Rnd 2 Rally Canaries talk/results spoiler *

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http://www.rallyislascanarias.com/templates/spanish_red/images/spanish_joomla_logo.png

Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles Spain - Asphalt
Established as a round of the Spanish championship for many years, the event was a newcomer to the IRC in 2010. Based in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria, the asphalt rally is a mixture of undulating roads and narrow and fast sections. The surface is abrasive meaning grip levels are high but tyre wear can be at a premium. Harbourside service park remains one of the rally’s endearing features.

Event Website: rallyislascanarias (http://www.rallyislascanarias.com/)

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Crews contesting Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés have completed the two-day reconnaissance for the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.


Held in warm and sunny conditions, the recce passed without incident and enabled competitors to sample the new stages that will feature on this year’s all-asphalt event, starting with the Gran Karting Club stage in the south of the island.

Guy Wilks, who finished third on the event last year and currently holds third spot in the IRC drivers’ standings, said he was surprised with the variety of road layouts on the new stages.

“The recce went well, no problems but there was a real mix of roads, even in one stage,” said the Peugeot UK driver. “You went from really fast to some really slow and tricky sections. It was all quite different.”

Following the recce, drivers and co-drivers took part in an autograph signing session at the rally base in Las Palmas.

The event programme resumes on Thursday morning with shakedown from 10:00hrs local time when teams will get a final opportunity to find an optimum set-up for the rally’s opening stage on Friday afternoon.

Click: ircseries.com/news=2529 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2529)

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Autograph session a huge hit with IRC fans
Fans have flocked to an autograph signing session ahead of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés this evening (Wednesday).


Drivers and co-drivers took a break from their preparations for the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge to meet fans, sign autographs and pose for photographs.

Based at the Edificio Miller building adjacent to the event’s permanent service park in Las Palmas, the event proved a huge success with fans queuing to meet their IRC heroes.

Next on the agenda for the IRC drivers and co-drivers is shakedown on Thursday morning followed by the ceremonial start at 20:30hrs local time.

Click: ircseries.com/news=2530 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2530)



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Magalhães quickest in Canarias shakedown

Bruno Magalhães, driving a Peugeot Sport Portugal 207 Super 2000, has gone fastest in shakedown for Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, round two of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

The Lisbon driver, fifth on this event in 2011, set a time of 1m27.7s on the 2.55-kilometre test based south of the service park in Las Palmas.

In total the 30-year-old completed seven timed runs and ended up two-tenths of a second faster than Škoda UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen, who also tackled the stage seven times.

Factory Škoda driver Jan Kopecký, the winner of this event last season, was third fastest after completing just four runs.

Škoda BFO Rally Team’s Freddy Loix set the fourth fastest time with fellow Belgian Thierry Neuville fifth in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207, a performance that impressed his team boss Marc van Dalen.

“Thierry was the fastest driver after the first pass and this is significant,” said van Dalen. “The stage was not completely representative of the rally so we had to think about the set-up. But everything was very good and we worked through our plan.”

Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks was sixth quickest with defending IRC champion Juho Hänninen seventh in the second works Škoda. Rallye Monte-Carlo winner Bryan Bouffier was eighth fastest in his Peugeot 207.

“We had a good test on Monday and I was happy with what we did in shakedown,” said Hänninen.

Giandomenico Basso was the fastest PROTON driver in 11th overall. Jose Barrios was the top IRC Production Cup driver in his Subaru Impreza, while Joan Vinyes led the IRC 2WD Cup runners.

The full times can be found by visiting: masrallye.com/canarias/11/ (http://www.masrallye.com/canarias/11/skfia_ex.html)

Click: ircseries.com/news=2535 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2535)


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Canarias pre-event press conference
Giandomenico Basso, Jan Kopecký, Bruno Magalhães and Yeray Lemes attended the pre-event press conference for Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés this evening. A full transcript follows.


