Five SUBARU Imprezas get into the action in the IRC's Monte Carlo Rally
Jan 29, 2010 - Round 1 "Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo"
The opening round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) - the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo ran from 20-22 January in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The IRC was established in 2007 by a subsidiary of Europe's largest TV channel Eurosport TV in order to give young or amateur drivers the chance to show off their skills; and coverage is exclusive to Eurosport TV. While the event has no FIA title, the 2010 series of 12 rounds comprises of existing regional or national championship events that are chosen for their history or visual appeal. Cars which are eligible to take part are Group N, Super 2000 and Group A up to class A7 (2000cc).
The series awards titles to drivers, co-drivers and manufacturers, though unlike the WRC, the manufacturers themselves do not compete in the IRC, that is, any driver in an eligible car made by any IRC-registered manufacturer compete in the series and the two highest-placed cars from each manufacturer will be eligible to score manufacturer points. Subaru registered as a manufacturer to the series in 2010. For drivers and co-drivers to be eligible for awards and to get points, drivers and co-drivers mush use a car made by any IRC-registered manufacturer, and a crew are automatically eligible for points even if they appear only once in the series. The best seven scores are taken into account when deciding the championship title.
SUBARU has established the "SUBARU IRC INDIVIDUAL AWARD" for SUBARU users competing in the IRC and awards a driver and a co-driver who have the best results in each event. Winners will be announced on SUBARU's official website.
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Five SUBARU Imprezas get into the action in the IRC's Monte Carlo Rally
Jan 29, 2010 - Round 1 "Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo"
Bryan Bouffier (France)
At Rally Monte Carlo, Bryan Bouffier (France) brought over a 2010 edition SUBARU Impreza WRX STI prepared by Tommi Makinen Racing (TMR). Taking advantage of new regulations for 2010, the machine is fitted with a larger 33mm turbo restrictor rather than the previous 32mm units which means they can generate more power. This is the first appearance in the IRC for TMR. Oliver Burri (Switzerland) also entered with his BMA and GTO Evolution and a 2009 SUBARU Impreza WRX STI built by Prodrive. SUBARU Rally Team Czech's driver Vojtech Stajf (Czech), Jerome Aymard (France), Vojtech Stajf (Czech), Richard Banks (GB) all entered with SUBARU Impreza WRX STIs. The event was kicked off by a 8.83km Prologue stage (unclassified) in Valance and started proper competition the following day. A Total length of 405.01km and 15 Super special stages (SS) were set for the event. Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo has a long history and has been one of the most prestigious events as a hosted season-opener for WRC in a long time. This year's event is its 78th time. The road surface is basically tarmac, however as it involves running on mountainous roads in mid-winter, some ice patches or snow can cover the road in places. The changeable weather also makes conditions tricky, so correct tyre choice is crucial.
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Five SUBARU Imprezas get into the action in the IRC's Monte Carlo Rally
Jan 29, 2010 - Round 1 "Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo"
Vojtech Stajf (Czech)
On the opening stage, Vojtech Stajf stood in highest place among SUBARU runners. Behind many S2000 machines, he took 14th place - the highest among all Group N machines. Meanwhile, Bouffier who drove TMR Impreza for the first time in an actual competition struggled with the slippery moves of the machine, but recovered his pace and climbed to 11th overall, stepping over S2000 machines. However, his performance was interrupted when he suffered a flat tyre on SS 8. Studs from a punctured tyre ripped around the wheel arch and messed with the electrical cabling. A TMR spokesman later said: "It's really disappointing because he was beginning to get used to the car and was improving his pace."
After Bouffier was forced to retire, Burri who had been driving a Prodrive built SUBARU Impreza stood as top of SUBARU runners. He was placed 15th at SS9 which was also highest place among Group N machines. Burri maintained his pace until the finish and eventually moved up to 13th overall. He was awarded the SUBARU IRC INDIVIDUAL AWARD. Stajf followed him with 14th place and Aymard also completed the event in 26th place. The overall winner was Mikko Hilvonen driving a Ford Fiesta S2000.
The next round of IRC has moved to the southern hemisphere. The round 2 "Rally International de Curitiba" will take place on gravel from 4-6 March in Curitiba, the capital of Parana, in southern Brazil.
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Impreza runner San Martin finishes 10th at IRC in Brazil
Mar 18, 2010 - Round 2 " Rd.2 Rally International de Curitiba"
The second round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), the "Rally International de Curitiba" was held from March 5-7 around the city of Curitiba, Brazil. The city was much excited as it hosted two big events on the same weekend, one on gravel and the other on tarmac where held the opening round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (Organised also by Eurosport as the IRC) on the following day of the rally finish.
