Updates from the Rest of the Racing World
Atlas F1 Magazine Writers
Advice: The points tables for most series covered by Elsewhere In Racing are available here. Individual series are linked to their corresponding points table after each report.
Lost In The Dunes
In the second week of the Dakar, the rally got serious. Three consecutive long stages, including one which saw a distance covered by two stages in years' past took its toll on the rally, and so only 190 of the original 595 starting vehicles remain. Mitsubishi continues to dominate the event, Stephane Peterhansel 64 minutes in front of Hiroshi Masuoka.
Before the rally could reach Mali and Stages 10 and 11 it was reported that armed gangs were roaming across the rally route in Mali. So the rally cancelled the two stages and skipped Mali entirely and headed for Burkina Faso via tarmac, extending the Day 12 rest day into three days with a pair of long liaisons with no pressure. Some needed these three days.
Gregoire de Mevius, then third in the standings, had an engine failure on Stage 9. With time in hand, the BMW X-Raid crew rebuilt the 6 cylinder diesel at the bivouac in a sandstorm. De Mevius was back in the rally, arriving a day late at Bobo-Dioulasso and still in the top five of the rally.
For Nissan, it kept two of their cars from retirement. When Stage 9 was due to close, only Giniel de Villiers had arrived. The team sent one of its Patrol service vehicles back into the stage with the neccesary parts to repair Colin McRae's broken gearbox and attempt to tend for Ari Vatenen's broken clutch. After two nights in the Mauritanian desert, McRae and Vatanen arrived at control in Bobo, three days late and only two hours ahead of the cut off time to continue in the rally. And all this came after McRae was very late in from Stage 8 as well after breaking the differential. The Nissan team have become quite adept at pushing or towing each other across Africa.
Jean-Louis Schlesser was also coming into his own, as the Schlesser-Ford buggy is just about the only car left with any realistic chance of challenging the Pajeros, although by Schlesser's own admission, he can only put pressure on them. Schlesser is two and a quarter hours behind Peterhansel as the rally reached Bamako. Teammate Josep Maria Servia is well down the order after electrics claimed the car.
Jutta Kleinschmidt too was climbing back up the order, after losing nine hours when water got into her engine on Stage 6, as well as being one of the cars lost and stranded in the dunes of Stage 7, exacerbated by broken power steering, just as the VW Touareg was coming into its own on the soft sand of the dunes. Bruno Saby was also benefitting and sits in seventh position, while Kleinschmidt is well down the order.
BMW have annexed fourth and fifth at this stage. Despite occasional problems in both cars, including de Mevius's engine failure in Stage 9 and a broken propshaft for Alphand earlier in the rally, the Bavarians look strong to challenge for a podium should Schlesser or a Mitsubishi slip. Luc Alphand took victory in Stage 12, only the second ever claimed by a diesel, and passed de Mevius for fourth place in the process.
Nissan are out of contention for the rally, but de Villiers, McRae and Vatenen continue to head for Dakar. With all three cars now well down, they are forced to compete in sand already chopped up by competitors ahead of them, reducing their chances of climbing back up the order. De Villiers is the best placed of the trio in twelfth. McRae sits 21st and Vatanen is 33rd.
In the bikes, Nani Roma has lead for most of the last week and presently Richard Sainct holds down second position. Only ten minutes separate Roma and Sainct but the real threat is Cyril Despres. The Frenchman is the fastest rider on the rally and at 38 minutes behind the lead, his chances of taken the lead are possible. Despres would be running away with the rally but for a fall on Stage 8 which saw him damage his GPS navigation system, this damage causing the KTM rider to get lost later that same stage. Just ten minutes ahead is Alfie Cox with bike number one, with Sainct just 18 minutes beyond. Pre-event favourite Fabrizio Meoni is finding his 950cc KTM just too big and too powerful for the terrain and is having trouble keeping rear tyres on the bike.
Attrition has bitten into the trucks as well, with even the service trucks running amongst the racing tracks not being careful enough in the dunes. Vladimir Tchaguine has led the rally all week and now has 54 minutes on Brazilian Andre de Azevedo. Early favourite Gerard de Rooy has slipped gradually down the order, and with Firdaus Kabirov winning Stage 12 into Bamako, the Dutchman dropped out of the top three. Just 41 trucks remain in competition.
Barring mechanical dramas, the leaders of the Car and Truck divisions look comfortable, but four bikes will fight out the remainder of the rally. Dakar is now just five days away.
Result of Dakar Rally, After Stage 12 of 17, Bamako, Mali:
Preparing For The Monte
While their long distance cousins sweat and boil in Africa, including three of its former champions, the sprint version of the discipline, the World Rally Championship, opens its 2004 season with its traditional season opener of the Monte Carlo Rally.
One of the effects of these changes is three former world champions are now missing from WRC entry lists. While four time champion Tommi Makinen has retired, 1994 champion Didier Auriol was left without a ride when his team Skoda decided against continuing full time in the series, running only selected events in 2004 as they continue to develop the Fabia. 1995 champion Colin McRae was left high and dry by the new two driver rule, since Citroen decided they preferred Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz. Hopes of joining Ford or Subaru came to nought and the high flying Scot joined Nissan and headed for Africa and the Dakar, still hoping for a ride, if not this year, then in 2005.
Hyundai of course were already gone from the WRC after their farcical 2003 season, while Ford left the decision to continue until quite late. However Mitsubishi are back full time with a new WRC version of the spectacularly succesful Evolution series Lancers. Mindful of the year they had in 2002, Mitsubishi are being fairly conservative with little in the way of innovation, even to the point of avoiding it in favour of reliable old tech, though a spectacular body kit shows some innovation. Victories will not be seen this year. The team is led by Peugeot reject Gilles Panizzi and he will have the services of young drivers Gianluigi Galli, Dani Sola and Kristian Sohlberg for teammates through out the year.
An incredibly popular champion, Petter Solberg leads the Prodrive-fettled Subaru outfit into 2004 with the number 1 adorning its flanks for the first time since numbers have been permanently assigned to drivers. While its last drivers' champion Richard Burns was to have returned to join its new champion, cancer has caused Burns to pause his WRC ambitions. For a long time it looked like Subaru's original drivers' champion Colin McRae might take Burns's place, as David Richards pushed hard for rallying's most identifiable figure to rejoin the blues, but Subaru had other thoughts and so Ford's third driver from 2003 Mirko Hirvonen joins the team.
The champion manufacturer Citroen returns with two thirds of its '03 line-up. Series runner-up Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz will again represent the French team in their Xsaras. It is hard to believe this is only their second season since Citroen's full-time return to WRC. Both Loeb and Sainz can expect to fight for victory at every event.
The calendar is much changed, with Mexico and Japan joining the series, and the Italian round moving away from its traditional San Remo home. For so long the season-ending rally, the roads of Wales have been brought forward, and so the RAC will now be held in September. The season will now finish on the ball bearing surface of Australia. Corsica too has moved to the end of the season and is now to be held in October, while New Zealand is now in April.
2003 was one of WRC's best ever seasons, but very little of last year's season will front for 2004. Why fix something that wasn't broken? That is the question the FIA will have to face if the season doesn't develop as 2003 did. In the meantime, the snow and black ice of Monte Carlo beckons.
Leading Entries for the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo:
Sarrazin Makes Switch To Rallying
Sarrazin, who raced in a single Grand Prix for Minardi in 1999 and also acted as a test driver for Toyota, has failed to make the grade in Formula One.
He has been chosen to contest three World Championship rallies in a Subaru WRC car by the French Motorsport Federation this year and will also take part in the entire French Rally Championship.
"I don't have a rallying background and I've got quite a few things to learn," he said. "But I've already proved I'm seriously interested. I think racing and rallying are getting closer together."
IRL Looking Into CART Assets Buyout
By Lewis Franck
The Indy Racing League (IRL) are considering a buyout of the assets of the rival Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series, an IRL spokesman said on Monday.
Fred Nation, executive vice-president of communications of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IRL, said no offers had been made yet but the organisation had sent a team to CART headquarters in Indianapolis to review the assets.
The IRL started its own series in 1995, which includes the prestigious Indianapolis 500, and since then CART has suffered from the defection of major teams and manufacturers to their rivals.
Last year the Open Wheel Racing Series (OWRS) made an offer to buy CART's assets and a U.S. Federal Judge imposed a deadline of January 23 for alternative offers. CART operates successful street course races in the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal as well as at Long Beach, California.
The IRL, until now an all-oval series, have stated interest in selected street races and Nation said that starting in 2005 the IRL would have a limited number of them on the calendar.
"There are a lot of interesting assets for sale at reasonable prices," Nation added.
In addition to races, technical equipment and a state of the art mobile hospital will be up fror grabs at the sale of assets, which is scheduled for January 28. OWRS officials were not available for comment on Monday.
Report provided by Reuters
MotoGP Starting Grids Slim Down For 2004
Three bikes instead of four will line up on each row of MotoGP starting grids this season under new rules issued by the sport's governing body. The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) said in a statement that the 125 and 250cc formations would remain unchanged.
Among other changes, the FIM introduced the equivalent of 'drive-through' penalties with riders ordered to proceed through the pit lane under a speed limit. Until now, riders have had to return to the pit lane for stop and go penalties.
To prevent competitors taking ride-through penalties at the same time, riders will be signalled to ride through on subsequent laps with precedence based on qualifying times.
The FIM also announced a ban on testing for all classes between December 15 and January 15. The season starts in South Africa on April 18.
Report provided by Reuters
Le Mans Winner Smith Teams Up With Audi For 2004
Smith, 28, is hoping to become the first British driver since Derek Bell 20 years ago to win the endurance classic two times in a row. He will partner compatriot Jamie Davies in an Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx car with a third British driver still to be named for the June 12-13 race. Triple Le Mans Winner Frank Biela of Germany will also be driving for the team with compatriot Pierre Kaffer in a second Audi R8.
Audi won Le Mans in 2000, 2001 and 2002 with the R8 before stablemates Bentley triumphed last year with Smith, Denmark's Tom Kristensen and Italian Rinaldo Capello.
