World Rally News

Subaru team leader Petter Solberg has taken the first stage win on the Uddeholm Swedish Rally following the short 1.90 kilometre Karlstad super special stage on Thursday night.

The organisers of the Corona Rally Mexico have published the entry list for their event, the third round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

Citroen number one driver Sebastien Loeb almost hit a marshal last weekend on the Rallye Monte Carlo en-route to securing a record fifth win in succession.

BP Ford's Jari-Matti Latvala has retired from the Rallye Monte Carlo in SS12 - the second run through Labatie d'Andaure.

The 'Abu Dhabi Spirit of the Rally' award will be presented at the end of every round in the FIA World Rally Championship this season.

SS2 - La Cime du Mas-Col de Gaudissart (17.58km): Loeb fastest through SS2; Sordo second - more than 15secs slower; Hirvonen third; Atkinson fourth; Petter Solberg fifth; Duval sixth; Latvala recovers from his puncture in SS1 and sets the 8th best time; Loeb leads the overall event by 12.7

Pirelli has released the first pictures of its two new winter tyres, the Pirelli Sottozero Snow - for events like the Monte Carlo - and the Pirelli Sottozero Ice, designed for heavy snow and ice as found on events like the Swedish Rally.

Gigi Galli has confirmed that he will give up the naming rights to his Stobart Ford Focus RS WRC07 this year and that they will be auctioned off for charity ahead of each individual round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

Subaru's number one driver Petter Solberg has warned that competitors will pay a high price for punctures this season following the outlawing of anti-deflation devices.

The FIA, the governing body for the WRC, has released the entry list for the 2008 Production Car World Rally Championship.

The organisers of the Neste Oil Rally Finland have confirmed that the legendary Ouninpohja stage will not be included as part of the route for this year event.

by Rob Wilkins BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson has defended FIA plans for the World Rally Championship to adopt a rotation system from 2009.

BP Ford's 'third' driver Khalid Al Qassimi has said that he can't wait for the new season to start.

Pirelli has announced that its new gravel tyre - the 'Scorpion', has been approved by the FIA for use in 2008.

The Suzuki World Rally Team has released the first pictures of the SX4 WRC 2008, which the outfit will field in this year's FIA World Rally Championship, its first at the 'senior' level.

The organisers of the Uddeholm Swedish Rally have published the provisional entry list for their event, the second round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship.

Markko Martin has signed a deal that will see him become the official test driver for the Subaru World Rally Team in 2008, as the Banbury-based outfit steps up its testing programme in preparation for the launch of its all new Impreza WRC car.

Night stages were included in the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time in a number of years in 2007 - and will once again make up part of the Rallye Monte Carlo, which opens the new season later on this month.

The Suzuki World Rally team has opted not to renew its contract with technical manager, Michel Nandan.

by Rob Wilkins

by Rob Wilkins Subaru's Chris Atkinson ended the 2007 season seventh in the drivers' championship, having notched up 31 points in total. Crash.net Radio caught up with the Aussie to chat about his season - and his hopes for next year...

by Rob Wilkins TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH MICHEL NANDAN: CLICK HERE

Xavier Pons will not compete on the Rallye Monte Carlo, the opening round in the 2008 FIA World Rally Championship. The Spaniard, who joined the Subaru World Rally Team back in the summer, was meant to take in all 15-rounds next season however, it now appears that won't be the case.

by Rob Wilkins TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH CHRISTIAN LORIAUX: CLICK HERE