Corsica

Bart · #1 01-03-2002, 21:58

Hyundai Preview (bron: www.rally-live.com )

The Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team head to Corsica next week for the famous Rallye de France-Tour de Corse, the first true tarmac round of the season. HCWRT crews Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer and Freddy Loix/Sven Smeets will be competing in an Accent WRC³ where it will be making its debut. They will also be joined by team newcomers, former Polish F2 champions Tomasz Kuchar and co- driver Maciej Szczepaniak in the third WRC³.

The team completed six days testing the new evolution of the Hyundai Accent World Rally Car in the Tarragona region of Spain, where roads resemble all tyres of tarmac encountered in Corsica. Concentrating predominantly on a revised engine specification, improved suspension and power steering, both Schwarz and Loix were impressed with the car that is clearly well on it's way to making a statement.

Germany's Armin Schwarz said, “The car is feeling much much better now, really good. It feels more confident, reacts better and I am really enjoying driving it. For me the engine changes have made a big difference, although there are obviously many other factors contributing to a better feeling. I'm looking forward to Corsica and if the car runs in the same way as it did on the test, then we should really be able to competitive there.”

Teammate Freddy Loix is also looking forward to seeing exactly how competitive the WRC³ is. “The first two events of the year were both a nice surprise in terms of performance and there's no reason why the situation should be any different in Corsica,” said the 31-year-old Belgian. “We had a very good test in Spain and the car has improved a lot but we just don't know the level of performance until we can compete against other cars. Last year I gained confidence that I had not had before for Corsica so I am going there next week with a good feeling. I have also begun walking without crutches to strengthen my foot again. It feels a bit stiff and weak but I have been doing a lot of exercises and cycling and I am 95% hoping to be driving without the special foot protection by next week.”

New teammates Tomasz Kuchar and co-driver Maciej Szczepaniak will be joining Hyundai regulars Schwarz and Loix for the first of their four scheduled events with the Hyundai Castrol World Rally Team for the year. “Compared to when I first drove a Hyundai, this car feels very different,” said 25-year-old Kuchar. “The steering is very sensitive so you have to be much more accurate and precise with you movements than I have been used to and the gear shift is excellent. But I have only spent a short amount of time in the car and we have a two-day test coming up so I will be able to get more of an idea then. I really am looking forward to Corsica but everything is new for me so I am aware that I have a lot of work to do – I am now working with some of the best engineers, the best mechanics, the best team management and the best drivers so I feel I have to reach the highest level possible myself to fulfil everyone's expectations. But even though this is my first time in Corsica, I am really looking forward to being a part of this team. My aim will be to gain experience and to finish the rally with a view to increasing my speed for Catalunya.”

Following Rallye Catalunya Kuchar will also compete in Rallye Deutschland and Rallye Sanremo which will conclude his program with the team.

One of the key issues in Corsica according to Sven Smeets, co-driver to Freddy Loix, will of course be the weather as teams will not know what to expect because of the change of date for the event. He said: “Corsica is one of the more difficult rallies and not really one of my favourites. One of the biggest differences this year will be the fact that it is very early in the season. At the beginning of March it is likely the weather will be even more changeable than we have been used to – it was for that reason it used to be run no earlier than May in the past. The weather can change in the space of about two hours – it can be raining one side of a mountain and dry the other, but with lower temperatures there is more possibility for worse weather. It is also early enough in the year for snow which will be interesting considering we will not have a snow tyre option for the event. Driving on snow without a snow tyre is also a safety issue that has to be considered.”

“It is a difficult rally although possibly not as difficult as it used to be when the roads went much further away from Ajaccio and there was more variation in the kind of tarmac. There is still a big variety in the different types of tarmac however – the old asphalt can be very slippery in the wet, almost like driving on ice but the narrower, rougher asphalt that gets very dirty from the wild pigs who make a lot of mess is more abrasive, making it quite hard on the car. But the event this year is about 99% the same as last year so we don't have to learn many new stages. The new car should also work in our favour – it has a lot of improvements, the test was good and it now feels like a tarmac car should feel,” he added.

Bart · #2 07-03-2002, 23:19

Shakedown:

Hyundai's Freddy Loix had his second accident in three events. The Belgian scrapped his new Hyundai Accent WRC3 along a rock face doing significant damage to the car. But the good news for Loix is that the team expects to have it fixed in time for the start of the Tour de Corse.

(www.rally-live.com)

Timing: wat me opvalt is dat er 's middags al wel vroeg gestopt wordt. Live radio verslaggeving op wrc.com!!

