World Rally News

There was more misfortune for Subaru as Rally Catalunya moved through the sixth and final stage of leg one, with St?phane Sarrazin looking a certainty for retirement after rolling.

Nicolas Bernardi produced a strong display on leg two of Rallye de France - Tour de Corse to lift himself into the top ten on his debut with the Peugeot 307 WRC.

Peugeot's hopes of overhauling Citroen in the battle for the WRC Manufacturers' championship suffered a severe blow when Marcus Gronholm was forced to retire from the opening leg of Rallye de France - Tour de Corse.

After the high of a podium finish in the last round of the WRC in Japan, Chris Atkinson was brought down to earth with a bump when a clutch problem forced him out of leg one of Rallye de France - Tour de Corse after the opening stage.

Youngster Matthew Wilson emerged on top of the pile to take victory in Rally Ireland, as the son of M-Sport boss Malcom Wilson produced a dominant display in his Ford Focus WRC to take a commanding win on the two day event.

The family of the late Michael Park have announced that they have set up a memorial account in his name to fund a development scheme for young British co-drivers.

SS25 - Panke Nikoporet (17.04 km): Heartbreak for Solberg who retires on penultimate stage after hitting a rock and damaging steering. Gronholm quickest on stage from Duval, Atkinson, Warmbold and Rovanpera. Gronholm now leads by over a minute with one stage to go.

Toshi Arai secured victory in the Production Car World Rally Championship battle on his home event, Rally Japan, to move into the points lead with just one event left to run.

Petter Solberg [Subaru]:

SS1 - Pawse Kamuy 1 (9.05 km): Atkinson quickest through SS1 to take early lead from Solberg and Gronholm. Hirvonen fourth from Rovanpera and Duval. Loeb only twelfth quickest. Nutahara leads PCWRC. Stage times and overall standings after SS1.

Suzuki will continue its WRC learning programme this weekend as the all-new Swift Super 1600 competes on Rally Japan for the first time.

While team-mate Harri Rovanpera heads to Rally Japan with prior knowledge of the event following a sixth place finish in 2004, Gilles Panizzi and Gigi Galli will both be competing on the event for the first time this weekend as Mitsubishi expands to a three car team for its home round of the WRC.

Production Car WRC competitor, Angelo Medeghini has been given a time penalty by the stewards of the Wales Rally GB, dropping him from fifth overall at the finish to sixth.

Peugeot team boss, Jean-Pierre Nicolas has confirmed that Markko Martin will not take part in the Rally Japan, the next round in the FIA World Rally Championship, which runs from September 30-October 2.

Reigning world champion, Sebastien Loeb has called on the FIA and the manufacturers' in the sport to try improve safety in the wake of Michael Park's fatal accident Sunday on the Wales Rally GB.

Prodrive, the company that runs the Subaru World Rally Team, launched its all-new Subaru Impreza Group N car for 2006, the N12 last week, prior to the Wales Rally GB. David Richards, WRC boss and chairman of Prodrive, was at launch, which took place in Cardiff.

The Wales Rally GB came to a premature end Sunday in tragic circumstances on the second stage of the day - SS15 - when Markko Martin's Peugeot was involved in an accident that fatally injured his British co-driver, Michael Park.

Colin McRae's co-driver, Nicky Grist has said that there is 'no solution' to issue that led to Michael Park losing his life on the Rally GB.

SS15 - Margam 1 (27.42 km): SS15 was cancelled following Markko Martin's accident which tragically killed his co-driver, Michael Park.

Citroen's Sebastien Loeb opted to check in late at the final time control on the Rally GB so as not to retain his title in such tragic circumstances, following the fatal accident that killed Michael Park, Markko Martin's co-driver on SS15.

Peugeot number two driver, Markko Martin has crashed out of the Wales Rally GB in SS15.

Michael Park, Markko Martin's co-driver, has been killed on the Wales Rally GB, following an accident in SS15. Martin's Peugeot 307 WRC hit a tree on the passengers' side during the 27.42 kilometre Margam test.

Peugeot boss, Jean-Pierre Nicolas has confirmed that Michael Park was killed 'instantly' on the Rally GB Sunday morning, when Markko Martin went off the road in SS15 in his 307 WRC and hit a tree.

Peugeot have expressed 'feelings of extreme sadness and deep emotion' following Markko Martin's accident on SS15 of the Rally GB, which resulted in his co-driver, Michael Park, suffering fatal injuries.