Hazardous
Well-Known Member
I'm hilariously sceptical about the story. Does that count?
WRC ? Job swap for Loeb, Sarrazin.
Saturday, 8th November 2008
Sebastien Loeb and Stephane Sarrazin to swap seats for a day of running.
Following on from the announcement that he is to test a Formula One car with Toro Rosso, World Rally Championship title winner Sebastien Loeb is also to get behind the wheel of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP thanks to a joint initiative from Citroen, Peugeot and joint sponsors Total.
Citroen and Peugeot will come together for a special event on 27 November at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, where Loeb will get the chance to take to the track during the afternoon at the wheel of the 908 HDi as raced by Peugeot in the Le Mans 24 Hours. While Loeb has raced at Le Mans in the past for Pescarolo Sport, the test will mark his first run in the diesel-powered coupe.
Prior to Loeb's run, factory Peugeot driver Stephane Sarrazin will be given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the Citroen C4 that has carried Loeb to a fifth straight WRC title this season.
It will mark a return to a WRC car for Sarrazin, who previously drove for Subaru and showed his prowess on asphalt events before being signed up by Peugeot for its sportscar programme.
Source: Crash.net
WRC.com said:2009 WRC calendars finalised
The FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has confirmed the 12 round World Rally Championship calendar for the 2009 season.
The new calendar is the first to be organised around the FIA?s two year rotation system and features a number of changes to this year?s 15 round season.
Returning to the WRC after at least a year away are the rallies in Norway, Cyprus, Portugal and Australia, while Rally Poland joins as a brand new event. Absent next year are the rounds in Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Jordan, Turkey, Germany, New Zealand, France (Tour de Corse) and Japan.
Only two of next year?s rallies - Rally Ireland and Rally de Espana - will be contested on asphalt, compared to four this season.
The number of mandatory events for a Manufacturer Team, (or ?M2 team? - such as the Munchi?s VK M-Sport squad) has been reduced to eight, reflecting the reduction in the number of calendar events.
The WMSC also expressed concern at the apparent potential increase in the cost of a World Rally car and has instructed the WRC Commission to review the proposed 2010 technical regulations, in order to ensure that the original decision to use no more than a removable, bolt-on kit to change a Super 2000 or Group N car into a World Rally car is maintained.
2009 FIA World Rally Championship
28 January -
1 February
Rally Ireland
11-15 February
Rally Norway
11-15 March
The Cyprus Rally
1-5 April
Rally de Portugal
22-26 April
Rally Argentina
20-24 May
Rally d'Italia-Sardegna
10-14 June
Acropolis Rally
24-28 June
Rally Poland
29 July - 2 August
Rally Finland
2-6 September
Rally Australia
30 September -
4 October
Rally de Espana
21-25 October
Wales Rally GB
2009 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship
11-15 February
Rally Norway
11-15 March
The Cyprus Rally
1-5 April
Rallye de Portugal
22-26 April
Rally Argentina
20-24 May
Rally d'Italia-Sardegna
10-14 June
Acropolis Rally
2-6 September
Rally Australia
21-25 October
Wales Rally GB
2009 FIA Junior World Rally Championship
28 January -
1 February
Rally Ireland
11-15 March
The Cyprus Rally
1-5 April
Rallye de Portugal
22 - 26 April
Rally Argentina
20 - 24 May
Rallye d'Italia-Sardegna
24-28 June
Rally Poland
29 July - 2 August
Rally Finland
30 September -
4 October
Rally de Espana
It wouldn't surprise me if he did. I think he is realizing that retirement can be boring.
RallySport Mag
Young Norwegian rally star, Andreas Mikkelsen, has been told by his father he must raise 1M Euros in sponsorship if he wants to compete in the 2009 World Rally Championship.
Mikkelsen could be denied a factory seat with either Subaru or Citroen after a dispute with his father over how much funding he has to find, according to Autosport magazine in the UK.
The Norwegian, who recently tested an Impreza WRC 08, will not contest Rally GB this year, and, according to his father Steiner, may not compete at all next year.
Mikkelsen Senior has apparently told his son he must source a third of the budget for next year.
He was quoted as saying, "If we need 3 million Euros to go rallying, I've told Andreas to find one and I'll add two to it. He's working on this now. If he dosen't find the money then he won't go rallying next season.
"Andreas has had a father who has been able to afford to let him do this. It's time he got into the mood to work hard to obtain something for himself. It's more important to me that I have a grown-up person rather than a rally driver for a son."
It is believed that Mikkelsen has options at his current team RAMsport, plus Subaru, or PH Sport for a private Citroen in 2009. If he dosen't land a drive in the WRC, he will begin his year-long national service in Norway. He is rumoured to be the favourite for a Citroen seat and that this would be his preferred option.
The word is out that Marcus Gr?nholm has signed an eight event deal with Subaru for 2009. Neither party has confirmed anything yet, though.
Hopefully there is truth to this. It would be really cool to see him back.
Rallybuzz.com
Andreas Mikkelsen will drive an M-Sport prepared Ford Focus WRC in the 2009 World Rally Championship, according to sources at M-Sport.
It is unclear which M-Sport team Mikkelsen will drive for but it is thought he has secured a good deal with Malcolm Wilson.
The news apparently came as a surprise to Ramsport's Rob Atkinson who expected Mikkelsen to stay with his team for 2009. Ramsport's participation as a Manufacturer Team in the upcoming season is now in doubt. Mikkelsen's equipment, which includes three Ford Focus world rally cars, has been transferred to the Malcolm Wilson outfit in Cumbria.
It had been thought that Mikkelsen would possibly be driving for Subaru or Citroen next year as he had tested both cars recently, but this appears now not to be the case.