With 20 days to go until the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge gets underway in Brazil, entries are still rolling in for Rally Internacional de Curitiba.
So far, more than 30 crews have registered to take part on the gravel event, which takes place from 4-6 March. They include Peugeot UK's Kris Meeke, the reigning IRC champion and the winner of the rally last year, plus factory Skoda Motorsport drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky.
Another notable name on the entry is Brazilian Rafael Tulio. He topped the IRC 2WD Cup section of the event last season in a Peugeot 206. He switches to a 1600cc Peugeot 207 for next month's rally and will be looking to better the ninth place overall he achieved when the rally first appeared on the IRC schedule in 2009.
Revised date for Rally of Scotland
The penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland, will start a day later than first scheduled.
Originally due to run from 14-16 October, the gravel event will now get underway on Friday 15 October with the finish timetabled for Sunday 17 October.
Although the locations for the ceremonial start, central service park and ceremonial finish have yet to be finalised, organisers are promising a similar competitive distance (approximately 210 kilometres) as last year, although there are moves afoot to reduce the overall length of the road sections, which totalled 600 kilometres when the event first ran in November 2009.
Andrew Coe, the Chief Executive of event organiser International Motor Sports, said: "We are delighted to be returning to the stunning landscapes and historic venues of Scotland and are hoping that the slightly earlier date will mean more daylight hours for competitive rallying as well as providing the perfect showcase for Scotland's outstanding natural landscape."
Loix excited by IRC return
Freddy Loix has said he is relishing the chance to return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge later this season.
The 39-year-old from Belgium, whose deal to drive a Rene Georges-run Skoda Fabia S2000 was confirmed last week, had been left on the sidelines after leaving the Peugeot Team Belux operation at the end of last year.
He said: "I'm very happy with my new car and my new sponsor because it is not easy to find a partner to help you. Also, Skoda Belgium has made some investment and that will help. I think the Fabia can be a very good car to drive and I am very happy with the news."
Loix is unsure of his precise programme of events but hopes to enter at least four rounds of the IRC, including the Geko Ypres Rally in June.
Meanwhile, Rene Georges Rally Sport has confirmed that Nasser Al-Attiyah will contest a total of six IRC rounds this year in the team's other Fabia S2000.
Circuit of Ireland plans take shape
Preparations for April's Circuit of Ireland, an IRC Supporter Event, continue to take shape with the appointment of the rally's most senior official.
Gordon Noble, who co-drove Alister McRae to victory on the IRC's first pilot event, Zulu Rally South Africa, in May 2006, has been handed the role of clerk of the course for the famous Tarmac event, which will feature 15 stages across four separate counties when it runs from April 3-4.
"I'm honoured to be asked to be clerk of the course for the biggest cross-border sporting event in Ireland this year," said Noble. "It's a great opportunity to show off beautiful parts of the border counties and display a really professional set-up."
Organisers expect up to 15,000 fans to attend the event each day.
Curitiba media accreditation procedure
The 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes with Rally Internacional de Curitiba in Brazil on 4-6 March. Journalists requiring event-specific information should contact the rally's English-speaking press officer Tiago Mendonca (tel: +55 1130450836, email: tiagomendonca@rleme.com.br).
Details of the accreditation procedure can be found at www.rallydecuritiba.com.br the rally's official website. Media attending the event should be aware their IRC media season pass, rally pass, any pass issued by a national sporting authority or any other series will not provide access to the paddock and media centre of the FIA World Touring Car Championship event, which is also based at the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba on the same weekend.
International press wishing to cover the WTCC as well must obtain an application form from www.fiawtcc.com and apply to FIA WTCC Media Delegate Fabio Ravaioli (tel: +39 0639729497, fax: +39 0639729470, email: media@fiawtcc.com).
National press should apply to Marcio Fonseca (tel/fax: 011 55429834/55314621, email: fonsecamarcio@terra.com.br).
Television and radio applications should be addressed to Antonios Argyropoulos (tel: +33 140938517, email: antonios@eurosport.com). The deadline for applications is Tuesday 23 February.
