Online Magazine

CATEGORIES

• Ask ColCam
• Commercials
• Full Ford
• Going Ford
• Industry News
• My Wheels
• Racing
• Events
• Test Drive
• Ford Dealer List

SEARCH USED FORD CARS FOR SALE - Currently 76 used Fords listed for sale.

Select Model Courier Escape Fairmont Falcon Fiesta Focus Laser Mondeo Ranger Territory Transit All States All Prices All Styles Year - Latest First Year - Oldest First Price - Lowest First Price - Highest First

2007 FOCUS

$25,888 2007 RANGER

$39,088 2007 TERRITORY

$35,888 2008 FOCUS

$23,888 2007 FOCUS

$28,888 2008 MONDEO

$30,888

Front Page » Racing » WRC

Title Tension Tightens as BP-Ford Prepares for WRC Finale

Staff, Monday November 12, 2007.

Page 1 of 2

BP-Ford World Rally Team heads into the final three weekends of the FIA World Rally Championship season in head-to-head fights for both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles.

Two rallies remain in that three-week period and the squad makes the short journey to Rally Ireland (15 – 18 November) in the knowledge that this series newcomer could prove the toughest challenge of the 16-round year.

The team goes into the event with a 34-point lead in the manufacturers’ standings in its quest for a second consecutive title with the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car. A maximum 36 points are available, meaning that BP-Ford still requires three points to seal the crown.

The drivers’ battle is the most exciting for many years.

BP-Ford’s Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen lead by four points from Sébastien Loeb with a maximum 20 points available from Ireland and the final round in Great Britain.

Despite being in a different country, Rally Ireland is the closest WRC round to the team’s base in north-west England. But there is no question of local knowledge offering an advantage, as the roads in the north-west of the island will be new to both Grönholm and Rautiainen and team-mates Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen, winners of the previous round in Japan last month.

This cross-border event includes speed tests in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Essentially an asphalt rally, the tight and twisty roads are bumpy and narrow – often little more than the width of a car – with many surface changes. The more northerly special stages close to the border are used by farmers on a daily basis and will be dirty. With rain likely at this time of the year, they could quickly turn muddy and become treacherously slippery so a more gravel-based car set-up is likely to work better than a traditional smooth asphalt specification.

Grönholm won February’s Galway Rally in Ireland as preparation for the WRC event but the dry and sunny weather that blessed that weekend could be far removed from the conditions next week.

"That rally provided an insight into the type of roads used for rallying in Ireland," said the 39-year-old Finn.

"However, until I make the recce next week I won’t know how similar these stages are. I’ve been told the roads will be fast but unforgiving and difficult to read, so ensuring the pace notes are 100 per cent accurate will be vital during the recce."

"I’m really excited about the end of season. Fighting for world titles in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ series is a great position to be in and to win both would be the most fantastic way to end my career. Of course, it’s not that easy and things change quickly in this sport so nobody in the team is taking anything for granted. There are two rallies remaining and we have to be as strong and professional as we have been all season," he added.

• ‹‹ start
• ‹ prev page
• 1
• 2
• next page ›
• end ››

Subscribe to Fords News feed.

INSTANT SEARCH

---

LATEST ARTICLES

---

RECENTLY

Ford Fiesta Drives Away with the 2009 Best Car Awards
Ford Triumphs at Global Green Challenge
Ford Teams Meeting the Green Challenge
Ford Teams Get Ready for the Challenge
Ford Fiesta ECOnetic - Australias most fuel efficient car
Ford Sponsored Solar Car Arrives Down Under
Fords Global CEO Reveals New Ford FIGO
New Ford Figo Launched In India
Ford Introduces Value-Packed G6 Limited Edition
Ford Australia Invests $230 Million in New Fuel-Efficient Engines for Locally Produced Vehicles

---

ASK COLCAM

Need an answer to a technical question?

RSS - Ask Colcam

• PRIVACY
• TERMS OF USE
• CONTACT US
• SITEMAP
• ABOUT
• DISCLAIMER

© Copyright 2000–2012 Fords.com.au
http://www.fords.com.au is not owned by, nor affiliated with, Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited.
All FORD standards, logos and products presented in whole or in part are the property of, and copyright by, Ford Motor Company of Australia Limited.

AutoLink Media sites: