Wales Rally GB (11 – 14 November 2010)
In addition to bringing down the curtain on the 2010 World Championship, Rally Great Britain will alsomark the end of an era, that of the 2-litre turbo World Rally Cars. The C4 WRC, already part of rallyinglegend with 35 victories in 55 rallies, wants to go out on a high note. The crews Sébastien Loeb / DanielElena and Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia entered in the colours of the Citroën Total World Rally Teamwill both go flat out for victory!
Like every year, the FIA World Rally Championship will end in Cardiff. The Welsh stages are both quickand technical and are all the more difficult to get to grips with as the weather is very changeable at thistime of year. Rain, mud, fog and occasionally ice and snow are all possible in this rally with a uniqueatmosphere.
Sébastien Loeb / Daniel Elena who won the world titles in Rally France* will start the event under nopressure. As in Spain the World Champions are determined to put on a great display: “Whenever westart a rally, we do so with the intention of winning,” says the seven-time world champion. “If I feel goodand the conditions are favourable, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be gunning for a third win on thebounce in Wales.”
The runner-up spot is still up for grabs. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia, who have held second placesince their win in Rally Portugal, have eleven and sixteen points in hand over their rivals, Jari-Matti Latvalaand Petter Solberg respectively. The three drivers are ready for the final sprint on Welsh gravel.“We didn’t think we’d be fighting for second place this season,” admits Ogier who is driving for theCitroën Total World Rally Team for the third time. “It’s become our objective as the season’s unfolded.We lost a few points in France and Spain, but we’re still in front and a place on the podium will beenough no matter where our two rivals finish.
“But I don’t feel like holding back and racing the whole weekend just to score the fifteen points that gowith third place. To achieve my aim I want to fight for the best possible result,” Sébastien goes on. “Toprepare for this rally I did a fitness training course in the Pyrenees, and I’ll arrive in Wales in tip-top form.I know it’s a difficult rally and I’ve got mixed memories of my first two stages in 2008. It was all a bitcrazy as it was our first WRC Rally. Then I went off and I only saw the finish thanks to the Superrally. Lastyear, we retired because of mechanical problems. These memories mean that I’m going to tackle the rallyin a humble frame of mind.”
* Subject to the publication of the official results by the FIA
Three questions to Sébastien Loeb
Before Rally Spain you told us that you wouldn’t take a lot of risks to win the rally. And yet you did! Whathave you got in store for us in Rally Great Britain ?“It’s always more fun not to stick to the plot, isn’t it ? I’m heading for Wales in a relaxed frame of mind.If I like the route, if I feel inspired after reconnaissance and the weather conditions are suitable, I’ll fightfor victory. I’ll see when I’m there as I may have the right feeling for this rally – or I may not – dependingon the conditions. If we’re on icy stages on gravel tyres like in 2008, I don’t think I’ll bother trying to findthe ultimate tenths.”
You’ll probably have more rivals on gravel…“It’s true. In Spain, Dani Sordo was the only one who could have given me a run for my money, but helost out on the first day. Sébastien Ogier tried too hard and went off. It’ll be different in Great Britain.Ogier, Solberg, Latvala and Hirvonen are all potential winners. All the more so as three of them arefighting for the runner-up spot.”
It’ll be your last rally in the C4 WRC. Even though you’re not the nostalgic kind, how do you viewits evolution over the last four seasons?“A racing car that evolves is a bit like a kid you don’t see growing up! The C4 WRC’s evolution was donein small steps on an on-going basis. Nothing’s fundamentally changed – except for the decoration! But ifyou were to put me into the 2007 car today, I’d begin to ask myself if there wasn’t a problem. Ifsomething sticks in my mind, it’s the change to Pirellis in 2008. Their structure was very different to whatwe’d known before, and we were forced to make in-depth modifications to the suspension on gravel"
InformationWales Rally GB (round 13/13) (11 - 14 November)Surface: gravelWhere: Cardiff
Practical info: The HQ and the Media Centre are in the Wales Millenium Centre. The service park is inCardiff Bay. On the first day of the rally, Friday 12th November, sunrise is at 07h27 and sunsetat16h25. In November, the average temperature is between 5°C in the morning and 10°C in theafternoon. The local currency is the pound sterling: 1£ = 1,14 euro.
Technical info: The two Citroën C4 WRCs will use the engines already run in Japan, France and Spain.The transmission and spare parts are shared with Japan (already held).Tyres: 42 Pirelli Scorpion soft tyres will be available for the crews including six for the shakedown.
Reconnaissance: It is programmed for Tuesday 9th November from 8h00 to 13h40, and Wednesday10th November from 8h00 to 16h00 with two passages maximum in each stage. The maximum speedallowed is 80 km/h, unless lower speeds are indicated.
Shakedown: Wednesday 10th November between 19h00 and 22h00 in Cardiff Bay..Start: Thursday 11th November in Cardiff Bay at 18h30.Route: 1612,04 kms, including 359,44 timed kms. 20 stages (10 different).Timing:
Day 1 – 594,80 km including 129,96 timed km (7 SS, 4 different). Thursday 11th November–Start: 18h30 – SS1: ‘Cardiff Bay 1’ (1,70 km) – Parc Fermé: 19h40 – Friday 12th November – Start:6h00 – Service A (6h00 / 15 min) – SS2: ‘Hafren 1’ (31,99 km) – SS3: ‘Sweet Lamb 1’ (4,26 km) –SS4: ‘Myherin 1’ (27,88 km) – Service B (12h25 / 15 min) – SS5 : ‘Hafren 2’ (31,99 km) – SS6 :‘Sweet Lamb 2’ (4,26 km) – SS7: ‘Myherin 2’ (27,88 km) – Service C (18h30 / 45 min) – Last car inparc fermé at 22h00.
Day 2 – Saturday 13th November – 640,68 km including 153,34 times km (9 SS, 5 different). Start:6h00 – Service D (6h00 / 15 min) – SS8: ‘Radnor 1’ (14,78 km) – SS9: ‘Monument Hill 1’ (10,14 km)– SS10: ‘Four Ways Crychan 1’ (25,14 km) – SS11: ‘Halfway 1’ (18,37 km) – Service E (13h12 / 30min) – SS12: ‘Radnor 2’ (14,78 km) – SS13: ‘Monument Hill 2’ (10,14 km) – SS14: ‘Four WaysCrychan 2’ (25,14 km) – SS15: ‘Halfway 2’ (18,37 km) – SS16: ‘Cardiff Bay 2’ (1,70 km) – Service F(18h46 / 45 min) – Last car in parc fermé at 23h15.
Day 3 – Sunday 14th November – 376,56 km 76,14 timed km (4 SS, 2 different). Start: 6h15 –Service G (6h15 / 15 min) – SS17 ‘Resolfen 1’ (29,99 km) – SS18: ‘Margam Park 1’ (8,08 km) –Service H (10h25 / 30 min) – SS19: ‘Resolfen 2’ (29,99 km) – SS20: ‘Margam Park 2’ (8,08 km) –Service I (14h43 / 10 min) – Finish at 14h53.Podium: Sunday 14th November at 15h25.
