The SCCA RallyCross National Championships were held in October in Tulsa, OK. This was the first time at Tulsa Raceway Park for the RallyCross National Championships and was a flying success. The event drew exactly 100 competitors the largest number to date, up almost 30% from the previous year. There was a lot of dirt flying all weekend and some great battles down the stretch. GotCone was there capturing all the excitement and even took some video (see below).
Photos from the event can be found in the 2011 SCCA RallyCross National Championships Photo Gallery.
As rumored earlier this week, Mikko Hirvonen will officially be joining 8 time World Champion Sebastien Loeb on the Citroen WRC team for the 2012 season. Hirvonen inked a 2 year deal with the Citroen works team, which will put the top 2 drivers from 2011 on the same team. This is a huge shake up for Citroen and Ford, as Ford will need to scramble to find another driver to replace their former #1 driver.
It is unclear as of now what is the fate of Loeb’s 2011 teammate and fellow countryman Sebastien Ogier. Citroen could move him to a ‘Junior’ team like they have run in the past or Ogier could be making the move to Ford as was originally rumored or possibly a seat on the newly formed Volkswagen team.
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It looks like Citroen and Ford may be making a trade of sorts for the 2012 WRC season. Apparently Sebastien Loeb, fresh off his 8th consecutive championship, mentioned to a journalist at WRC Rally GB that his teammate for 2012 could very well be Mikko Hirvonen. This could also move Loeb’s current teammate Sebastien Ogier to a Ford alongside Jari Matti Latvala. This would definitely be a big shake up in the WRC. It looks like we should be expecting an announcement from Citroen soon.
According to a note on Mikko Hirvonen’s Facebook Fan Page:
“The 2011 season of the WRC and Loeb has just finished celebrating his eighth title of the World Rally Championship. But, is not what we want to talk to you. As reported by Auto123 seems that Sebastien Loeb has revealed to journalists present at the Rally of Wales next year Mikko Hirvonen could be his Citroen teammate.
The exchange may be between Sebastien Ogier and Mikko Hirvonen, and Ogier, Ford and Hirvonen in a Citroen. The official announcement by Citroen should materialize in the coming days.”
Last week I took a trip out to Las Vegas to attend SEMA. SEMA draws some of the auto industry’s best and brightest. I have to admit the amount of cars, displays and exhibits was almost overwhelming. In 2 days, I was not able to see everything and a lot of what I did see was rushed.
One of the highlights of the show the SCION FR-S concept car, which is just a beautiful piece of work. I can’t wait to see the finished version. Some of the specs have leaked online and it should be a great car.
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Photos from the 2011 SCCA TireRack Solo Nationals have been posted in the photo gallery. Photos from nearly every heat are posted and grouped by class. Some of heat 1 on Th./Fr. are missing due to the fact I was competing in the STU prepared GotCone.com BMW 135i.
Photos are $5 for a full resolution digital copy or a photo package can be purchased for $20 which includes full resolution digital of all photos of your car (co-drivers included). Orders will be filled within 24 hours, an email will be sent with your photo (or a link to download photos).
Photos from the 2011 ProSolo Finale are also available.
If you have any questions or special requests please feel free to email me photo@gotcone.com
Sebastien Loeb is nearly unbeatable on tarmac and was the obvious favorite at the 2011 ADAC Rallye Deutschland held in Germany, but it was the other Sebastien driving for Citroen that took home the victory. Loeb got off to a great start, but a puncture on stage 14 left him chasing Ogier. Despite Loeb’s Power Stage victory, Ogier had too much and took first place for a 1-2 finish for Citroen.
Ogier’s victory snaps Loeb’s amazing streak of 8 consecutive wins in Germay. “For sure I really like to win in Germany but I cannot be perfect every time and every year I say that one day it will stop and it stopped this time. I was unlucky yesterday but I tried my best,” said an less than happy Loeb. It also vaulted Ogier up to 2nd place, 25 points behind teammate Loeb, in the driver’s championship standings. “Mathematically the championship is still possible and I have to believe I have a chance. As long as there is a chance then I am going to try,” said Ogier.
Germany also marked another first… More…
The latest installment of Ken Block’s Gymkhana series was just released. In Gymkhana 4, Ken Block takes his Monster Energy Ford Fiesta (Rally/Rallycross/Gymkhana) car to the streets of Hollywood in DC SHOES: KEN BLOCK’S GYMKHANA 4; THE HOLLYWOOD MEGAMERCIAL. Featuring zombies, ninjas, sharks, a gorilla on a segway (and ladder) and more, this installment is filled with special effects, explosions and of course the the Fiesta and lots of tire smoke!
Watch the video below:
Travis Pastrana thought it would be fun to mimic Ken Block’s livery and schedule announcement video with one of his own and then show the 2 side by side. Hilarity ensues as Pastrana’s models (3 of them) age adds up to his number… 199, “because according to Block hot chicks make your car go faster.” He then officially announces himself as a Hillbiligan and announces the possibility of a Pastranakhana. The video shows off his Boost Mobile sponsored Subaru STI rally car. “It’s going to be an amazing year when I beat Ken Block at X Games… again,” says Pastrana.
Watch the video below.
A couple of weeks ago, I headed out to Colorado to help the Dirty Girls Rally Team (Brianne Corn and Christy Carlson) take on Pikes Peak at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The PPIHC is famous world wide as one of the most difficult and dangerous motorsports events. I now understand why it is considered as such.
Not only is there the danger of going off the road and falling many many feet, there is the difficulty of preparing a car to survive the stress and strain that only Pikes Peak could put on a car. Elevation, altitude, tarmac, and gravel are just a few of the things you have to prepare for. More…
The Rally D’Italia Sardinia weekend started off with some exciting news… Volkswagen officially announced its intent to enter the WRC with the Polo R WRC. The VW campaign will begin in 2013 with a 5 year commitment to WRC competition.
The announcement by VW comes on the same weekend as the WRC debut of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car. The MINI debut got off to a great start with MINI’s driver Kris Meeke beating reigning WRC champion Sebastien Loeb’s stage time on the opening stage. Meeke then set the 3rd fastest time on the 2nd stage, putting him in 4th overall. But on the next stage Meeke felt something braking for a 5th gear corner and ran wide into some loose gravel. He was forced to retire from the day and restart under Super Rally rules on the following day, which put him out of the running. The other MINI driver, Dani Sordo, was able to stay consistent and ended up in 6th overall, a great showing for MINI’s first event.
“I’m really happy we’ve finished the rally with some points,” said Sordo. “It’s difficult to fight when the gaps to the driver in front and behind are big but it’s nice to take the experience with a new car and with a new team. We will take the data from the car and look at everything to try and do better on the next rally. I’m really enjoying developing the car. The people in Prodrive are really professional and people know really well the car and the direction we need to work. I have confidence we will do better in the next rally.” More…