Rnd 12 - RACC Rally Spain - Oct 13-16
Official website: rallyracc.com/2016/en/
Listen Live: wrc.com/live_popup_radio
WRC+ : Live Stages/Live Maps/Onboard Action/Full Highlights plus.wrc.com/
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Michelin signs new WRC agreement
The French tyre company and WRC Promoter have agreed an extension of their current partnership under which Michelin will be Official Tyre of the WRC until the end of 2019.
The agreement comes as Michelin bids to secure its 300th WRC victory at RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espa?a this weekend, and stands on the verge of sealing its 50th world title in the drivers? and manufacturers? championships.
Michelin?s involvement in the WRC dates back to the inaugural championship in 1973. It has provided high-performance competition tyres to manufacturers for all but four seasons since then.
Michelin motorsport director Pascal Couasnon said open competition between different tyre manufacturers was at the heart of the company?s commitment to the WRC.
?We are honoured to be working so closely with the factory teams and the confidence they have in us keeps driving us to design the best possible tyres,? he said.
click: wrc.com/michelin-deal/
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RACC Spain Shakedown
Defending world champion Sebastien Ogier topped the timesheets at Thursday's pre-event shakedown for RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espana - but later admitted he wasn't the fastest driver on stage.
The Frenchman completed the 2.97km mixed gravel and Tarmac stage in 2m13.9s at the wheel of his Volkswagen Polo R, but said his closest rival Dani Sordo was quicker.
"I want to be honest about shakedown, my time was better only because I overshot a chicane," Ogier explained. "Dani should be the fastest. But it's okay, the result doesn't count for the race."
Hyundai driver Sordo was one-tenth slower than Ogier through the Salou-based test, which was wet and slippery after heavy rain on Wednesday.
"I made sure I was first on the road this morning because I expected it would be muddy. In fact only the surface was muddy, and the grip got better and better," said the Spaniard, who set his quickest time on his third and final pass.
Really this stage is for fun only. We didn't learn much driving big asphalt chicanes with gravel tyres, and I don't expect Friday's stages will have so much mud on them. I am expecting normal gravel conditions tomorrow," he said.
Ogier's Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen was third fastest. Ott Tanak, in a Ford Fiesta RS, and Kris Meeke, in Citroen's DS 3, tied fourth.
Crews are now en route to Barcelona for the ceremonial start. The rally's first stage, run on the streets of the city, will start at 1806hrs.
click: wrc.com/shakedown-spain/
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Official website: rallyracc.com/2016/en/
Listen Live: wrc.com/live_popup_radio
WRC+ : Live Stages/Live Maps/Onboard Action/Full Highlights plus.wrc.com/
...
----------------------------------
Michelin signs new WRC agreement
The French tyre company and WRC Promoter have agreed an extension of their current partnership under which Michelin will be Official Tyre of the WRC until the end of 2019.
The agreement comes as Michelin bids to secure its 300th WRC victory at RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espa?a this weekend, and stands on the verge of sealing its 50th world title in the drivers? and manufacturers? championships.
Michelin?s involvement in the WRC dates back to the inaugural championship in 1973. It has provided high-performance competition tyres to manufacturers for all but four seasons since then.
Michelin motorsport director Pascal Couasnon said open competition between different tyre manufacturers was at the heart of the company?s commitment to the WRC.
?We are honoured to be working so closely with the factory teams and the confidence they have in us keeps driving us to design the best possible tyres,? he said.
click: wrc.com/michelin-deal/
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RACC Spain Shakedown
Defending world champion Sebastien Ogier topped the timesheets at Thursday's pre-event shakedown for RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de Espana - but later admitted he wasn't the fastest driver on stage.
The Frenchman completed the 2.97km mixed gravel and Tarmac stage in 2m13.9s at the wheel of his Volkswagen Polo R, but said his closest rival Dani Sordo was quicker.
"I want to be honest about shakedown, my time was better only because I overshot a chicane," Ogier explained. "Dani should be the fastest. But it's okay, the result doesn't count for the race."
Hyundai driver Sordo was one-tenth slower than Ogier through the Salou-based test, which was wet and slippery after heavy rain on Wednesday.
"I made sure I was first on the road this morning because I expected it would be muddy. In fact only the surface was muddy, and the grip got better and better," said the Spaniard, who set his quickest time on his third and final pass.
Really this stage is for fun only. We didn't learn much driving big asphalt chicanes with gravel tyres, and I don't expect Friday's stages will have so much mud on them. I am expecting normal gravel conditions tomorrow," he said.
Ogier's Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen was third fastest. Ott Tanak, in a Ford Fiesta RS, and Kris Meeke, in Citroen's DS 3, tied fourth.
Crews are now en route to Barcelona for the ceremonial start. The rally's first stage, run on the streets of the city, will start at 1806hrs.
click: wrc.com/shakedown-spain/
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