Question to Jan Kopecký
As last year’s winner of Rally Islas Canarias it’s only right we start with you so welcome back and tell us how you plan to make it two wins from two starts this year?

JK: “This island is really, really nice. I don’t have any plan. I start number eight and try to catch the boys in the front.”

Question to Jan Kopecký
You tested here on Monday. What was the purpose of the test and what did you achieve?

JK: “We had a small test on Monday, the same for everyone. We just wanted to try the last small details to get the right feeling and the right confidence with the car. I think we achieved this. We had a great car.”

Read More: ircseries.com/news=2539 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2539)

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Bouffier starts first on the road in Canarias
Intercontinental Rally Challenge leader Bryan Bouffier will start first on the road on the opening day of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés.


Driving a Peugeot France 207 Super 2000 alongside navigator Xavier Panseri, the Rallye Monte-Carlo winner will head off from the service park in Las Palmas for the opening stage at 13:00hrs local time.

With drivers starting according to their official FIA priority seeding, Bouffier, an A priority driver, heads defending IRC champion and FIA B seed Juho Hänninen in a Škoda Fabia S2000. Four-time IRC event winner Giandomenico Basso starts third on the road in his PROTON Satria Neo S2000.

Crews star in one-minute intervals. The top 10 starting positions are as follows:

1 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000)
2 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000)
3 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000)
4 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000)
5 PG Andersson/Emil Axelsson (PROTON Satria Neo S2000)
6 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000)
7 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000)
8 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000)
9 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000)
10 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000)

Read: ircseries.com/news=2544 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2544)


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SS1: Wilks wins kart track stage
Guy Wilks has won the opening stage Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, round two of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Driving a Peugeot UK 207 Super 2000 the English driver completed the tight and twisty Gran Karting Club circuit in a time of 1m23.2s in front of huge numbers of spectators.


Juho Hänninen, the defending IRC champion, was second in his Škoda Fabia S2000 with Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg’s Thierry Neuville third.

PG Andersson reported losing five seconds when he suffered a half spin in his PROTON Satria Neo S2000. Andreas Mikkelsen also spun.

Overall positions after SS1

1 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) 1m23.2s
2 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +0.5s
3 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +0.8s
4 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1.1s
5 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1.2s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1.3s
7 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1.9s
8 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2.2s
9 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2.5s
10 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +3.3

Click: ircseries.com/News=2545 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2545)

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After SS2: Kopecký takes lead in Canarias
Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés has begun in earnest with Jan Kopecký snatching a slight advantage following the second stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.


After the charge through the short Gran Canaria stage based at the island’s kart track earlier this afternoon, crews headed 20 kilometres north to the 24.57-kilometre Santa Lucia stage.

At the wheel of a Škoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000, Kopecký was 0.6s faster through the stage than fellow Fabia driver Freddy Loix to open up a lead of 1.3s over Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg’s Thierry Neuville, who impressed with the third fastest time.

“It was fine, I was not pushing too much not to wear the tyres so I am surprised with the time,” said Kopecký, who won this event in 2010.

Neuville was the only leading contender to elect to carry two spare tyres in his 207. “I’m getting oversteer in the fast corners because of this, it’s not easy,” he said.

Loix’s performance means the BFO Škoda ace climbs from eighth to third in the overall standings. Guy Wilks, who was fastest on stage one, slips to fifth in his Peugeot UK 207.

The next stage, Ingenio, gets underway at 15:04hrs local time.

Overall positions after SS2

1 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) 15m32.8s
2 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1.3s
3 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1.6s
4 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2.0s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +11.7s
6 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +14.8s
7 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +15.5s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +20.0s
9 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +32.4s
10 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +33.4s

Click: ircseries.com/News=2546 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2546)

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After SS3: Wilks quickest again in Canarias

Guy Wilks has won his second stage of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés after setting the fastest time through the third Ingenio test in his Peugeot UK 207.


