Summer ends for Ford as WRC switches to asphalt in Bulgaria
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team renews its FIA World Rally Championship campaign in
After two wins for the Ford Focus RS World Rally Car from the opening six loose surface fixtures, the emphasis of the series changes noticeably during the second half of the season. The eastern European event is the first of four sealed-surface rallies in the final seven events. Drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila have geared their preparations accordingly for the first asphalt WRC round since Rally de España last October.
Hirvonen and Lehtinen won the Serbia Rally earlier this month, a non-championship encounter held on roads similar to those the Finns will discover in
From 1970 until 2001 Rally
"The special stages are very, very fast," he said. "The asphalt is broken in places and so the surface is frequently bumpy. It will be tricky for drivers to judge the surface changes and to get used to the high speeds. The roads are different to the asphalt the drivers have been used to in the WRC over the last few years. I would describe them as a mix of those found in
Hirvonen, 29, has viewed photographs and footage of the roads and admits it will be a tough rally. "The stages look fast and in that situation it’s important to be careful with the car and yourself. A mistake on a fourth gear bend means you lose more momentum, and time, on the following long straight than a mistake on a first or second gear bend in a twisty section.
"I’ve completed plenty of asphalt work recently, to shake off the rust after a long time without a WRC rally on that surface and to improve my technique. Asphalt driving doesn’t come as easily to me as it does on gravel. I know what to do but I need to get into the frame of mind where I do it automatically, without having to think about it. I identified areas in which I needed to improve and I feel good about my driving now," added Hirvonen. His only previous visit to
Latvala was also boosted by his test. "The whole team has worked hard and I feel we’ve taken a step forward with both myself and the car. Previously, I sometimes I felt uncomfortable with my asphalt driving. During the test I firstly concentrated on getting back into the rhythm of driving on the surface. Then I focused on consistency – keeping my driving tidy and avoiding big cuts in bends. I continued the development work that the team began with Mikko. It was nothing major, a few small things related to car set-up. I was happy with how the two days went," said the 25-year-old Finn.
The weather often plays a crucial part in the outcome of asphalt rallies and drivers will have the benefit of safety crews for the first time since Rally
"For the first time this season tyre choice could be a factor. The weather in the mountains is always unpredictable and streaming wet roads can quickly become dry, and vice-versa. It can be challenging to get things right and ‘reading’ the weather could play an important part. When it’s raining in the service park it might be dry on the stages so accurate information is vital. We have to be ready for everything and if we find ourselves with the wrong tyres for the conditions, we have to ensure we make the best of it," added Latvala.
Team News
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* Two other Focus RS WRCs are entered. Debutants Per-Gunnar Andersson / Jonas Andersson and Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin are nominated by the Stobart M-Sport Ford team. Private Ford Fiesta S2000 cars will be crewed by Henning Solberg / Ilka Minor and Dennis Kuipers / Fred Miclotte.
* This week’s BP Ford Abu Dhabi test was switched to southern
* Rally
Rally Route
While Borovets is the rally base, the event is centred 25km to the east in the spa town of
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RALLY
ROUND 7 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
8 – 11 July 2010
Thursday 8 July: Ceremonial start
Start Samokov Stadium 19.30
Friday 9 July: Day 1 Dolna Banya – Dolna Banya
Start Dolna Banya 09.00
SS1
SS2
Serv A Dolna Banya (30 mins) 13.02
SS3
SS4
Serv B Dolna Banya (45 mins) 17.14
Finish Dolna Banya 17.59
Total 118.68km
Saturday 10 July: Day 2 Dolna Banya – Dolna Banya
Serv C Dolna Banya (15 mins) 07.00
SS5 Sestrimo 27.46km 07.43
SS6 Peshtera 18.13km 09.36
SS7 Lyubnitsa 24.86km 10.54
Serv D Dolna Banya (30 mins) 12.24
SS8 Sestrimo 27.46km 13.22
SS9 Peshtera 18.13km 15.15
SS10 Lyubnitsa 24.86km 16.33
Serv
Finish Dolna Banya 18.18
Total 140.90km
Sunday 11 July: Day 3 Dolna Banya – Dolna Banya
Serv F Dolna Banya (15 mins) 08.00
SS11 Muhovo 29.53km 08.46
SS12 Slavovitsa 17.73km 09.28
Serv G Dolna Banya (30 mins) 10.51
SS13 Muhovo 29.53km 11.52
SS14 Slavovitsa 17.73km 12.34
Serv H Dolna Banya (10 mins) 13.15
Finish Hotel Rila, Borovets 14.00
Total 94.52km
Rally total 354.10km