WRC 2008 - Sebastian Loeb, and news about the Ford Munchis & Stobart Teams

Sebastian Loeb analysed by his rivals and news about the Ford Munchis & Ford Stobart Teams

WRC 2008 - Team Subaru

A review of the past, present and future of the WRC Subaru Team
See a report in our sister blog Motorsport Vx

VW WRC bound for 2001?

Learn about VW's plans for WRC at Motorsport Vx

Peterhansel gets a last gasp victory in Portugal

Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret took advantage of the short final stage of the PAX Rally 2008 to get a last gasp victory in Portimao. After a total 800 kilometres driving against the clock, and half of today`s stage neutralised by a forest fire, Stéphane Peterhansel snatched the victory from the ex World Rally Champion, Carlos Sainz, by 16 seconds.
Luc Alphand was third in the end, bringa successful end to the racing career of the Mitsubishi Montero Evolution with a double success; it will be substituted in the Dakar 2009 by the new Mitsubishi Racing Lancer. In the motorbike category, Marc Coma made sure of a position on the podium after finishing today's stage in third position, behind Rubén Faria the winner of the Rally, and Zé Hélio, second on the stage.
After five days of competition and more than ten hours of fighting against the clock in the centre and south of Portugal, Stéphane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz started the last special stage separated by only 31 seconds. A forest fire in the middle of the route shortened today's stage even more, and at the same time the chances of fighting for the victory. But in the end a Carlos Sainz error allowed the Repsol driver to get a lead of 47 seconds over the Spaniard and so win the Rally in a heart-stopping finale. More at marathonrally.com
Standings here

The Argentinian, Orly Terranova finished the race after suffering some medical problems, but he managed to overcome them and struggled his way up the rally in his BMW X3. But the team faced a number of problems when the car knocked into a stone and damaged the front suspension which sent him way back in the results grid. Also a fire was declared on one of the stages which delayed the race. More here

Watch this video of Orly Terranova on two wheels


Watch an official video of the race


Pax Rally Part 2
Pax Rally Part3

Rally of New Zealand - 2008

News about the teams and the race.

Results Rally New Zealand
Standings after Rally New Zealand

KIA Official Team to race Dakar

KIA Motors confirmed its participation in the 2009 Dakar Rally Raid in Argentina and Chile. More than 9,000 km shall be traversed through deserts, sabanas, pampas, mountains, etc, from 3 to 18 January next year.

A new generation motor for the Kia Sorento EX, turbodiesel, shall be used with a variable turbo charger and 200 HP. Team Kia Rally Raid shall have Guillermo y Fernando Arrieta, as driver and co-driver respectively, who have already participated in the Rally Por Las Pampas-Patagonia Atacama 2007.

The team's aim is to test the Kia Sorento EX and demonstrate that it is capable of enduring the Dakar, the toughest race in the world, even at heights of more than 4,000 metres.

5th Gear BMW X5 E53 DAKAR

This is a wonderful video about how a biker needs a support vehicle for the Dakar race. Here a challenge between both bike and it's support.

Rally Raid Dos Sertôes - 2008

The Rally Dos Sertôes took place in Brazil in June 2008, it was like a preview of what will come next in the 2009 all new Dakar Rally-Raid (3 to 18 January) in Argentina and Chile. Here the first part of four: 



Rally Dos Sertôes 2nd part

Rally Dos Sertôes 3rd part

Rally Dos Sertôes 4th and last part

Rally Dos Sertôes summary

Dakar 2009 Rally Raid - Argentina & Chile

The 2009 Dakar Rally Raid will take place on its 30th anniversary in South America, in Argentina and Chile. Here is a preview of the landscapes the competitors will encounter on the new road.

A promotional video of Argentina and Chile