“That was a good stage,” said Wilks. “We’ve stopped the rot because I did not feel so confident after the first stage.”

Out front, Thierry Neuville has trimmed Jan Kopecký’s overall advantage to 0.4s as the battle for Intercontinental Rally Challenge glory heats up. The Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg driver was second fastest through the stage. Juho Hänninen has climbed ahead of Freddy Loix into third overall.

Patches of fog coated parts of the stage and made driving conditions difficult, especially on downhill sections.

Crews are heading back to a regroup and service in Las Palmas.

Overall positions after SS3

1 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) 23m54.9s
2 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +0.4s
3 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1.8s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2.5s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +10.4s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +17.1s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +18.8s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +23.7s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +41.1s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +44.9s

Click: ircseries.com/news=2547 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2547)


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Neuville praised following strong start

Kronos Racing boss Marc van Dalen has praised Thierry Neuville following the opening loop of three stages on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés this afternoon.

Driving a Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000, Neuville is just 0.4s adrift of leader, last year’s winner Jan Kopecký in a Škoda Fabia Super 2000.

“I am very happy with that performance,” said van Dalen. “He did some tests with Peugeot Sport and everything just clicked for him. Honestly I always believed he could do this but it’s good he has proved that he can be fast.”

Despite his impressive start to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event, van Dalen said there would be no change to Neuville’s pre-rally strategy.

“There is a long way to go and he knows the objective is to get the maximum number of points possible and that means he has to finish,” said van Dalen.

Van Dalen’s other driver, the Peugeot UK-backed Guy Wilks, is fifth overall after going fastest on two of the three stages run so far.

“The car was moving around too much on the second stage, really sliding at the rear, and I lost some confidence in the fast stuff because of this,” said Wilks. “We changed the damper clicks for the next one and it worked really well.”

Click: ircseries.com/news=2548 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2548)

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Bouffier: I need to find more speed
Bryan Bouffier says he is far from happy after reaching the first service halt on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés almost 20 seconds adrift of leader Jan Kopecký.

The Peugeot France star, who tops the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers’ standings following his victory on Rallye Monte-Carlo in January, is currently seventh overall in his 207 Super 2000.

“I’m not happy with my times, how can I be?” he said at service in Las Palmas. “I have to increase the speed but the feeling is not so good. I’m still learning the roads but there are things that can be improved with me and with the car.”

Click: ircseries.com/news=2549 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2549)

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Škoda stars expecting battle to intensify

Škoda Motorsport stars Jan Kopecký and Juho Hänninen are braced for an intense fight to the finish on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés after completing the opening three stages of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event in first and third overall respectively, separated by 1.8 seconds.


Kopecký, last year’s winner, moved in front on stage two in his Fabia S2000. However, Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg driver Thierry Neuville is just 0.4s adrift in second overall.

“It’s going to be a big battle until the end,” said Czech Kopecký. “We had some clouds on the third stage, which caused me to brake too late for one hairpin left. But the car has been really perfect. The only problem has been my pacenotes. They are not completely precise because there was a lot of traffic during the recce.”

Hänninen (pictured), meanwhile, was second on Rally Islas Canarias last year. He said: “We’re pushing quite hard but it’s important not to make any mistakes because if you lose any time it will be very difficult to get it back. Neuville has been impressive I must say, he’s set some very good times.”

Crews are shortly about to begin stage four, the repeat of the Gran Karting stage, which is due to go live at 17:22hrs local time.

Click: ircseries.com/News=2550 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2550)

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After SS4: Neuville and Kopecký equal best

Thierry Neuville continues to keep the pressure on Jan Kopecký in the battle for victory on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés after setting an identical time to the Czech on the fourth stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event, the 1.5-kilometre Gran Canaria test.

It means the gap between the two remains at 0.4s in Kopecký’s favour heading to the fifth stage of the rally, the 24.57 Santa Lucia run.

