World Rally News

by Brian Young The 2007 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship begins next weekend [April 13-15] with round one on the Pacific Island of New Caledonia.

Former Mitsubishi and Hyundai WRC works driver, Alister McRae has announced that he will compete on the Rally New Zealand this autumn, as part of his programme in the New Zealand Rally Championship.

Ford has pledged to launch a 'detailed investigation' after six of its cars, including those of 'A' team drivers, Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen, were penalised by the stewards.

Mitsubishi privateer, Toni Gardemeister has been excluded from the Rally de Portugal, the fifth round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.

Citroen number one driver, Sebastien Loeb snatched the lead on the Rally de Portugal, the fifth round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, on the final test on Friday.

The shakedown for the Rally de Portugal was marred by an accident this morning, when Armindo Araujo lost control and went off the road.

The Munchi's Ford World Rally Team will not contest this weekend's Rally de Portugal, the fifth round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship, after a tragic racing accident involving a family member.

Eddie Jordan has been appointed chairman of Rally Ireland Management Ltd, the promoters for the Irish round of the FIA World Rally Championship, which will take place in November.

by Rob Wilkins

Andreas Aigner has hit out at the spectators on the Rally Mexico after they ruined his changes of scoring any points.

by Russell Atkins David Richards has predicted a rapid return to winning ways for Subaru, following the new Impreza WRC 2007's impressive debut in Mexico last weekend.

Sebastien Loeb has called for a solution to be found after a minority of spectators thought it would be a good idea to throw rocks at the competing crews and place them deliberately on the road in front of the cars.

The BP Ford World Rally team have confirmed that Marcus Gronholm had a technical problem on the second loop of the Rally Mexico which meant he didn't have all the power he should have had.

Subaru World Rally Team manufacturer principal, Shigeo Sugaya has said that the new Impreza WRC2007 does not represent a 'radical change', more a number of 'small evolutions'.

Fans of the WRC will get a chance to go 'behind-the-scenes' later this month, when the Discovery Channel begins screening a documentary series focusing on 2006 and the trials and tribulations suffered by the Subaru World Rally team.

The organisers of the Rally de Portugal released the official entry list for their event, the fifth round in the 2007 FIA WRC late last week and it includes 89 crews in total - 23 in WRC cars.

The organisers of the Corona Rally Mexico released the entry list for their event, the fourth round in the 2007 FIA WRC late last week and it includes 49 crews in total - 14 in WRC cars.

BP Ford's Marcus Gronholm has won the Uddeholm Swedish Rally, the second round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.

BP Ford's Marcus Gronholm has said that he gained invaluable experience of the Irish speed tests, following his outing on the Galway International Rally over the weekend.

Gareth MacHale took the runners-up spot on the Galway International Rally on Sunday, on his first run in his new 2006 spec Ford Focus WRC, which he will switch to in Mexico, his next outing in the FIA World Rally Championship.

by Geoff Mayes British Junior champion, Conrad Rautenbach has confirmed that he will use a PH Sport-run Citroen C2 Super 1600 car this season, when he returns to the Junior arena for a fourth year.

BP Ford team leader Marcus Gronholm won the Galway International Rally on Sunday, having opted to take in the event as part of his preparations for the inaugural Rally Ireland, which runs from November 16-18.

Reigning FIA Junior World Rally Championship rookie champion Barry Clark has become the latest driver to be confirmed at the Scottish Motor Sport Show, which takes place at Lanark Agricultural Centre on 24/25 February.

Subaru World Rally Team managing director, Richard Taylor has said that they are 'pleased' with the way their new partnership is working with BFGoodrich.