The rally was taken place on the high-speed gravel roads around Curitiba. The roads were smooth though numerous blinded crests suffered drivers who need require more challenge. Totalling 216.93km, 15 stages were set, though one 15km stage on day 2, which was to be used twice, was cancelled due to the rain flooding on the road. Also, the organiser decided to remove the final Super SS (SS15) from the official classification before the start so the stage was run for promotional purposes only.
For the Rally de Curitiba, Uruguayan Juan San Martin entered with a SUBARU Impreza WRX STI. He showed stable driving including two 10th-fastest stage times, maintaining 11th position overall throughout the two-day event. He moved up to 10th finished after an engine failure befell by a competitor ahead which the order changed. San Martin was awarded the SUBARU IRC Challenge as the highest-finishing SUBARU entry. The overall winner of the event was British driver Kris Meeke in a Peugeot 207 on S2000.
"I am very pleased to have finished the rally in such a good position because it was not an easy event due to the rain making some of the stages quite difficult," San Martin commented.
The next round of the IRC, round 3 will be held in Argentina, again on the South American Continent. "Rally Argentina" will be held from 19-21 March in Villa Carlos Paz, the second largest city in the country.
Gabriel Pozzo finishes 4th in IRC Rally Argentina
and brings SUBARU first IRC points!
Mar 26, 2010 - Round 3 "Rally Argentina"
Round three of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), "Rally Argentina" was held from March 19th to 21st around the city of Villa Carlos Paz.
The Rally Argentina, one of the historical events in the World Rally Championship (WRC) is a challenging rally featuring soft gravel and changeable weather. This year's event also hosted as a round of the IRC set total 240.02km of 15 stages including the traditional La Cumbre stage etc. The weather around Villa Carlos Paz was unstable and the organizers were forced to delay the recce due to heavy fog and the opening Super SS, held on tarmac, also saw wet conditions. The Day 1 condition was dry even though some damp patches remaining from overnight rain. The weather improved thereafter on Day 2 stages.
In this running of Rally Argentina, 12 Subaru runners entered and 7 completed the event. One of the strongest local contenders, Gabriel Pozzo drove the Subaru Impreza WRX STI built by local preparation specialist Barattero. He showed considerable speed, matching the S2000 machinery despite having a problem with his car's differential. Pozzo finished the day in 6th overall, only 13.4 seconds behind current Argentine rally champion Federico Villagra (Ford Fiesta S2000). On the following Day 2, while Villagra was struggled with poor engine performance, Pozzo pushed hard and caught his compatriot on the fourth stage of the day (SS12), rising to 5th overall.
After Kris Meeke who was running 4th in a Peugeot 207 S2000 withdrew due to suspension problems, Pozzo took over the position to 4th place when he finished. The Argentine Pozzo who was in 4th place behind three S2000 machines was the highest finisher in a Group N car and took IRC points for both himself and Subaru, bringing its first IRC manufacturer points.
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Gabriel Pozzo finishes 4th in IRC Rally Argentina
and brings SUBARU first IRC points!
Mar 26, 2010 - Round 3 "Rally Argentina"
Pozzo was awarded the Subaru IRC Challenge as a highest Subaru finisher. He also won 2 Argentine championship consecutive opening rounds which were held alongside the IRC event. The overall winner of the rally was a Finnish driver Juho Hanninen (Skoda Fabia S2000).
After the final stage Pozzo commented, "It has been a really good rally, and a good fight for the whole event with Federico (Villagra). I am very happy for me with this result but also for my team. It's really great."
The next IRC round venue will move to Spain, Europe which is named the "Rally Islas Canarias" (tarmac) from April 29th to May 1st.
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Impreza driver Barrios takes
Top 10 finish in Canary Islands IRC round
May 8, 2010 - Round 4 "Rally Islas Canarias"
Round 4 of the 2010 IRC, the "Rally Islas Canarias" was held from April 30th to May 1st on Grand Canary, the largest of Spain's Canary Islands.
This running of the "Rally Islas Canarias," the first proper tarmac event of this season's IRC has been running for 33 years as a Spanish Championship event; however it has never featured on the IRC until now. Unlike the majority of Tarmac rallies in mainland Europe, the nature of the roads on Grand Canary means frequent climbing and descending on stages that are quite narrow. Corner cutting is thus far less prevalent. Because less gravel is being dragged onto the stages, road position is less of a factor than on other asphalt events. On the other hand, the abrasive surface means tyre wear can be at a premium. The rally consisted a total of 15 stages covering 221.59km competitive kilometres over the two days. This time of year on Gran Canary is warm and with little in the way of rain. In fact, the rally weekend saw cloudy skies with an air temperature of around 20 Celsius.
