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[h=2]WRC: Latvala says his motivation 'collapsed' in 2016[/h] Thursday, 24 November 2016


RACER staff
Jari-Matti Latvala has admitted his motivation "collapsed" during a tough 2016 World Rally Championship season.
The Finn believes he has now emerged from one of the darkest periods of his WRC career, but suffered a torrid year fraught with mechanical problems and crashes. It was typified by last weekend's season finale in Australia, when Latvala's Volkswagen teammates Sebastien Ogier and Andreas Mikkelsen believed he was favorite for victory given his road position but he hit a bridge early on the rally's first stage.
Latvala felt his recovery to ninth was the first time he had been driving comfortably for over half a season.
"At the time I didn't say anything, I didn't want to say anything," Latvala said of his dip. "But after the gearbox problems in Germany, I was losing motivation – that's a fact.
"I was second in this championship so many times and I wanted to win it so much. When we had the problems earlier in this year it was like: 'This, again!' And I kind of collapsed.

"When this happens, all of the negative things come to you and, when you are in the middle of the season, you know how long you have to wait before you can start the challenge again.
"Again, Australia was a tough rally for me, but on Saturday I found myself again. After six months of being away, I really felt I was back again. Now I need to find the drive to show this next season."
Latvala, who claimed just one win and three podiums this year, finished sixth in the championship - his worst finish ever as a professional driver, scoring 112 compared to Ogier's 268 points.
He has yet to secure a seat for 2017 following VW's exit but has been strongly linked to Toyota's new factory program.

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[h=2]WRC: FIA says running order rules went too far[/h] Tuesday, 29 November 2016
RACER Staff

FIA rally director Jarmo Mahonen has admitted he got this year's World Rally Championship running order regulations wrong and will oversee rule changes at Wednesday's World Motor Sport Council.



This year's rules forced the championship leader to run first on the road on the Friday and Saturday of every round of the series.
While the regulations helped boost diversity in terms of success – six drivers won six different rallies on the bounce in the middle of the year – it caused significant disharmony in the service park.
World champion Sebastien Ogier was bitterly opposed to the rule change and even talked about walking away from the championship at the height of his discontent.
Mahonen told Autosport: "I was the architect of this decision to change the rules for this year and it was too much.
"I talked to all of the drivers and I don't think it was much of a tough decision – they were all in favor of the change for next season.
'What we had this year, was a little bit too far."
FINAL 2017 CALENDAR EXPECTED
In addition to that regulation change, the Vienna meeting of WMSC is also expected to confirm a 13-round WRC calendar identical in its make-up to this year. China and Turkey will not be included.
"We evaluated the situation in Turkey," said Mahonen, "and we don't want to take any risks.
"It's the same with China; we don't want to bet on something of which we are a little bit unsure. Nobody knows what will be the situation [in Turkish politics] in one year, so it's better to wait."
Another key area of development from the WMSC will be the ratification of the 2017 FIA WRC Trophy, which will allow private drivers of 2016 or older World Rally Cars to compete for this new award. The crews will count seven scores to their final tally.
The inclusion of the new category will breathe new life into private 2016 cars on offer from M-Sport, PH Sport (DS 3 WRCs), Volkswagen and potentially Hyundai.

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[h=1]10 Reasons the Global MX-5 Cup Car is the Best Value for Track Day Participants[/h] Mazda's support of its Global MX-5 Cup car goes beyond the quality of it build.

With more than 100 sales in the U.S. in about a year, plus sales to Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada, the Global MX-5 Cup car is largely considered one of the most successful launches of a new race car. The Battery Tender MX-5 Cup Series competitors have received the car well, with 56 different racers competing in the 2016 championship.

But one less known area where the MX-5 Cup car has been well received is track day organizations. Monticello Motor Club, for example, is considered “North America’s Premier Automotive Country Club and Private Race Track.” It’s closing in on 25 orders.

Based on feedback from our customers, we share the top 10 reasons the Global MX-5 Cup cars have been highly regarded by track day members. Let’s start with the six obvious ones:

1. Brand new, reliable Mazda car with advanced safety features. The race car starts as the 4th generation MX-5, which earned the World Car of the Year and the World Car Design of the Year awards. It’s then transitioned into a race car using competition racing components selected by Mazda Motorsports and vetted via Mazda Motorsports’ factory racing drivers and development partner Long Road Racing.

• A brand new race car means that when you plan your track day or weekend, you should be able to run all the sessions with no unexpected downtime due to failures.

• You should also consider your cost-to-own.

• But most important, when you’re making a decision to get on the race track, safety should be the #1 consideration. With the MX-5 Cup car, you receive modern safety standards. The cage, for example, has been engineered and verified by the FIA. Plus, we believe racers should work up to cars that go 175mph plus – for the good of their family, friends, and self.

2. Parity / A true spec car with equal performance (all too rare in racing). The formula starts with selecting all the competition parts components on the car because they are considered to be the best value. (Before the race car went to market, we leveraged computer testing, thousands of miles of on-track testing – many of which were in public - and now a season of racing.) Then, we seal key performance components: engine, ECU, dampers, transmission and more. To ensure it remains this way, the sanctioning bodies are educated and then perform compliance checks.

