World Rally News

Petter Solberg took an incredible second place finish on the Acropolis Rally on Sunday with the all-new Impreza WRC2008 - and then declared that the Banbury-based outfit is definitely on the way back to its former glories.

Volkswagen will embark on its 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge campaign, starting from the Ypres Rally Belgium next month, the third round in this year's series.

Suzuki's Michal Kosciuszko came through to take his maiden win in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship category on the Rally d'Italia Sardegna last weekend, the third round in the series.

The organisers of the BP Ultimate Acropolis Rally of Greece have announced that they will commemorate the life of Colin McRae by handing out a special trophy this season. A statement to the media explained:

Henning Solberg will take in his second event of the season under the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team banner this weekend in Sardinia and the Norwegian reckons another top-five finish should be possible.

Citroen privateer Conrad Rautenbach is looking forward to getting back on to familiar territory this weekend in Sardinia.

Portugal's Miguel Campos, the first driver to be selected to represent the BFGoodrich Drivers Team this year, was given an opportunity to test the Kronos Racing-run Peugeot 207 Super 2000 near Faro, Portugal, on Monday.

Munchi's Ford World Rally Team man Federico Villagra took his third points' finish in succession on the Jordan Rally on Sunday, when he brought his Focus RS WRC07 home in sixth place.

Citroen team leader Sebastien Loeb saw his hopes of taking the win on the inaugural WRC event in Jordan disappear in a bizarre incident this morning following the third test of the day.

Despite his whirlwind start to the 2008 Junior World Rally Championship, Sebastien Ogier insists that he is not setting his sights any further than his next outing, in Jordan, this weekend.

by Rob Wilkins TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH RICHARD TAYLOR: CLICK HERE

Subaru team boss David Richards is looking forward to the inaugural World Rally Championship event in Jordan next weekend and has predicted that it will be a real success.

The FIA has confirmed that the Pirelli 'Star Driver' scheme will begin this year in a bid to help younger competitors reach the pinnacle of the sport and compete in the World Rally Championship.

TRT have confirmed that Alessandro Bettega will compete in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship this year.

Conrad Rautenbach notched up a fantastic result on the Rally Argentina last weekend and in the process wrote his name in the record books by becoming the first Zimbabwean to ever score 'senior' points in the WRC.

Guy Wilks has confirmed that he will supplement his campaign in the BRC by taking in an additional five international rallies this year, including the World Rally Championship event in Finland in the summer.

Two-time world rally champion, Marcus Gronholm will drive a Ford Focus RS WRC car on the Vodafone Rally Portugal, the second round in the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Peugeot privateer Ricardo Trivino has lost his eighth place finish notched up on the Corona Rally Mexico at the start of this month.

by Rob Wilkins TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH BARRY CLARK: CLICK HERE

BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team director Malcolm Wilson will visit Edinburgh this weekend to give advice to the aspiring young rally stars from across the UK.

Britain's Matthew Wilson was left 'gutted' on the Uddeholm Swedish Rally on Sunday when a mechanical problem put him out with just one stage to go.

Andreas Mikkelsen secured his best ever result on the Uddeholm Swedish Rally on Sunday, when he brought his privately-entered Ford Focus RS WRC06 home in fifth place overall.

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb has retired from the Uddeholm Swedish Rally due to engine problems. The Frenchman re-started this morning under the SupeRally after crashing out on Friday in SS4.

SS4 - Mangen 1 (22.09 km): Latvala fastest through SS4; Henning Solberg second; Hirvonen third; Galli fourth; Petter Solberg fifth; Wilson sixth; Loeb rolls after hitting a snowbank - loses over 3.5 minutes; Mikkelsen spun; Ostberg hit something and picked up a puncture; Aava went off and