Juho Hänninen remains third overall in his Škoda Fabia 2.3s adrift of Peugeot driver Neuville. Freddy Loix is fourth with Guy Wilks fifth.

Toni Gardemeister was fourth quickest on the twisty karting track stage in his Fabia and is now two seconds behind PROTON ace Giandomenico Basso in 10th overall.

Overall positions after SS4

1 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) 25m17.8s
2 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +0.4s
3 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2.7s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +3.4s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +10.6s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +18.8s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +19.9s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +25.6s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +43.6s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +45.6s

Click: ircseries.com/news=2551 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2551)


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After SS5: Ace Kopecký opens slight lead
Jan Kopecký has gained a small advantage in the battle for Intercontinental Rally Challenge glory following the fifth stage of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés. The Škoda Motorsport driver is now 3.4s ahead of Thierry Neuville following the 24.57-kilometre Santa Lucia run.

“It’s a nice stage this one and the car is really perfect,” said the Czech driver. “There are few places where I can push some more but I have to think about the tyres”

Freddy Loix was second fastest at the wheel of his BFO Škoda Rally Team Fabia. The Belgian, who has won more Intercontinental Rally Challenge events than any other driver, said a few adjustments to his pacenotes had improved his pace and enabled him to climb ahead of Juho Hänninen into third overall.

Neuville said he was pleased with his performance but added: "I don't have so much experience for this kind of fight but I am happy and the car is working well."

Bryan Bouffier set a time 14 seconds faster than he managed on the first run and said he was happier with the handling of his Peugeot France 207 after demoting Andreas Mikkelsen for sixth spot: “It’s much better now,” he said. “I am more confident with the car.”

PG Andersson’s hopes of a top 10 finish suffered a huge setback when he stopped to change a punctured front-right tyre on his PROTON Satria Neo, losing almost three minutes in the process.

Overall positions after SS5

1 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) 25m17.8s
2 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3.4s
3 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +5.1s
4 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +6.3s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +25.8s
6 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +29.2s
7 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +30.1s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +43.3s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +1m09.5s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m12.8s

Click: ircseries.com/news=2552 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2552)


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After SS6: Hänninen lands first stage victory

Škoda Motorsport driver Juho Hänninen has recorded his first fastest stage time on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés. The defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion was 0.1s faster than Freddy Loix through the second Ingenio test, which was held in light drizzle and patches of fog. The Finn remains fourth overall.


BFO Škoda driver Loix reported losing a few vital seconds passing the PG Andersson, who suffered another puncture in his works PROTON Satria Neo. However, the Belgian was able to demote Thierry Neuville into third place and is 3.1s adrift of leader Jan Kopecký.

Neuville said he adopted a cautious approach in the increasingly thick fog. He is now 4.1s off the lead in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207.

Crews are currently heading to the second service halt in Las Palmas with the top four drivers covered by 4.2s. Two night stages remain on day one.

Overall positions after SS6

1 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) 47m37.9s
2 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +3.1s
3 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +4,1s
4 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +4.2s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +28.8s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +30.3s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +31.0s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +50.6s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +1m21.1s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m24.3s

Click: ircseries.com/news=2553 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2553)


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IRC heroes braced for night stages
The stars of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge are braced for a thrilling climax to the opening day of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés with two stages in the dark remaining before the overnight halt in Las Palmas.

Jan Kopecký holds the advantage in his Škoda Motorsport Fabia Super 2000 but the Czech has conceded that it might not be wise to go on full attack on the two night tests, the first of which is due to start at 22:16hrs local time.

“We will see to attack,” said last year’s Rally Islas Canarias winner. “There are huge risks that something can happen because you don’t see where the road goes so well. Also the stages are completely new so we will just keep a nice speed and see if it is enough.”

Team-mate Juho Hänninen explained some of the challenges competing in the dark can create. “It’s more difficult without the light to see where you are going,” said the defending IRC champion. “You don’t have so much confidence and your pacenotes cannot be so precise so you tend to hold the steering wheel more and not relax. This can cause more tyre wear.”