Leg 1, Friday 8th March (334.32km)

08:56 SS 1 Cuttoli - Peri 17.72km
09:44 SS 2 Ocana - Radicale 28.64km
11:55 SS 3 Petreto - Ampaza 36.73km
14:04 SS 4 Cuttoli - Peri 17.72km
14:52 SS 5 Ocana - Radicale 28.64km

Leg 2, Saturday 9th March (363.34km)

09:24 SS 6 Petreto - Ampaza 36.73km
11:40 SS 7 Gare de Carbuccia - Gare d’Ucciani 10.66km
12:05 SS 8 Vero - Pont d'Azzana 18.28km
12:40 SS 9 Lopigna - Sarolla 30.11km
15:01 SS 10 Gare de Carbuccia - Gare d’Ucciani 10.66km
15:26 SS 11 Vero - Pont d'Azzana 18.28km
16:01 SS 12 Lopigna - Sarolla 30.11km

Leg 3, Sunday 10th March (240.37km)

09:29 SS 13 Coti Chiavari - Pietra Rossa 24.21km
10:05 SS 14 Pont de Calzola - Agosta Plage 31.79km
12:07 SS 15 Coti Chiavari - Pietra Rossa 24.21km
12:43 SS 16 Pont de Calzola - Agosta Plage 31.79km
14:26 Finish of the rally in Ajaccio

Oneliner · #3 07-03-2002, 23:41

Hiere een klein foto'tje van Armin Schwarz, ploegmaat van freddy.

bron:www.rally-live.com

Rallyloverke · #4 08-03-2002, 10:42

Beste Fans,

Zoals beloofd door de webmaster zal ik af en toe eens een woordje brengen op de site over de wedstrijd of over een test sessie.

Vorige week zijn we gaan testen in spanje met de nieuwe evo 3. Wat vooral verbeterd is aan de nieuwe evolutie is de ophanging en het vermogen van de motor.

Nu over Corsica zelf, meer bepaald de shakedown : met de nieuwe accent hadden we nog niet getest op nat asfalt. Het was nog een beetje zoeken naar een goeie afstelling. We zijn te snel een bocht ingedoken. De schade bleef beperkt tot de radiator en de intercooler. De mecaniekiers van het team hebben het hersteld.

Ik heb natuurlijk niet zo lang op de shakedown kunnen rondrijden maar de auto voelt heel goed aan. Vooral de ophanging.
De auto is ook door de technische keuring gekomen en we kunnen dus starten morgen. Het blijft natuurlijk afwachten wat het zal worden in Corsika. Ik zou al heel blij zijn dat we een punt halen maar het belangrijkste is dat we de drie dagen kunnen uit rijden en zo onze ervaring kunnen vergroten in corsika.

bron : www.freddyloix.com : kijk bij Latest News vanaf de hoofdpagina

Rallyloverke · #5 08-03-2002, 11:24

Met 14 deelnemers aan de aankomst aan SS2 zet Thiry een prachtige tijd neer, voor oa C. Mc Rae, C. Sainz en slechts 11 sec. na Peugeot-rijders Panizzi en Gronholm en 6 seconden na Burns!

Op de eerste KP was hij 11de en Loix "maar" 16de (vertrouwen even kwijt na de Shakedown?, hoewel , hij is slechts 3sec. trager dan Schwarz) Duval was daar 18de.

Rallyloverke · #6 08-03-2002, 12:13

Na 2 KPS :

1. 3 PANIZZI-PANIZZI Peugeot 206 A8 18'59"400 92.8 km/h
2. 2 GRONHOLM-RAUTIA Peugeot 206 A8 19'04"700
3. 11 SOLBERG-MILLS Subaru IMPR A8 19'07"600 + 00'08"20 4. 1 BURNS-REID Peugeot 206 A8 19'12"900 + 00'13"50
5. 10 MAKINEN-LINDSTR Subaru IMPR A8 19'17"600 + 00'18"20
6. 4 SAINZ-MOYA Ford Focus A8 19'26"200 + 00'26"80
7. 5 C.McRAE-GRIST Ford Focus A8 19'28"500 + 00'29"10
8. 6 MARTIN-PARK Ford Focus A8 19'29"000 + 00'29"60
9. 7 DELECOUR-GRATAL Mitsubishi A8 19'34"000 + 00'34"60
10. 24 ROVANPERA-PIETI Peugeot 206 A8 19'37"000 +00'37"60
11. 26 THIRY-PREVOT Peugeot 206 A8 19'37"300 + 00'37"90
12. 27 MOERTL-WICHA Peugeot 206 A8 19'39"500 + 00'40"10
13. 17 SCHWARZ-HIEMER Hyundai Acc A8 19'41"100 +00'41"70
14. 8 A.MCRAE-SENIOR Mitsubishi A8 19'43"400 + 00'44"00
15. 25 BUGALSKI-CHIARO Citroen Xsa A8 19'43"600 + 00'44"20
16. 18 LOIX-SMEETS Hyundai Acc A8 19'47"100 + 00'47"70
17. 15 GARDEMEISTER-LU Skoda Octav A8 19'48"100 +00'48"70
18. 23 DUVAL-FORTIN Ford Focus A8 19'54"400 + 00'55"00
19. 16 KRESTA-TOMANEK Skoda Octav A8 20'09"600 +1'10"20
20. 33 ROUSSELOT-MONDE Subaru Impr A8 20'19"700

Tegenvallers zijn tot nu toe Bugalski, Loix en ook Sainz had ik toch nog voor Makinen verwacht. Francois Duval is tot nu toe zijn Ford-contract verder aan het verstevigen en Thiry bewijst dat hij verre van afgeschreven is.