The rally kicked with a ceremonial start on April 29th, with proper competition starting the following day. SS5 was interrupted as one of competitor's machines caught fire. SS9, scheduled as the final stage of Day 1 was cancelled due to safety reasons because too many spectators had gathered at a famous corner.
Canarias driver Jose Luis Barrios was the only Subaru runner competing on this running of the Rally Islas Canarias. Barrios consistently set around the 13th fastest times on Day1 and marked several 9th fastest times. He showed a stable performance throughout the entire weekend and finished in 9th place, only 23 seconds away from scoring points. Barrios was awarded the Subaru IRC Challenge prize as the highest Subaru finisher. The overall winner was Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) in a Skoda Fabia S2000. The IRC currently has no clear title favourite as Kopecky is the fourth different winner in as many rounds.
Round 5 "Rally d'Italia Sardegna"
Jun 4 - 6, 2010
Round five of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), the "Rally d'Italia Sardegna" took place from 4-6 June on the Italian island of Sardinia.
The terrain on Sardinia is ordinarily of a hard base, rock-strewn and with stages that are fast and narrow. They are characterized by their varied nature with water splashes in woodlands and spectacular jumps. Ruts will be a concern after the first pass, and some parts of the route have softer ground. Due to recent heavy rainfall, some parts of the stages were damaged and organisers had to carry out essential repair work.
The rally kicked off with the Ceremonial Start on the 4th of June in the capital Cagliari, in the south of the island. However, Super SS (SS1), scheduled to follow the opening ceremony, was cancelled. Day 1 consisted of 6 SS on the 5th of June followed by another 6 SS the following day. Each of the six stages was run twice. The total competitive distance was 216.7 kms.
A total of 8 SUBARU runners made the entry for this event. Finnish Teemu Arminen, driving a Tommi Makinen Racing (TMR)-prepared Impreza WRX STI, was the series leader in the Italian Gravel Rally Trophy, for which this rally counted with double points. From the same series, SUBARU compatriots Alessandro Bruschetta and Luigi Ricci also made the entry. Additionally, P-WRC competitor Italian Gianluca Linari made an appearance on his home event as well.
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Round 5 "Rally d'Italia Sardegna"
Jun 4 - 6, 2010
Before the start, Arminen commented: "We have to concentrate on the Italian championship. It would be nice to keep the gap to the top drivers in the IRC." Arminen concentrated on his own target, showing a consistent run throughout the weekend. On SS2, which was effectively the opening stage, he set the 8th-fastest time. As conditions became rougher he still continued to set respectable stage times and finished Day 1 in 6th place. He maintained his pace and moved up to 5th at one point, benefiting from a retirement among the top runners. However, having his priority on the national championship, he moved back to 6th place overall, where he eventually finished.
"The main point was the Italian championship, and sixth place overall is a very nice result," commented Arminen. He gained IRC points and was given the SUBARU IRC Challenge award as the highest-finishing SUBARU. He also secured the Italian Gravel Rally Trophy title with two rounds remaining when his closest rival retired from the event.
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Toshi struggles on the high-speed Ypres stages
in his maiden IRC event while Gonon finishes as the fastest SUBARU driver
Jun 24 - 26, 2010 - Round 6 "Geko Ypres Rally"
Round 6 of the 2010 IRC, Geko Ypres Rally was held in Ypres and its environs in western Belgium on June 25 and 26.
Geko Ypres Rally is a classic which has a long history as part of the European and Belgian Rally Championships, and this year, it's the second full-tarmac event in the IRC. Precise pace notes are essential as the rally features super-fast long straights and 90-degree junctions which can be too demanding for newcomers, as well as hidden hazards such as ditches. The 2-day rally has a competitive distance of 293.62km stretched over 19 stages with Day 2 the longest, at some 194 km.
Eight SUBARU drivers entered this event. This time, Toshi Arai from Japan tackled his first IRC event to gain experience before the two tarmac events in the second half of the P-WRC season in an Impreza WRX STI prepared in the UK. Still fresh from taking the World's first win in the 2010 Impreza WRX STI spec C in the Polish Rally Championship, Kajetan Kajetanowicz from SUBARU Poland Rally Team participated in a rally away from home for the first time. Other strong European drivers such as Dominique Bruyneel (Belgium) and Florian Gonon (Switzerland) also entered this rally in Imprezas.