Click: ircseries.com/News=2554 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2554)

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Loix reveals secret behind new pacenotes

Freddy Loix has revealed how changes to his pacenotes for Friday afternoon’s loop of stages have improved his form on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, round two of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Loix, who is being co-driven by fellow Belgian Frédéric Miclotte, fought his way up from fourth to second overall during the afternoon tests in his BFO Škoda Rally Team Fabia. He is 3.1s adrift of Jan Kopecký starting the two night runs.

“We changed quite a lot the pacenotes because we have completely no experience on this island,” said Loix. “We put a tape recorder in the car and in between the stages Frédéric has been listening to change his notes and we found it was a big help.”

Click: ircseries.com/News=2555 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2555)

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PROTON boss happy with Canarias progress

PROTON Motorsports head Chris Mellors says the Malaysian’s manufacturer’s challenge on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés is going according to plan with Giandomenico Basso on course for drivers’ points and the team set to pick up its first makes’ points of 2011.

Basso is ninth overall after six stages on his debut for the MEM-run squad. Although PG Andersson has been slowed by two punctures, Mellors is satisfied with the progress his team is making.

“We are where we hoped we would be, particularly with Giandomenico,” said the British team boss. “We’re changing the car all the time in what is effectively an extended test. It’s just a shame PG has lost out with the punctures.”

Andersson suffered a front-right puncture and a slow right-rear puncture on stage five. He stopped to change the deflated tyre in the stage but with no more spares he had to tackle stage six with a slow puncture, which caused him and co-driver Emil Axelsson considerable delay to the extent they are now 19th overall and more than six minutes off the lead.

Click: ircseries.com/news=2556 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2556)


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Magalhães grows in confidence in Canarias

Bruno Magalhães said his confidence behind the wheel of his Peugeot Sport Portugal 207 Super 2000 is improving all the time on round two of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.


The 30-year-old Lisbon driver crashed out on the opening event of the season in Monte-Carlo and conceded that he has yet to rediscover the kind of form that took him to victory on Sata Rallye Açores last July.

“The car is getting better after the understeer we had at the start but I am still not totally confident after the big crash I had on Rallye Monte-Carlo and of course you lose some time because of this,” said Magalhães. “We can still find ways to improve but we lost a lot of time in the fog on the last stage. I had to put the fan onto the windscreen because I could not see anything, it was that bad.”

Magalhães and co-driver Paulo Grave are eighth overall heading into the two night stages.

Click: ircseries.com/News=2557 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2557)

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Mikkelsen makes car tweaks for night runs

Andreas Mikkelsen will tackle the final two stages on day one of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés with four new dampers and a new clutch fitted to his Škoda UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000.

The Norwegian driver is currently embroiled in a close battle with Intercontinental Rally Challenge leder Bryan Bouffier for sixth overall with just 1.5s separating the pair heading to stage seven, the 13.22-kilometre Valleseco test.

“That loop of stages was better, we pushed a little bit but took no risks,” said Mikkelsen prior to second service in Las Palmas. “We made some small changes to the car after the first three stages and put in a different roll bar.

“There was a lot of fog in places in stage six – on a downhill section the fog was so thick that you couldn’t see either side of the road, but it was a flat-out straight so it didn’t matter.”

Mikkelsen said he is expecting a tough challenge on the night stages, adding: “It won’t be easy because it’s difficult to see around the corner. It’s important just to make it back here in one piece.”

Click: ircseries.com/news=2558 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2558)


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After SS7: Neuville back to second in Canarias

Jan Kopecký has claimed his fourth stage victory on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés as Thierry Neuville moved back into second overall on round two of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Škoda Motorsport driver Kopecký now leads by 5.7s with Freddy Loix slipping to fourth behind defending IRC champion Juho Hänninen following the event’s first night stage.

Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks also lost time on the stage and has fallen to seventh behind Andreas Mikkelsen and IRC points’ leader Bryan Bouffier.

There is now just one stage remaining before the completion of day one, the 23.07-kilometre Tejeda test, which is due to begin at 22:49hrs local time.

Overall positions after SS7

1 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) 55m56.3s
2 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +5.7s
3 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +8.6s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +9.0s
5 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +37.6s
6 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +38.6s
7 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +40.7s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m03.8s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +1m31.7s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m40.3s

Click: ircseries.com/news=2559 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2559)


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After SS8: Stage axed on safety grounds

Jan Kopecký will take a lead of 5.7s into the final day of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés after the final stage of day one was cancelled on safety grounds.

Cars belonging to spectators had been parked too close to the road and despite the efforts of the organisers and local police they could not be moved.

The 23.07-kilometre Tejeda stage was due to run at 22:49hrs but will no longer take place. Crews are now heading back to overnight service in Las Palmas via an alternative route.

Huge crowds have followed Friday's action and have witnessed a thrilling battle for victory with four drivers firmly in contention for top spot on the final day of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge event, which begins with the 23.42-kilometre San Mateo stage. The first car is due to tackle the run at 08:35hrs local time.

Click: ircseries.com/news=2560 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readnews.asp?id=2560)


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[Weasel 555]

Day 2

After SS9: Neuville shoots into Canarias lead

Thierry Neuville has shot into the lead of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés following a sensational run through Saturday’s first stage.

Driving a Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000, the Belgian was 6.6s faster than Jan Kopecký through the 23.42-kilometre San Mateo test.

“It’s really good, I pushed really hard and tried to drive very clean,” said the 22-year-old. “The car was working very well, it’s beautiful.”

However, it was defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Juho Hänninen, in the second factory Škoda Fabia, who was fastest of all. It means one second now covers the top three drivers with Freddy Loix 4.1 seconds further back in the overall standings.

“It was good, quite okay rhythm and no mistakes on the whole stage,” said the Finn.

Kopecký, the overnight leader, said he wasn’t happy at the stage end: “The rhythm was changing a lot so it was not so nice in there.”

Guy Wilks moved up from seventh to sixth in his Peugeot UK 207. He is now just 1.1s behind fifth-placed Andreas Mikkelsen.

Overall positions after SS9

1 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) 1h09m57.7s
2 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) +0.9s
3 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1.0s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +5.1s
5 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +38.8s
6 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +39.9s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +44.5s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m19.4s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +1m50.5s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1m51.7s

Click: ircseries.com/News=2567 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2567)

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After SS10: Hänninen snatches first place

The sensational battle for victory on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés has taken another twist after defending Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Juho Hänninen snatched the lead by one-tenth of a second.

Finn Hänninen was two-tenths of a second faster than Škoda Motorsport team-mate Jan Kopecký to move from third to first.

Thierry Neuville, who had led prior to the stage start, slipped back to third after reporting his tyres had lost grip following his charge on the previous run. The Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg driver is now 4.6s behind Hänninen heading to service in Las Palmas.

Guy Wilks has overtaken Andreas Mikkelsen for fifth after going third fastest through the stage in his Peugeot UK 207.

PROTON Motorsports’ Giandomenico Basso remains in ninth spot, despite pressure from TGS Worldwide’s Toni Gardemeister.

Overall positions after SS10

1 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) 1h18m23.3s
2 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) +0.1s
3 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +4.6s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +7.2s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +39.3s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +40.4s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +48.5s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m27.3s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +2m02.3s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2m04.5s

Click: ircseries.com/News=2568 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2568)


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Colin McRae Trophy to be presented today

The latest recipient of the prestigious Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy will be known later this afternoon following the finish of Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés.

Presented to the driver whose performance best embodies the spirit of the rally legend on each round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the winner is chosen by a panel consisting of Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the IRC Motorsport Development Manager, Gilbert Roy, the Director of Editorial and Programme Development for Eurosport Events, plus Colin’s father Jimmy McRae.