3. Fun to drive. Enjoy rolling speed into and out of corners? It's the best entry level track car for learning and for developing advanced skills. The engineering put into the design makes it a great car for all levels of skill and provides a good amount of adjustment for setup.

4. Full parts support by Mazda for all components – one stop shopping and technical assistance. We sell both stock and competition parts at a special discount for this program through our competition parts department. Call 800.435.2508 for more information. And if you race in MX-5 Cup, you’ll know that the Long Road Racing crew supported each event with tech support and trailered a significant parts supply to support our racers.

5. Mazda contingency available if you decide to compete in NASA, SCCA, or with the Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup. You can earn thousands of dollars for competing with this car, including the $200,000 scholarship if you won Battery Tender MX-5 Cup.

6. Continuous improvement. With an ETA of January 2017, Mazda Motorsports will offer a hard top. Our partner Long Road Racing will be offering a DOT tire from BFGoodrich Tires.

What organizations such as Monticello Motor Club have figured out:

7. Competition and critical mass. When a club starts up a race series, the field can grow very quickly since the price to buy one is not $100K+ (it’s $58,900). Having an identical car that others have and run is how we learn. Want to compete against only a handful of racers or would you prefer to compete in large fields? In large fields, you will typically race someone and learn, rather than just do more lapping during a race. If you’re not interested in racing to get better, that’s okay. There are over 100 of these already participating in North America, which means it should not be hard to find others to compete against.

8. You may find some drivers and professional racing coaches willing to ride in the passenger seat with you while on track; just put a second seat in. Having a coach is recommended for development and safety. For those considering coaches, there are many with significant MX-5 experience (the most road-raced car in the world): Joel Miller, Tom Long, Andrew Carbonell, Kenton Koch, Stevan McAleer, Chad McCumbee, John Dean II and Robby Foley. Also, other types of cars that may have a more difficult or impossible time attracting ride-alongs due to their speed, single seats, or other factors.

9. Run it at track days, then jump into a sprint race with the SCCA in T3, NASA in PTC, or perhaps even a professional sprint race with the Battery Tender Global MX-5 Cup. If you want to continue to improve, you’ll have to keep running it against top competition.

10. Run it in an endurance race to maximize your learning from teammates, and the track time offered. Nicholas Evancich, for example, joined Drake Kemper (2015 Mazda Motorsports Scholarship driver), John Dean II (2016 Mazda Motorsports Scholarship driver), and Nathanial “Sparky” Sparks (2017 Mazda Motorsports Scholarship driver) for the VIRginia International Raceway 13 Hour endurance race on October 22 where they ran two Global MX-5 Cup cars, finishing in third and fourth positions, one second apart, out of 37 entries.

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★★★★★
“I had a fantastic time at the Open Track session on 10.1.2016. I was really able to stretch the legs in my Lexus ISF and Cory B. (Instructor) was very... ”
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– Karel




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– Daniel Gillrup





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“Had an amazing time! Can’t wait to return for another event.”

– Brandy Robinson




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“Went to open track day yesterday, had a blast and the staff is killer!”

– Craig Herndon




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“Awesome racing facility! Arrive and drive your own sports or race car! Professional staff. racing schools and experiences are on one site!”

– James Christman






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“Had a chance to take the T-Rex out today with some friends. The track is run very professionally with a staff that really cares!!!! Thanks for making it... ”
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– Alyssa

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Track Attack Weekend - Open Track
December 10, 2016
Road Course
1 Day
Open Track Days at The FIRM is a low-cost way to test the setup of your car and improve your driving skills.

The cost is $214 per driver in advance, or $250 the day of the event. 7% Florida Sales Tax is included. Guests and crew pay $10 each to enter. On-line registration ends at 11 pm the day prior to the event after which you will have to register at the event.

Click on the following MotorsportReg button to register and pay for your next Open Track Day at The FIRM.
View Map The FIRM 7266 Airport Road starke, Florida 32091
Jimmy/Duncker jimmy@gorally.com/duncker@gorally.com

senor honda

VW says goodbye to WRC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H_puY27KPo

Published on Dec 1, 2016
Some say goodbye with a wave, we end our WRC years on a high. 4 years, 12 titles, nail-biting finishes and tons of fun. Goodbye WRC and thank you all for the great support!

We'll be reporting up close and personal from, next to, in front of, behind, above and - if we have to - under the route for you from the adventure that is the rally and the WRC. We'll even take you beyond the service park and racetrack to experience the best drivers in the world, the craziest fans, snow, asphalt, boulders, the toughest weather conditions and the roaring sound of the engines

senor honda

2016 Monza Rallye Show They do it differently in Europe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrXtsF9AQkE

The famous MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi in his Ford Fiesta WRC battles against one of the most experienced FIA World Rally Championship drivers Daniel Sordo at the 2016 Monza Rally Show. Which one is the fastest for you?

senor honda

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[TD="class: yiv3736684506mcnTextContent, align: left"] [h=1]Track Attack at The FIRM[/h] December 10-11, 2016 [/TD]
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Come to The FIRM for our Track Attack on December 10-11.