Bentley, whose 2003 win was their first at Le Mans for 73 years after dominating the event in the 1920s, are not entering a works team this year.
Report provided by Reuters
Rally Raid
What has made the stages, notably Stages 7, 8 and 9 so difficult is driving through dune country. Soft sand causes cars to get bogged, badly. Trying to dig a 12 tonne racing truck from a soft sand bog is a tremendously difficult and time consuming exercise.
Meanwhile other drivers thrived on these stages. The remaining three Mitsubishis of Peterhansel, Masuoka and Andrea Mayer had no major dramas with Mayer's less modified car now climbing into sixth place.
There have been casualties, including Andy Caldecott who had his KTM up to sixth outright until he broke his ankle. Scott Harnett broke his leg and Jean Brucy broke his shoulder. Attrition has really bitten into this year's rally, and the bikes have had it worst. Just 77 of the 195 starters are left.
Cars
Pos Driver/Navigator Car
1. Stephane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Pajero
2. Hiroshi Masuoka/Gilles Picard Mitsubishi Pajero
3. Jean-Louis Schlesser/Jean-Marie Lurquin Schlesser-Ford
4. Luc Alphand/Henri Magne BMW X5
5. Gregoire de Mevius/Alain Guehennec BMW X5
6. Andrea Mayer/Andreas Schulz Mitsubishi Pajero
7. Bruno Saby/Matthew Stevenson Volkswagen Touareg
8. Thierry Magnaldi/Didier Legal Honda Buggy
9. Klever Kolberg/Roldan Lourival Mitsubishi Pajero
10. Dominique Housieaux/Loic Fagot Mitsubishi Pajero
Motorcycles
Pos Rider Bike
1. Nani Roma KTM 660 LC4
2. Richard Sainct KTM 660 LC4
3. Alfie Cox KTM 660 Rallye
4. Cyril Despres KTM 660 LC4
5. Palanders Ullevalseter KTM 660 Rally
Trucks
Pos Driver/Crew Truck
1. Vladimir Tchaguine/S.Yakoubov/S.Savostine Kamaz 4911
2. Andre de Azevedo/T.Tomecek/J.Martinec Tatra T815
3. Firdaus Kabirov/A.Belyaev/D.Kamalov Kamaz 4911
4. Gerardus de Rooy/T.Colsoul/A.Slaats DAF CF 75
5. Karel Loprais/J.Kalina/P.Gilar Tatra T815
Rally
The rallying scene has been forced through one of the most controversial off-seasons since the mid 80s. Most controversial has been the banning of teams from running three experienced drivers, should they want to. Another change was substantial changes to pre-event recces which had the drivers up in arms, as they believed it compromised their safety, after the FIA wanted to reduce the expense of pre-event recces, targetting the teams' gravel notes as well. The drivers agreed with the goals but not the methods, while the manufacturers were aware that the cost reductions were being attempted to increase the number of rallies on the calendar.
Peugeot are also bring a new car to 2004, based around the larger 307 model. After four years, the 206, despite its success, had reached near the end of its development curve so Peugeot started again with their mid size model. Marcus Gronholm has been joined by Freddy Loix for 2004 after the team shed Richard Burns, Harri Rovanpera and Gilles Panizzi from its books, Rovanpera being dumped post-season despite being confirmed as second driver earlier in the year. The 206 was quick from its first rally, what the 307 can do is a question that is likely to take longer to answer.
Which leaves Ford. Markko Martin and Francois Duval return with one of the fastest cars on the scene, with the Estonian in particular being one to watch this year, as his late season form last year was sensational. Strangely though, at the Monte at least, Ford have nominated Anthony Warmbold in an '02 model Focus for championship points instead of Duval.
No Driver Car
1 Petter Solberg Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
2 Mikko Hirvonen Subaru Impreza WRC 2003
3 Sebastien Loeb Citroen Xsara WRC
4 Carlos Sainz Citroen Xsara WRC
5 Marcus Gronholm Peugeot 307 WRC
6 Freddy Loix Peugeot 307 WRC
7 Markko Martin Ford Focus RS WRC 03
8 Francois Duval Ford Focus RS WRC 03
9 Gilles Panizzi Mitsubishi Lancer WRC04
10 Gigi Galli Mitsubishi Lancer WRC04
11 Anthony Warmbold Ford Focus RS WRC 03
Ex-Formula One driver Stephane Sarrazin will switch to rallying this year after being selected to compete in the World Rally Championship in 2004.
US Open Wheel
The CART series, which broke away from Indianapolis in 1978 and went public in 1998, filed for bankruptcy last year and is scheduled to have a hearing leading to the sale of its assets in the last week of this month.
MotoGP
Sportscars
Briton Guy Smith will drive an Audi in this year's Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race after winning with Bentley last year.
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Volume 10, Issue 2
Articles
Massa Transit
Mister Clean
Technical Analysis: Sauber C23
2004 Countdown: Facts & Stats
Columns
The Sauber Trivia Quiz
Rear View Mirror
Bookworm Critique
On the Road
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