At the controls of a Subaru
Double Finnish Rally Champion Jari Ketomaa will be facing new challenges in the forthcoming 2008 season as he enters the Production Car World Rally Championship behind the steering wheel of a Subaru Impreza.

For several years Ketomaa has been driving in top positions within the demanding Finnish Rally Championship, winning the ... [ more ]

The organisers have taken into account
The organisers of the Dakar have taken into account the declarations of the French Government recommending French citizens not to go to Mauritania on the occasion of the rally.

In order to comprehend the situation, they will contact the French and Mauritanian governing authorities to get information on new elements ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
Holder of the biggest number of victories of the rally (12), the Japanese manufacturer is again favorite and can count on the support of its star pilot Stéphane Peterhansel, the 2007 winner. Manager Dominique Serieys is taking stock of this fact - without any pressure - at scrutineering:

"We have no doubt but we have no ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
Blue has been replaced by orange, a truly natural color for the Dutch De Rooy father and son team. Forced to quit anticipatively last year, the Dutch truckers are coming back with the ambition to win the Dakar.

"We are highly confident, says son Gerard. It will be a tough one with a lot of sand but we like that. It's perfect ... [ more ]

Interview with Volkswagen Motorsport Director
The clock ticks relentlessly from the start of the Dakar Rally on 5 January in Lisbon until the finish on 20 January in Dakar. Whoever loses the least amount of time, through navigation errors or by getting bogged down in sand for example, will finish at the front after 9,000 kilometres.

"Every team member ... [ more ]

German fixing firm becomes official supplier
Germany's Wurth Group will in 2008 return to Formula One as a sponsor.

Four years after linking up with BMW Williams, the tool and screw maker has now inked a deal to become an official supplier to Cologne based Toyota.

The Wurth logo will feature on the Japanese team's pit garage, trucks and official ... [ more ]

Yu Zhifei found guilty of embezzlement
The man who helped bring Formula One racing to China was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison, the latest casualty of a massive Shanghai corruption scandal, state press and a court official said.

Yu Zhifei, 55, was sentenced after being found guilty of embezzling 1.05 million yuan (around 140,000 dollars) ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
The second day of technical scrutineering and administrative checks is starting at the Cultural Center in Belem and it will certainly be a busy one. Only about 10 vehicles that were not able to get to Lisbon on time yesterday delayed their round of checks by a day.

In the morning the highlight will be around 10:00 AM with ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
1264 medical consultations in 2007, 53 evacuations, including 50 back to Europe, 53 medical staff mobilized for the 2008 rally including 47 doctors... in the field, the figures of the medical assistance of the Dakar translate into an impressive structure that is already in place when the scrutineering starts in Lisbon. Each competitor ... [ more ]

Carlos Sousa in fifth Race Touareg 2
Alongside the four factory cars sporting the striking Red Bull colours a Race Touareg 2 entered by Portuguese "Team Lagos” starts the Dakar Rally for the second time. Competing together, as last year, are Portuguese ace Carlos Sousa, 2003 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup Champion, and his German co-driver Andreas Schulz, ... [ more ]

Volkswagen ready for “Dakar”
Through a sea of sand, longer and harder – the route to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Dakar Rally demands a good portion of respect from the participants just days before the start. Volkswagen faces this 16-day long challenge with four factory entered Race Touareg 2 prototypes driven by Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn (Spain/France), ... [ more ]

Dakar : News from Scrutineering
Having left Barcelona yesterday, José Maria Garrofé, who is taking part in the Dakar for the second time, has already had quite an adventure to be present this morning at 8:00 AM for the technical scrutineering and administrative checks, and to be the first racer to start the round of checks. "Near Saragossa, we had to stop every ... [ more ]

Putting BFGoodrich's road tyres to the test
Both factory teams and private outfits are in partnership with BFGoodrich on the 2008 Dakar Rally. The factory squads have bespoke competition tyres available to them. By contrast, the amateur crews will drive the entire route on standard BFGoodrich road tyres : the « Mud Terrain » or the « All Terrain ».

The ... [ more ]

Dakar : BFGoodrich - Preview
BFGoodrich tyres will take the start of the most celebrated rally raid in the world on January 5, the 30th Euromilhoes Dakar Rally. In total, the tyre company has won the event eight times – including six consecutive victories with Mitsubishi.

Once more, several factory and privateer teams have chosen the BFGoodrich brand ... [ more ]