SUBARU's leading driver in the entry list was Toshi in Car No.6. The Japanese driver had a spin on Stage 1 and got stuck in a grassy ditch as he turned his car around while trying to get back on the road. He lost a massive 10 minutes there. He described this rally as the fastest tarmac rally he'd ever driven on at a top speed of 230 Kph. He continued to struggle on these high-speed stages after the spin, but as Day 2 began, he managed a string of top 10 times. However, later on the day's fourth stage (SS10), he was forced to retire due to a broken right rear suspension link. Toshi later said: "I have gone through difficulties, but I've been able to gather a lot of data including setups, and it's turned out to be a good trial run for the coming P-WRC event in Germany".
Meanwhile, SUBARU's top finisher was Gonon, who was also taking part in the Geko Ypres Rally for the first time. The Swiss champion started off slowly on Stage 1 in 37th place, but steadily climbed the leaders board marking good time including the 9th fastest time on Stage 13, and ultimately finished 16th overall.
Silva gets a point in the IRC event on the Açores
Jul 15 - 17, 2010 - Round 7 "Sata Rally Açores"
Round 7 of the IRC, Sata Rally Açores was held on the Portuguese islands commonly known as the Azores on July 15 to 17.
The second half of the season kicked off with a gravel rally on San Miguel, the largest island of the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean, and a new addition to the IRC calendar since last year. Stretching along the island's coastline, the stages are narrow and winding with stonewalls set along the roadside, and so a mistake can have serious consequences. Short asphalt sections are mixed in, and because of sudden changes in grip levels, cars can often go off the road. On Thursday, July 15, the first three stages including the Super Special Stage were held. A total competitive distance of 191.94 km, set over nineteen stages was initially planned over three days, but Stage 14 had to be cancelled when cows broke onto the course just after the start.
The Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy was established as part of a charity that aims to nurture children from local communities around IRC events. Starting from this rally, the driver who has shown the most spectacular skills and driven in an aggressive style reminiscent of the late Colin McRae is awarded the trophy after each round.
Five SUBARU drivers participated in Sata Rally Açores. Seeded by the Portuguese ASN, Sergio Silva was listed ninth in the first day's starting list following the top IRC drivers. In addition to other Portuguese drivers such as Nuno Barroso Pereira, Pedro Meireles, Antonio Coimbra, Spain's Juan Pablo Castro was also present.
Sergio Silva consistently made tenth fastest time or close from the beginning. Many drivers struggled on the slippery surfaces, and Silva himself lost nearly 90 seconds on Stage 15, but climbed up the leaders' board to ninth on the penultimate stage (SS18). Following a dramatic accident on the final stage in which the leader went off the road, Silva moved up to eighth to finish with a point as the highest-placed SUBARU driver.
Impreza driver Meireles finishes 12th in Madeira IRC event
Aug 5 - 7, 2010 - Round 8 "Rali Vinho Madeira"
The 8th round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) was held from 5-7 August on the Portuguese island territory of Madeira, located in the Atlantic Ocean.
The all-tarmac rally was the second consecutive IRC event to be fought on Portuguese territory. Featuring mountainous stages that are narrow and twisty, the many corners put a huge burden on brakes. Unlike on most tarmac rallies, brick walls line the stages, meaning cutting corners is impossible. Because of this, the road surface never becomes strewn with gravel and rocks, so any disadvantage regarding the starting order is difficult to determine. The total official stage distance was close to 300 kms and so the burden on both cars and crews was a concern in this truly tough event for both the minds and bodies of the competitors.
The rally got underway on Thursday, August 5th with a short 2.8km stage, before competition proper began with mountainous stages on the following day, August 6th. Over the three days, a total of 298.2kms were run over 21 competitive stages, but SS12, Day One's penultimate test, was cancelled due to a crash on the stage, and all cars were given nominal times.
On this running of the Madeira Rally, veteran Portuguese driver Pedro Meireles, driving a GRB-type Impreza WRX STI, was the sole SUBARU entry. Unable to show his true pace on the opening stage, he came 23rd, but when the rally moved into the mountains, his pace leveled out. He ended the first day in 15th. On Day 2, he maintained his pace while steadily improving his position, and by the middle of the day, had moved up to 12th. He maintained this position until he reached the finish.
Stajf finishes 17th in Czech round of the IRC
Aug 27 - 29, 2010 - Round 9 "Barum Czech Rally Zlín"
The Barum Czech Rally Zlin, Round 9 of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), was held from 27-29 August at Zlin in the east of the Czech Republic.