Previous winners include Bryan Bouffier, Juho Hänninen and Freddy Loix. The award will be presented following the post-event press conference, which is due to start at 16:00hrs today. Jean-Pierre Nicolas will make the presentation.

Click: ircseries.com/News=2573 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2573)

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After SS11: Slim advantage for Hänninen

Juho Hänninen has gained a slender advantage in his bid to win Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés after topping the times on the penultimate stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

The Škoda Motorsport driver now heads team-mate Jan Kopecký by 3.9 seconds with one stage remaining. “I was really pushing, I’m lucky we are here,” said Hänninen.

With ambient temperatures continuing to rise, tyre wear is proving a concern for the leading crews, who have all reported their tyres losing some grip in the demanding conditions.

Thierry Neuville was second quickest through the stage and is now 2.7s behind Kopecký in third overall. “I pushed really flat-out, I was on the limit,” said Neuville. “We lost a bit of the grip with the tyres but I think they’re quit okay.”

Guy Wilks moved a step closer to cementing fifth place after increasing his margin over Andreas Mikkelsen to three seconds.

Overall positions after SS11

1 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) 1h32m12.8s
2 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) +3.9s
3 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +6.6s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +12.5s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +46.9s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +49.9s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +57.7s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m44.3s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +2m26.2s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2m28.4s

Click: ircseries.com/News=2574 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2574)

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After SS12: Kopecký fastest, Hänninen wins

The thrilling battle for first place on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés has ended in victory for Juho Hänninen and Škoda Motorsport. Jan Kopecký was fastest through the final stage but lost out on victory to his Finnish team-mate by 1.5s.

Thierry Neuville completed the stage with the fourth fastest time to secure the final place on the podium in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207.

Fellow Belgian Freddy Loix took fourth in the overall standings in his BFO Škoda although he was beaten on the stage by Bryan Bouffier.

However, Bouffier, the Rallye Monte-Carlo winner, had to settle for seventh overall behind Andreas Mikkelsen and Guy Wilks, who finished fifth in his Peugeot UK 207 after going third fastest on the stage.

Toni Gardemeister beat rival Giandomenico Basso but lost out on ninth place to the PROTON driver by 0.4s.

Overall positions after SS12

1 Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000) 1h40m38.1s
2 Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000) +1.5s
3 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Peugeot 207 S2000) +8.2s
4 Freddy Loix/Frédéric Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000) +16.7s
5 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Peugeot 207 S2000) +48.3s
6 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene (Škoda Fabia S2000) +55.6s
7 Bryan Bouffier/Xavier Panseri (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m00.6s
8 Bruno Magalhães/Paulo Grave (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1m49.8s
9 Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (PROTON Satria Neo S2000) +2m37.8s
10 Toni Gardemeister/Tapio Suominen (Škoda Fabia S2000) +2m38.2s

Click: ircseries.com/News=2575 (http://www.ircseries.com/html/readNews.asp?id=2575)

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Standings: ircseries.com/html/points (http://www.ircseries.com/html/points.asp)

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Next: Rnd 3: Tour de Corse - France / 12-14 May 2011 - Asphalt

Traditionally known as the ‘Rally of 10,000 Corners’ due to its high frequency of turns, the Tour de Corse is new to the IRC for 2011. Having more recently been centered on the town of Ajaccio, the event will now feature a competitive route covering more of the Mediterranean island. Following the start in Calvi in Corsica’s north-west, the event will include an overnight halt in Corte before the finish in Ajaccio to the south.

Official Website: asacc.fr/ (http://www.asacc.fr/)


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[Weasel 555]

Rally Canaries Gallery: IRCseries/Canaries/Gallery (http://www.ircseries.com/html/Gallery_Details.asp?nome=Rally%20Islas%20Canarias% 202011&id=33)