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Atlas F1 Magazine Writers
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Subaru Sign Hirvonen To Replace Burns In 2004
The decision dashed the hopes of former champion Colin McRae, who had hoped to return to the team with which he won the title in 1995, and has left Britain without a driver in rallying's top category.
"We're very excited to have signed Mikko. He's a very talented young driver and we have the resources to provide him with the best car and team to help him develop his full potential," team boss David Lapworth said in a statement.
"We've been following the progress of many young drivers and we hope this is the first of a number of initiatives with which Subaru will be involved in 2004."
Burns, the 2001 World Champion, had been due to partner Norway's World Champion Petter Solberg at Subaru next year but was ruled out after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Hirvonen, 23, was released by Ford this year under new rules limiting teams to two drivers.
"This is such a fantastic opportunity for me and I'm delighted I'm going to be driving for the team next year," said the Finn. "There's so much that I want to achieve as a driver in the WRC and I know Subaru's the team to help me do that. I just can't wait to get in the car and get going."
McRae Stunned By Subaru Rejection
By Alan Baldwin
Subaru have dashed former champion Colin McRae's hopes of returning to the world rally stage next year as a replacement for stricken Briton Richard Burns.
"Subaru could have had a cracking team with (Norwegian world champion) Petter (Solberg) and myself," he told the Autosport website. "I've never been more disappointed with anything in my entire time in the championship."
"This deal was not about the money, it was about me being in a team that could have given me one more crack at the world rally championship," said the 1995 World Champion.
McRae had been lined up to replace Burns after the Englishman was diagnosed with a brain tumour and ordered to skip the 2004 season. The 35-year-old Scot, who won the title with Subaru, left champions Citroen last month under new rules limiting teams to two drivers. He is due to compete in the Dakar Rally for Nissan in January.
He had met team officials in Monaco on Friday to try and salvage a deal that looked cast-iron a few weeks ago, even if Subaru never said openly that he was their preferred choice.
"I'm very disappointed at the way I've been dealt with," he told Saturday's Independent newspaper. "The deal was agreed verbally but then I was told there was a problem.
"That's the second time they built up my hopes and then knocked them down again."
McRae said he was "thoroughly cheesed off" and insisted the fee agreed with the team had been "way below what I've been earning in recent years."
World rally supremo David Richards, who owns the commercial rights as well as running the Prodrive company that runs Subaru's cars, had wanted McRae back.
"From my perspective there is only one driver who should be in that car and in the championship, and that's Colin," said Richards on Thursday.
Peugeot To Start 2004 With New Car
Peugeot lost out to stablemates Citroen in this year's manufacturers' championship after winning three titles in a row with the 206, one of the most successful cars in the modern era. Peugeot said Finland's two-times champion Marcus Gronholm and Belgian Freddy Loix would debut the car, subject to FIA homologation on January 1.
"The development of the car has today reached a level that should allow it to defend Peugeot's colours in the face of strong opposition," the company said in a statement.
The car has been tested intensively on asphalt and gravel over the past year. While the new car will be entered in all 16 rounds of the expanded championship, Peugeot said the crew of the second car nominated for manufacturers' points might change to allow specialist drivers at certain events. If that happened, a third car would be provided for Loix.
"The primary objective will be to retrieve the manufacturers' title, while Marcus and Freddy will be free to defend their chances in the drivers' championship," it said.
Britain Remains On Calendar Subject To Report
Britain will host a round of the world rally championship next year subject to a satisfactory report into road safety in South Wales, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Friday.
The status of the Rally of Britain had been in doubt after a proposal to downgrade it following police action against top drivers caught speeding on public roads before the start of stages during the 2002 event.
A 16 round calendar was issued on Friday with Britain confirmed for September 17-19.
An FIA spokesman said last month that the actions of police and magistrates seemed to suggest that "this is an exceptionally dangerous location for a rally.
"The FIA has therefore asked its safety delegate for a report on the suitability of the local public roads for a world championship event."