Continuing on from the previous round in Madeira, Zlin was the second of three consecutive events to be held on tarmac; it was also the 40th running of the prestigious Czech rally. The course consisted of many high-speed forest roads, with the remainder run on rough tarmac. The event started on Friday, August 27th with a stage comprising three runs of the Super SS, located in downtown Zlin. The rally totalled 17 Special Stages, including three laps of the Super SS located in downtown Zin on Friday. Saturday and Sunday were set to comprise two loops of four stages each, however, SS4 and 13 were cancelled due to accidents with competitors' vehicles.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz had been scheduled to participate for SUBARU Poland in the Zlin rally. However, because he is the current series' leader in the Polish Rally Championship and the Warsaw Rally is soon approaching, he decided to focus on the domestic event and not participate in the IRC round. As the rally started, Subaru's strength lay, at first, with the 14th-place qualifier in the opening round of the season at Monte Carlo, Czech hero Vojtech Stajf, along with a strong Eastern European contingent made up of Yuriy Protasov (Ukraine), Robert Achs (Czech Republic), Stefaan Prinzie (Belgium), Tomas Ruzicka (Czech Republic), Petr Kacirek, (Czech Republic), Libor Pasko (Czech Republic), and Goran Sertic (Croatia).
On the first day, Stajf fought hard despite trouble with his gearbox. Because of repairs, by the midday Service he was 11 minutes late leaving the TC. Moreover, he incurred another penalty for taking one minute too long at the day's final Service, totalling 2 minutes' penalties on the day and leading to his finishing the leg in 23rd place. However, on Day 2 he increased his pace, and at the end had recovered to finish in 17th place.
Round 10 "Rallye Sanremo"
Sep 23 - 25, 2010
No entry in the rally.
IRC Scotland-Weston Jr. retires from IRC Scotland due to trouble
Oct 15 - 17, 2010 - Round 11 "RAC MSA Rally of Scotland"
RAC MSA Rally of Scotland, the 11th round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) season was held from October 15th-17th in Perth, near the centre of Scotland.
The gravel course featured many challenging elements that were exceedingly demanding on drivers including blind crests, steep hills, and tight junctions. However, after the recce, numerous competitors stated that as far as Scotland goes, the course was quite smooth and fast. The difficult road surface combined with the many variations in speed caused many cars to run into trouble as the competition heated up. The rally turned into a fight for survival as only 10 of the 21 entrants were able to finish.
The rally saw Dave Weston Jr., a 20 year old from the UK, enter in his Subaru Impreza WRX. Weston placed 2nd in the season opener of the British Championship and taking into account his two solid short stages on the night of the 15th, he started from 13th position. However, as the real competition got underway the following day, Dave punctured his left front tyre during SS4, costing him over a minute and a half. Due to the puncture, he damaged his brake pipe on the following SS5 and retired.
After the previous event at Sanremo, Skoda announced they wouldn't be competing on the final event of the season. Thus, this season's IRC title was wrapped up by Juho Hanninen.
Misfer Al-Marri finishes 9th in Final Round in Cyprus
Nov 4 - 6, 2010 - Round 12 "FxPro Cyprus Rally"
The 12th and final round of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), the FxPro Cyprus Rally (gravel and tarmac) was held in Limassol in the Republic of Cyprus from November 4th-6th.
The rally had the special feature of being held on unpaved rocky stages that led to it also being called a "car-breaker" during its time in the WRC. Since last year, it has been a high-speed and rhythmical mixed gravel and tarmac event giving it a contrasting feel. Although it is the beginning of November, in the Middle East the daytime temperature is 27 degrees with a low around 20, making it an event that takes place in intense heat, another characteristic peculiar to Cyprus.
This event, which was held jointly with the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), had 11 SUBARU entrants. The leading SUBARU driver in the Middle East, Qatar's Misfer Al-Marri is the current MERC point leader. He was aiming for a top result, together with Khalid Al-Suwaidi and Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, also from Qatar. The other 8 competitors, all Cypriots, include Andreas Philippou, who sits 3rd in the domestic championship, as well as Charis Komodromos, Yiotis Chartoumpalos, Yiangos Yiangou, Eraklis Velissariou, Stelios Stylianou, Nicholas Mandrides and Panayiotis Kyriacou.
Misfer Al-Marri went off the road on SS4, losing 1 minute and 42 seconds. However, he managed to avoid any further trouble during the rally and achieved the best result out of the SUBARU drivers, with 9th place overall. Within the MERC, he also made great efforts to defend the top spot in the championship right up until the end.
The opening round of the 2011 IRC, the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo (tarmac) is to be held from January 19th-22nd in the Principality of Monaco.