Sunday Session is a GO! We will be having an open track on Sunday! Register at GoRally.com (click on the motorsportsreg link at the bottom of the calendar) or call our office at (352)473-2999..

Full Day: $199
Half Day: $125

Half Day Track Passes are for a 1-4pm session only!
Half Day Track Pass holders must arrive at 12pm for vehicle tech and a driver's meeting.

Bring your car, a SA2005 or newer helmet, and $199 or $125.

We want to pay you $50 to refer a friend to an Open Track Day , that's right, you get $50 bucks off a Track Day, and we will give them 50% off!! first time ONLY. If they have been here before they won't qualify. Please contact our staff to redeem your incentive. 352 473 2999

We also allow passengers - $25
Guests & Crew are $10 each

Want to maximize your driving potential?
Ask one of our on-site instructors for an on track 20 minute session only $75.

On-line registration ends at 11PM the night before the event after which you will have to register at the event. If you are new to MotorsportReg.com, you only have to create your account once. Once your account is created, you can register for future events both here at the FIRM or at many other driving, racing and riding groups with a click of a few buttons.


Open Track Day Schedule:
7:30am gates open*
8:00am – 8:30 vehicle tech
8:30 mandatory drivers meeting
9:00 – 11:55am track open.
noon until 1:00pm track closed for lunch
1:00 pm – 4:00 track open
5:00pm gates closed

senor honda

[h=2]WRC: Ogier, Tanak confirmed at M-Sport[/h] Monday, 12 December 2016


RACER Staff / Image by LAT

M-Sport has confirmed reigning FIA World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier and WRC Drive of the Year Ott Tänak as its drivers in the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship, as the team enters a new era with Ecoboost-powered Ford Fiesta WRCs.
Ogier, who was released from his Volkswagen contract after VW pulled out of WRC, was impressive in testing for M-Sport in late November, driving the Ford in the Walter's Arena section of the Rheola stage in Wales. Lining up alongside Ogier and Ingrassia is Tänak and new co-driver Martin Järveoja.
"I've made no secret of how much we wanted to work with Sebastien and Julien, and it is fantastic to welcome them to the team," said M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson. "We have worked extremely hard to secure them, and they believe that the Ford Fiesta WRC is the car with which they can best defend their championship.
"With Ott and Martin lining up alongside them, we are in for one hell of a season. Ott has had a very impressive year with consistent speed. He's played a major role in the development of the new car, and I'm sure that the elusive first victory isn't too far away."
Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia have four world championships, 38 wins, 56 podiums and 475 stage wins since starting in the WRC in 2008.
It's funny to think that just a few months ago I was sitting at a motorsport forum at Wales Rally GB saying how nice it would be to work with [Malcom] one day," Ogier said. "I had no idea at the time that it would come quite so soon, but here we are!
"I'm looking forward to working with M-Sport, and we'll certainly be aiming to return them to the top step of the podium."
Tänak, who scored two second-place finishes and 30 stage wins on gravel (surpassed only by Ogier), had a hand in testing the new Ford Fiesta WRC and calls the car "a massive step forward."
"This is the first time that I've had a hand in developing a new car completely from scratch and it's been great to work with the engineers," Tänak said. "I have a long history with M-Sport. They know how to build a competitive car and we've all worked together to produce something we hope will be quite special.
"The power is insane, and almost every aspect of the car has been completely redesigned. At first, I thought the increased power would make it a bit of a handful, but the guys have done such a good job. Every component works together to give incredible control – it really is the full package."
News of other crews in M-Sport's driving team will be revealed soon. The season opening Rallye Monte-Carlo will be held Jan. 19-22.

senor honda

[h=2]WRC: Hyundai unveils 2017 i20 Coupe[/h] Thursday, 01 December 2016


RACER Staff / Image courtesy Hyundai Motorsport

Hyundai has unveiled its 2017 i20 Coupe World Rally Championship car.
The three-door model, revealed at the Monza Grand Prix circuit, replaces the retired i20 as manufacturers build to 2017 WRC regulations, including a 36mm restrictor that produces 376bhp.


"[This new era] is a great new technical challenge and one that we have tackled with enthusiasm," Hyundai Motorsport team principal Michel Nandan said. "It's an opportunity to put into practice everything we have learned and experienced in the past three seasons. All teams are starting from scratch so we are on equal footing."
"We aim to be champion," added Hyundai Motorsport president Gyoo-Heon Choi. "We are taking this very seriously and want to be at the top. Hyundai Motorsport is investing heavily into making this work, and after three years we feel very strong."
Hyundai returns its full driver line-up of Thierry Neuville, Haydon Paddon and Dani Sordo and co-drivers Nicolas Gilsoul, John Kennard and Marc Marti.
The i20 has undergone more than 4,000 hours of testing, Autocar reports. Competitors Citroen and Volkswagen revealed their 2017 cars this past spring, although VW has since confirmed its exit from the series in order to focus its efforts on customer-based competition.