορβηγία 66 (8.31%)
Ιταλία 65 (8.19%)

Νικητές Ειδικών Διαδρομών – Κατασκευαστές:
Citroen WRT 210 (80.8% των ε.δ.)
BP Ford WRT 47 (18.1% των ε.δ.)

Ενδιαφέρον αρθράκι... http://www.xwmatinos.gr/xwma/modules.ph ... e&sid=1543

2011
Ford World Rally star Mikko Hirvonenbelieves that the upcoming season represents the best chance in years for his team to end Sebastien Loeb's dominance of the WRC.

Sweeping changes to the series' regs will see new cars across the board in 2011, and the Finn - who finished as runner-up to Loeb in both 2008 and 2009 - reckons this could be the catalyst for a change at the top.

"I think there's a very good chance to see Ford take the first places this year and Citroen following us, watching our tail lights," said the 30-year-old. "Like we say every year, it's about time to take the crown away from him. It's for them and for us a fresh start - it feels like we are all starting from scratch with completely new cars."

"I feel ready for it, so I'm excited to get started for Sweden - I wish we were there already," he added.

Hirvonen was also positive about Ford's new WRC challenger, which he has already sampled in testing.

"We did have one test in December on snow already, and we are going back there at the end of this month. I have to say for the first time on snow and ice it felt good, and we could base some of the set-up on the S2000 car. Straight away it was handling really well so it's looking really good. We go back to Sweden next to do the pre-event test for Rally Sweden."

After proving the greatest threat to Loeb in 2008 and '09 Hirvonen slipped back last season, finishing sixth in the drivers' standings whilst young team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala came to the fore, taking two rally wins to end the season as runner-up to seven-time champion Loeb.

Renault considers WRC

22th January 2011 By Giles Wade

Renault has been tipped for a return to top-level rallying, as the company scales down its involvement in Formula One.

The French giant is now involved in Grand Prix racing principally as an engine supplier, with the former Renault F1 team now known as Lotus-Renault.

The sale of the team to investors has freed up a sufficient amount of budget for the manufacturer to look at other forms of motorsport: specifically rallying.

A new two-litre Megane Group N car will be homologated early this year – the most powerful Renault rally car since the legendary Maxi Megane of the 1990s – and the Clio R3 one-make series has also expanded its reach. Renault recently homologated an R2 and an R1 Twingo as well.

Renault is currently conducting a feasibility study to consider a possible entry onto the WRC – most likely with the Megane Coupe or next generation Clio – which would allow it to compete head to head against volume rivals such as Citroen and Ford.

A source close to Renault said: “In some shape or form, Renault has always been involved in rallying, but the change in regulations certainly make it easier to participate at the top level. The prospect of being represented at every level is very interesting for Renault.”

The French manufacturer, which has recently made some key new appointments in its motorsport department, is set to finalise its strategy in the coming months