Toyota hands Rally1 debut to rising WRC star in Latvia
Pajari and co-driver Enni Malkonen will step up from driving Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car in WRC2 to pilot a fourth GR Yaris Rally1 at the gravel rally that will make its WRC debut from 18-21 July. The news comes just days after the pair claimed their second career WRC2 win after finishing sixth overall […]
Motorsport Ireland reveals “progressive step” to revive WRC bid
Ireland tabled a bid to secure a three-year contract to host the WRC from next year, before it was halted in April after failing to obtain the required government funding. The WRC Promoter had approved plans to bring the championship back to the island nation for the first time since 2009, if the required funding […]
WRC champion Rovanpera set for circuit racing debut
The two-time world champion is expanding his motorsport horizons this year following a decision to conduct a part-time WRC campaign with Toyota. Rovanpera announced plans in February to contest four of the six Carrera Cup Benelux rounds, with the first outing arriving at Zandvoort – the home of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix. The […]
Did the WRC’s shorter sprint-style format work?
Now that the dust has settled on an event that delivered the joint-closest finish in WRC history, the championship and the FIA will evaluate how the 48-hour, 266.12km format performed. This trial was the latest step the WRC is undertaking to improve its overall appeal by offering event organisers more options when it comes to […]
Sordo’s WRC future unknown after Sardinia podium
The 41-year-old capped his 191st WRC start by coming through to finish third behind Hyundai team-mate Ott Tanak and Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, as the top two were separated by just by 0.2s. Sardinia was Sordo’s second start of the season driving Hyundai’s third i20 N following an outing in Portugal where he finished fifth. These […]
“S*** happens” after losing WRC Sardinia victory with final stage puncture
The eight-time world champion appeared on course to score 61st WRC win having started the final stage with a 6.2s lead, but a puncture three kilometres from the finish handed the victory to Hyundai’s Ott Tanak by the equal-smallest margin in WRC history. Ogier felt there was nothing he could have done differently given the […]
Surprise Sardinia WRC win “really cruel” on Ogier
Tanak took a surprise victory by 0.2s from eight-time world champion Ogier after the Toyota driver picked up a puncture three kilometres from completing the new 16-stage shorter 266.12km rally. The winning margin equalled the WRC’s closest-ever finish when Ogier beat Jari-Matti Latvala in Jordan 2011. Ogier started Sunday with a 17.1s advantage over Tanak […]
Tanak snatches stunning win from Ogier in final stage thriller
Hyundai’s Tanak and co-driver Martin Jarveoja were involved in rally-long battle with Toyota’s Ogier and Vincent Landais, as the WRC trialled a new shorter 48-hour format for the first time on Sardinia’s rough gravel roads. Tanak put Ogier under pressure through Sunday’s four stages overhauling a 17.1s to snatch a stunning win by 0.2s in […]
Hyundai explains Tanak’s “be safe, not push it” WRC Sardinia call
Tanak was embroiled in an intense fight for the rally lead with Toyota’s Ogier across Saturday’s rough gravel stages. The 2019 world champion trailed Ogier by 4.5s heading into Saturday’s stages, but emerged with a 3.5s lead after the morning loop. Ogier picked up a puncture in the day’s opening stage, which allowed Tanak to […]