Ogier claims early lead as Evans suffers puncture
Toyota part-time driver Ogier made the most of his favourable road position to win one of the two afternoon tests to lead Hyundai’s Tanak by 1.8s. M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux completed the loop in third [+10.5s], ahead of Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta [+13.5s], with the third Hyundai of Dani Sordo fifth [16.5s]. Championship leader Thierry Neuville […]
Solberg out of WRC Rally Sardinia on medical grounds
The WRC2 title contender had been set to tackle the 16-stage gravel rally, although the Swede was not registered to score championship points. However, Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson have been forced out of the rally before the opening stage. Solberg is understood to be suffering from an allergic reaction which has required him to […]
Petter and Oliver Solberg to go head to head in ERC
Last week, 2003 world champion Petter Solberg announced plans to come out of retirement to contest the Royal Rally of Scandinavia (13-15 June), which will mark his first full rally since Wales Rally GB in 2019. Petter is set to drive a family-owned Volkswagen Polo, which he took to WRC2 victory in Wales five years […]
Future regulations could entice Lancia back to WRC
Lancia announced this week that it plans to return to rallying after more than 30 years away following a commitment to a Rally4 programme with its new Ypsilon hatchback. Two-time world rally champion Biasion, Lancia’s most successful driver in the WRC with 16 wins and two world titles, attended the Rally4 launch in Turin ahead […]
Ranking Lancia’s greatest rally cars
The Italian brand leaned into its history during Monday’s announcement where it confirmed a return to the stages through a Rally4 programme with its new Ypsilon hatchback. A version of its new offering was unveiled in a livery that recaptured the iconic Martini Racing stripes, synonymous with the brand in the 1980s and 1990s. While […]
How the WRC’s sprint rally trial will work in Sardinia
The WRC and the FIA are keen to offer more varied event formats going forward, which could see more compact sprint events and longer endurance rallies become part of future championship calendars. The flexibility of event formats was among a raft of proposals tabled by the FIA as part of its vision for the future […]
Lancia announces long-awaited return to rallying
The news ahead of this weekend’s Rally Sardinia follows months of speculation linking the Italian manufacturer, the most successful in World Rally Championship history having won 10 constructors’ titles (1974-1976, 1983, 1987-1992), with a rallying comeback. Following the announcement that it is reviving its famous HF [High Fidelity] brand in March, Lancia previewed its high […]
Inside Hyundai’s rally-meets-Nurburgring challenge
‘Three left minus, long, bumpy’, may resemble an ordinary rally pacenote. But this is how a World Rally Championship driver sees one of motorsport’s most famous corners – the Karussell at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Yes, you have read that correctly. You could be forgiven to question ‘what kind of fever dream am I about to […]
Hyundai’s plan to help Tanak unlock potential from WRC car
Tanak has struggled to adjust to the i20 N Rally1 following his return to the Korean manufacturer this season but showed signs he’s made a stride forward by challenging for victory in Portugal earlier this month. Tanak was able to find a way to drive around his set-up struggles on Portugal’s gravel roads to finish […]