Calendar for the 2004 World Rally Championship, confirmed by the FIA on Friday:
Reports provided by Reuters
New Owners Say CART Series Will Continue In 2004
By Lewis Franck
Although the parent company of Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) is heading for bankruptcy, the series will continue in 2004 under new management, according to a statement issued by Open Wheel Racing Series (OWRS) Monday.
OWRS made an offer to buy the stock of CART for approximately $5 million but that was withdrawn earlier this month. Instead of shareholder approval, OWRS now needs only the consent of the bankruptcy court to purchase CART assets.
"Effective immediately, we're ready to begin work to implement our vision for Champ Car (CART) in 2004 and for many seasons beyond," said Paul Gentilozzi, one of the OWRS partners.
"Our purchase was with the express intent of supporting our teams and sponsors competing now and in the future.
"Therefore, as a show of strength and good faith, Open Wheel has accepted the liability of almost $2.7 million in 2003 prize monies which we will pay to our teams that elect to participate in the 2004 Champ Car season," added Gentilozzi.
Other OWRS partners include Australian-born Kevin Kalkhoven, co-owner of PK Racing, and Gerald Forsythe of Forsythe Racing, which fielded a car for 2003 CART champion Paul Tracy of Canada.
"There's been a great deal of speculation about car count for next year," said Gentilozzi. "We talk to our teams on a daily basis and we're more than confident that we'll have a full field of cars in 2004. In addition, we anticipate new team and driver announcements in the very near future."
The new season is scheduled to begin with the Long Beach Grand Prix on April 18.
Report provided by Reuters
Officials Slow Down Indy 500 Cars
By Lewis Franck
Indy Racing League (IRL) officials announced a new rules package on Tuesday to slow down cars for next May's 88th running of the Indy 500. The key component of the package will be to reduce displacement from 3.5 to 3.0 litres of the normally aspirated V8 engines. Officials estimated that the change would reduce top speeds by 10 miles per hour.
Brian Barnhart, IRL's senior vice president of operations, said in a statement: "We have been gathering data and studying ways to slow the cars down without compromising the highly competitive racing we have in the IndyCar Series.
"We believe these changes to the cars and engines will accomplish that goal."
IRL driver Tony Renna was killed in a one-car crash during a test run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway two months ago. Sweden's Kenny Brack, the 1998 series champion and 1999 Indy 500 winner, is still recovering after sustaining multiple fractures in a crash at the Texas 500 IRL race in October.
Mario Andretti, the 1969 Indy 500 winner, escaped injury when the 63-year-old's car flipped over at high speed and almost reached the top of a catch fence during a private test session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April.
Report provided by Reuters
British Grand Prix Moves To July 25
The world federation of motorcycling (FIM) announced on Tuesday two changes to the calendar for next year's Moto GP world championship.
The British race at Donington Park has been switched from July 11 to July 25 to avoid a clash with the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Brazilian race in Rio de Janeiro will now take place on July 4 rather than Saturday July 31.
The 16-race season starts in South Africa on April 18.
Report provided by Reuters
Rally
Finland's Mikko Hirvonen will drive for Subaru in the World Rally Championship next year as a replacement for stricken Briton Richard Burns. The team confirmed the signing on Monday but gave no details about the terms of the contract.
There was no comment from the team about McRae, but a spokesman confirmed that a decision had been made and would be announced on Monday. McRae said he had received a call from the British-based team on Friday night informing him that he was no longer in their consideration.
Deposed champions Peugeot will give their new 307 car its World Rally debut at the season-opening rally in Monte Carlo next month.
Country Dates
Monte Carlo January 23-25
Sweden February 6-8
Mexico March 12-14
New Zealand April 16-18
Cyprus May 14-16
Greece (Acropolis) June 4-6
Turkey June 25-27
Argentina July 16-18
Finland August 6-8
Germany August 20-22
Japan September 3-5
Britain September 17-19
Italy (Sardinia) October 1-3
France (Corsica) October 15-17
Spain October 29-31
Australia November 12-14
CART
The embattled CART series, which began in 1979, has suffered a loss of teams and sponsors to the rival Indy Racing League since 1996, and became a public company in 1998.
IRL
MotoGP
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