2008 WRC Schedule

[boro]

Here it is guys! The list of all that is holy, the 2008 WRC calendar.

Rotation in 2008
The WMSC (World Motor Sport Council) unveiled the 2008 calendar. The events in Ireland, Portugal, Norway and Mexico will be removed from the 2008 WRC season in order to let other rallies a spot on the calendar.

Australia and Turkey will return on the calendar, along with the first-time entry of the Jordan Rally. A fourth rally will be chosen between Cyprus, Poland and South Africa. The FIA will evaluate the three events and decide which one will take the final spot in 2008.

Single tire manufacturer for 2008
The WMSC also confirmed that a tender will be issued to determine the choice of a single tyre manufacturer starting in 2008.

2008 WRC Calendar
January 25-27 Monte-Carlo Rally
February 08-10 Swedish Rally
March 07-09 Rally South Africa*
March 28-30 Jordan Rally
April 11-13 Cyprus Rally*
April 25-27 Rally Argentina
May 16-18 Rally Italia-Sardinia
May 30 - June 01 Acropolis Rally
June 13-15 Rally of Turkey
June 27-29 Rally Poland*
August 01-03 Rally Finland
August 15-17 Rally Deutschland
August 29-31 Rally New Zealand
September 12-14 Rally Australia
October 03-05 Rally Catalunya
October 10-12 Tour de Corse
October 24-26 Rally Japan
November 28-30 Rally GB

I'm looking forward to the new season, new cars and new courses! Hope you guys tune in as well.


We still have a few events left in 2007 so the action will be basically non stop. Rally Japan just finished up a few days ago with Mikko Hirvonen in his Ford Focus taking 1st over all at 3 hours 24 minutes and 57.6 seconds.

Petter Solberg and Subaru wrecked and stated as such, "We did our best, but this is certainly not the result we came here for. Today I did all I could, but we're still lacking the grip to go any faster. There's not much more I can say really. We have a lot of work to do before Rally GB."


Rally Japan Final Leaderboard

1. M Hirvonen/J Lehtinen FIN Ford Focus RS 3hr
23min 57.6sec
2. D Sordo/M Marti E Citroen C4
3hr 24min 35.0sec
3. H Solberg/C Menkerud N Ford Focus RS 3hr
28min 31.3sec
4. M Wilson/M Orr GB Ford Focus RS 3hr
30min 35.5sec
5. L Perez Companc/J-M Volta ARG Ford Focus RS 3hr 30min
38.0sec
6. M Stohl/I Minor A Citroen Xsara
3hr 31min 01.9sec
7. F Villagra/J-L Diaz ARG Ford Focus RS 3hr 35min
12.9sec
8. K Taguchi/M Stacey J Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr
44min 37.7sec
9. G Pozzo/D Stillo ARG Mitsubishi Lancer
3hr 45min 50.6sec
10 A Araujo/M Ramalho P Mitsubishi Lancer 3hr
48min 11.1sec


1. BP-Ford
2. Citroen Total
3. Subaru
4. OMV Kronos Citroen
5. Stobart M-Sport Ford
6. Munchis Ford

Remaining 2007 Rally Events:
16-18 November Rally Ireland (P)
30 November-02 December Rally GB (P)

[jamal]

Petter did not get 3rd; he crashed and then later retired with gearbox problems. Actually no swrt cars finished the rally. Atkinson had the biggest crash out of the three, and Gronholm and Loeb both stuffed their cars.

That's Henning who finished 3rd.

[Adam West]

Nice! Thanks for posting!

I haven't watched Japan yet but it looks like some of the big guns went out.

Can wait to see what happend (have DVD of Eurosport coverage coming in the mail)....

Cheers,

AW

[PhyrraM]

My favorite was always Safari. Would love to see Africa back on the schedule a few more times.

[boro]

[boro]

Petter did not get 3rd; he crashed and then later retired with gearbox problems. Actually no swrt cars finished the rally.

Didn't he finish like 17th? Or did end up in 17th.

[dirtyhandssubaru555]

anybody know what tv station i can find rally coverage? cable/satelite?