So far, more than 30 crews have registered to take part on the gravel event, which takes place from 4-6 March. They include Peugeot UK's Kris Meeke, the reigning IRC champion and the winner of the rally last year, plus factory Skoda Motorsport drivers Juho Hanninen and Jan Kopecky.
Another notable name on the entry is Brazilian Rafael Tulio. He topped the IRC 2WD Cup section of the event last season in a Peugeot 206. He switches to a 1600cc Peugeot 207 for next month's rally and will be looking to better the ninth place overall he achieved when the rally first appeared on the IRC schedule in 2009.
Revised date for Rally of Scotland
The penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the RAC MSA Rally of Scotland, will start a day later than first scheduled.
Originally due to run from 14-16 October, the gravel event will now get underway on Friday 15 October with the finish timetabled for Sunday 17 October.
Although the locations for the ceremonial start, central service park and ceremonial finish have yet to be finalised, organisers are promising a similar competitive distance (approximately 210 kilometres) as last year, although there are moves afoot to reduce the overall length of the road sections, which totalled 600 kilometres when the event first ran in November 2009.
Andrew Coe, the Chief Executive of event organiser International Motor Sports, said: "We are delighted to be returning to the stunning landscapes and historic venues of Scotland and are hoping that the slightly earlier date will mean more daylight hours for competitive rallying as well as providing the perfect showcase for Scotland's outstanding natural landscape."
Loix excited by IRC return
Freddy Loix has said he is relishing the chance to return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge later this season.
The 39-year-old from Belgium, whose deal to drive a Rene Georges-run Skoda Fabia S2000 was confirmed last week, had been left on the sidelines after leaving the Peugeot Team Belux operation at the end of last year.
He said: "I'm very happy with my new car and my new sponsor because it is not easy to find a partner to help you. Also, Skoda Belgium has made some investment and that will help. I think the Fabia can be a very good car to drive and I am very happy with the news."
Loix is unsure of his precise programme of events but hopes to enter at least four rounds of the IRC, including the Geko Ypres Rally in June.
Meanwhile, Rene Georges Rally Sport has confirmed that Nasser Al-Attiyah will contest a total of six IRC rounds this year in the team's other Fabia S2000.
Circuit of Ireland plans take shape
Preparations for April's Circuit of Ireland, an IRC Supporter Event, continue to take shape with the appointment of the rally's most senior official.
Gordon Noble, who co-drove Alister McRae to victory on the IRC's first pilot event, Zulu Rally South Africa, in May 2006, has been handed the role of clerk of the course for the famous Tarmac event, which will feature 15 stages across four separate counties when it runs from April 3-4.
"I'm honoured to be asked to be clerk of the course for the biggest cross-border sporting event in Ireland this year," said Noble. "It's a great opportunity to show off beautiful parts of the border counties and display a really professional set-up."
Organisers expect up to 15,000 fans to attend the event each day.
Curitiba media accreditation procedure
The 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes with Rally Internacional de Curitiba in Brazil on 4-6 March. Journalists requiring event-specific information should contact the rally's English-speaking press officer Tiago Mendonca (tel: +55 1130450836, email: tiagomendonca@rleme.com.br).
Details of the accreditation procedure can be found at www.rallydecuritiba.com.br the rally's official website. Media attending the event should be aware their IRC media season pass, rally pass, any pass issued by a national sporting authority or any other series will not provide access to the paddock and media centre of the FIA World Touring Car Championship event, which is also based at the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba on the same weekend.
International press wishing to cover the WTCC as well must obtain an application form from www.fiawtcc.com and apply to FIA WTCC Media Delegate Fabio Ravaioli (tel: +39 0639729497, fax: +39 0639729470, email: media@fiawtcc.com).
National press should apply to Marcio Fonseca (tel/fax: 011 55429834/55314621, email: fonsecamarcio@terra.com.br).
Television and radio applications should be addressed to Antonios Argyropoulos (tel: +33 140938517, email: antonios@eurosport.com). The deadline for applications is Tuesday 23 February.