Raceboy · #7 08-03-2002, 12:31

de hyundai valt mij in het totaal wat tegen beide rijders zitten niet goed mee.

STAFFO · #8 08-03-2002, 12:42

Niet vergeten dat dit de eerste wedstrijd van de Hyundai is.Ze beschouwen het zelf eerder als een doorgevoerde test,trouwens de 3e wagen is al reeds uitgevallen door technische problemen.

Rallyloverke · #9 08-03-2002, 14:31

Na stage 3 blijft Panizzi autoritair op kop. Bugalski zet zijn eerste aanvaardbare tijd neer : tweede op 6 sec na Panizzi.

de top 6
1. Panizzi
2. Gronholm
3. Solberg
4. Burns
5. Makinen
6. Sainz
en
7. Bugalski
de Belgen :
12. Thiry in gevecht met Rovanpera als eerste prive-Peugeot-rijder
13. Loix : eerste Hyundai nu, hij heeft zich hersteld tov zijn ploegmaat
15. Duval
Duval blijft indruk maken.

Bart · #10 08-03-2002, 15:45

ss4 na 15 wagens duval 7e op 3 sec Mccrae en 2 Sainz.

ss4 = rerun ss1 => Duval meer dan 20 sec sneller dan eerste run!

Rallyloverke · #11 08-03-2002, 15:57

Stand na KP 4 :

1. Panizzi
2. Gronholm
3. Burns
4. Makinen
5. Sainz
6. Solberg

7. Bugalski
12. Thiry
13. Duval
14. Loix

Loix zal toch niet helemaal gelukkig zijn , hoewel, hij is sneller dan zijn ploegmaat, wat toch de belangrijkste referentie is.

Solberg is eventjes van de baan gegaan.

Bart · #12 08-03-2002, 16:21

Duval 3e voorlopig in ss5 na 15 wagens!!! Juist tussen mccrae en sainz. De fords snel door de regen! (pirelli presteert dan beter)

Rallyloverke · #13 08-03-2002, 16:26

Als die niet vertraagt, rijdt hij nog de punten binnen ...

Bart.Vandecavey · #14 08-03-2002, 16:28

Hij heeft waarschijnlijk gemerkt na ss2 dat zijn handrem nog opstond...

Rallyloverke · #15 08-03-2002, 16:44

Een overzichtje na dag 1 :

1.PANIZZI-PANIZZI Peugeot 206 A8 1h02'28"500 91.7 km/h
2.GRONHOLM-RAUTIA Peugeot 206 A8 1h02'31"500 + 00'03"00
3.BURNS-REID Peugeot 206 A8 1h02'53"600 + 00'25"10
4.MAKINEN-LINDSTR Subaru IMPR A8 1h03'07"800 + 00'39"30
5.SAINZ-MOYA Ford Focus A8 1h03'17"900 + 00'49"40
6.SOLBERG-MILLS Subaru IMPR A8 1h03'29"000 + 01'00"50
7.C.McRAE-GRIST Ford Focus A8 1h03'32"200 + 01'03"70
8.BUGALSKI-CHIARO Citroen Xsa A8 1h03'41"500 + 01'13"00
9.MARTIN-PARK Ford Focus A8 1h03'42"300 + 01'13"80
10.ROVANPERA-PIETI Peugeot 206 A8 1h03'54"500 + 01'26"00
11.DELECOUR-GRATAL Mitsubishi A8 1h03'55"600 + 01'27"10
12.DUVAL-FORTIN Ford Focus A8 1h04'03"200 + 01'34"70
13.THIRY-PREVOT Peugeot 206 A8 1h04'08"500 + 01'40"00
14.LOIX-SMEETS Hyundai Acc A8 1h04'15"800 + 01'47"30
15.SCHWARZ-HIEMER Hyundai Acc A8 1h04'16"200 + 01'47"70
16.MOERTL-WICHA Peugeot 206 A8 1h04'24"000 + 01'55"50
17.GARDEMEISTER-LU Skoda Octav A8 1h04'34"800 + 02'06"30
18.A.MCRAE-SENIOR Mitsubishi A8 1h04'45"400 + 02'16"90
19.ERIKSSON-THORNE Skoda Octav A8 1h06'02"100 + 03'33"60

De Peugeots lossen de verwachtingen helemaal in : de fabrieksmachines + de prive-peugeots, Subaru kan nog een beetje aanklampen, Bugalski valt wat tegen, Duval bevestigt gewoon wat hij in Zweden deed , de Mitsu's hebben nog een lange weg te gaan. En Loix blijft nipt sneller dan zijn ploegmaat.

Ik kan al niet meer wachten tot eind augustus om er live bij te zijn!

Mannekes, goei weekend, de weekend-verslaggeving laat ik aan een collega over, Bart bijvoorbeeld, want jullie weten : deze verslaggeving komt zo tussen mijn werk door en thuis, ja, thuis heb ik nog steeds geen internet.

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