Tanak scores first Puma win in preparation for WRC Rally Sweden

M-Sport elected to field new signing Tanak in the Estonian national rally to offer the 2019 world rally champion extra testing mileage in the Puma ahead of Rally Sweden.New testing restrictions have been imposed on WRC teams this year in a bid to clamp down on costs by limiting manufacturer teams to 21 pre-event test days (a maximum of seven per driver)...

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Ford remains committed to WRC amid F1 return

The blue oval is one of three brands alongside Toyota and Hyundai currently represented in rallying’s top tier through its long standing partnership with British operation M-Sport.Ford renewed its commitment to the WRC by agreeing to help M-Sport develop the all-new Ford Puma designed to compete in the WRC’s new Rally1 hybrid regulations, introduced...

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Deadline set to decide fate of 2024 UK WRC round bid

The UK has been absent from the WRC schedule since Wales Rally GB in 2019 after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 event amid reduced funding from the Welsh government.Following the loss of the event, a bid fronted by promoter Bobby Willis attempted to bring the WRC to Northern Ireland in 2021 and 2022, but the project failed...

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Bertelli investigating more WRC opportunities after Sweden

The part-time rally driver will drive a fourth Toyota at the snow rally from 9-12 February after Toyota elected to rent out a GR Yaris as part of its 2023 plans.The car has become available to hire after the team reshuffled its driver line-up following Esapekka Lappi’s decision to leave Toyota for a full-time seat at Hyundai.This resulted in Takamoto...

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Ogier eyes WRC Monte Carlo rematch with Loeb

Eight-time world champion Ogier recorded a record ninth Monte Carlo win at last weekend’s WRC season opener, after winning nine of the 18 stages, the Toyota driver leading the rally from start to finish.The victory pulled Ogier one win clear of nine-time world champion Loeb’s record at the famous alpine asphalt event, with Ogier now leading his compatriot...

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Vettel reveals “huge” admiration for rally drivers

The recently retired F1 driver discussed his fascination of rallying ahead of this weekend’s Race of Champions in Sweden, where he will compete alongside World Rally Championship drivers past and present in Sebastien Loeb, Thierry Neuville, Petter Solberg and Oliver Solberg.Vettel revealed that he regularly follows the WRC and is in awe of the skills...

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WRC developing experimental propulsion class

Rallying’s top tier is currently in the process of formulating its immediate and long term regulations, with propulsion a key topic for discussion.Last year the WRC introduced a move to hybrid power, and became the first FIA world championship to use 100% sustainable fuel, through its Rally1 regulations, which will remain in place until the end of 2024.It...

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Toyota WRC boss Latvala plotting rally return

Latvala announced at the WRC 2023 launch in Monte Carlo that he is hoping to contest a round of the Japanese Rally Championship to assist with the development of the new Rally2 GR Yaris.Toyota revealed its Rally2 GR Yaris concept, its first entry into the Rally2 arena, at last year’s WRC season finale in Japan.It has now been confirmed the car will...

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Abiteboul identifies first tasks as Hyundai WRC boss

The former Renault Formula 1 boss began his foray into rallying by leading the Hyundai squad for the first time at last weekend’s WRC season opener in Monte Carlo.While Hyundai were comfortably beaten by Toyota, the Korean marque left the principality with a third place finish through Thierry Neuville, albeit 44.6s behind winner Sebastien Ogier. Unlike...

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Rally USA a potential contender to join WRC in 2024

The WRC has long held an ambition to secure a foothold in the USA, with the American market deemed a key battleground for championship stakeholders and a region with growing support for rallying.Rallying's top tier last visited the USA in 1988 when the Olympus Rally in Washington was won by Lancia's Miki Biasion.Speaking to Autosport at last weekend's...

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