World Rally News

Henning Solberg's co-driver, Cato Menkerud has been diagnosed with a vertebral fracture following an x-ray examination after the Rally Finland at the weekend.

Marcus Gronholm's co-driver, Timo Rautiainen has thanked the Peugeot team doctor and his physio, after restoring him to health following that jump and landing in SS5, which left him with severe back ache and literally gasping for breath.

The Rallyday at Castle Combe has become a 'must' in recent years and last year, the event attracted nearly 10,000 people. Recently we caught up with Brian Stubbings, one of the co-founders of the event, to grill him about this years' show.

SS17 - Himos (12.90 km): Gardemeister fastest through SS17; Gronholm second; Hirvonen third; Solberg fourth; Duval fifth; Martin sixth; Loeb had a puncture and lost over 30 secs; Sordo heads the JWRC category; Gronholm leads the overall event by 1 minute 07 seconds at the end of leg 2.

SS15 - Ouninpohja Ita 2 (16.55 km): Gronholm fastest through SS15; Loeb second; Martin third; Atkinson fourth; Gardemeister fifth; Solberg sixth; Sordo heads the JWRC category; Gronholm leads the overall event by 23.7 seconds. Stage times and overall standings after SS15.

Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm took another two stages wins this morning on the opening loop of the second leg of the Rally Finland, to stretch his lead from 5.8 seconds last night to 14.8 seconds going into Service F - almost a three-fold increase.

SS10 - Vaheri (19.84 km): Loeb fastest through SS10; Gronholm second; Gardemeister third; Martin fourth; Hirvonen fifth; Stohl went off the road and retired; Sohlberg rolled in the stage; Lindholm did not start leg 2 this morning after his co-driver hurt his back on a jump in leg 1; Galli

A number of the WRC's top co-drivers were made to suffer on the Rally Finland Friday, when the first run through the new 33 kilometre stage from Vellipohja, left many of them with rib and back pain.

Suzuki team manager, Risto Laine has said they are confident the new Swift S1600 will have the speed to win on its debut in Finland this weekend.

Complete technical lowdown on the new Ford Fiesta ST Group N rally car... Engine: 1999cc Duratec engine. Four cylinders in line, DOHC, 16 valves, alloy cylinder head and block. Electronic multipoint fuel injection. Power: 165PS at 5800rpm

Reigning world champion, Sebastien Loeb has revealed that while he would love to win in Finland this weekend - one of the most famous rallies in the WRC, he won't be throwing caution to the wind.

Peugeot team leader Marcus Gronholm has revealed that while he really wants to win his home event next weekend in Finland, there will be no point overdoing it.

The organisers of the Wales Rally GB have announced that twenty of the forty places reserved for amateur drivers in September's event have already been filled - the first within hours of entries opening.

by Rob Wilkins Paddy Hopkirk has revealed that he finds it quite sad that rallying doesn't get more coverage.

by Rob Wilkins Paddy Hopkirk is a British rallying legend, having won the Monte Carlo Rally back in 1964 in Mini Cooper.

by Rob Wilkins British rallying legend, Patrick Hopkirk has backed fellow Ulsterman Kris Meeke to make it to the top of the WRC.

Mitsubishi principal rally engineer, Roger Estrada has said that while it was a shame Gigi Galli couldn't make it to the finish in Argentina on Sunday, both he and team leader, Harri Rovanpera, who finished fifth, did well to show the Lancer WRC05 has 'good pace'.

Peugeot boss, Jean Pierre Nicolas has said that Markko Martin could and should have done more in Argentina over the weekend to fight with Harri Rovanpera and Toni Gardemeister for fourth place.

Peugeot team leader, Marcus Gronholm has said that while the speed of the 307 WRC is good on fast stages, they still need to keep plugging away in order to ensure they can match Sebastien Loeb in the slower and twister stuff.

Subaru team boss, David Lapworth has confirmed that his number one driver, Petter Solberg will not settle for third Sunday on the Rally Argentina, and that he will keep on pushing to try and get second.

Mitsubishi have confirmed that their star driver, Gigi Galli - and their newest World Rally Car will both take part in the Rallyday 2005 at Castle Combe Circuit on Saturday August 13.

With the Peugeot team pulling out of the World Rally Championship at the end of the season, double WRC champion Marcus Gronholm has admitted that he has spoken to Ford about a possible drive with the team for 2006.

Citroen boss, Guy Frequelin has given returnee Francois Duval a tough target for this weekend's Rally Argentina, by telling the Belgian he expects him to achieve the same as Carlos Sainz did in Turkey and Greece - no more, no less.

Skoda team manager, Joan Sureda has welcomed the announcement by the FIA at the end of last month, that they and Mitsubishi can miss three events in 2006, if they so choose.