Monte Carlo Rally 2012
The International Rally Drivers Club extends its best wishes to members and supporters for a happy and successful 2012 season which starts in the most appropriate way in Monte Carlo on January 17th with the first of the 13 round World Rally Championship series. The 'Monte', Perhaps the world's most famous and charismatic rally has attracted 89 competitors in total, with 15 in WRC Cars and 5 entered as Manufacturers.
Registrations for the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers close on March 27th and the MINI WRT has yet to register, although the FIA said before Christmas that it is 'continuing discussions' with the Prodrive-run outfit' in the hope of reaching an agreement that will see it participate in a limited programme in 2012'.
Although MINI WRT has submitted two entries for the Monte, its talented 2011 WRC and development driver Kris Meeke's place in the number 52 car will be taken by Pierre Campana who brings much needed financial backing to the team, forty eight years after the Mini's first sensational win on this rally!
Undoubtedly, the quality of the 2012 entry is 'top draw' and most notable entries are as follows:-
Priority 1 Drivers:-
Sebastien Loeb Citroen Total WRT Citroen DS3 WRC M
Mikko Hirvonen Citroen Total WRT Citroen DS3 WRC M
Jari-Matti Latvala Ford WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC M
Petter Solberg Ford WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC M
Paulo Nobre Palmeirinha Rally TBA M
Henning Solberg Henning Solberg Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Ott Tanak M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Evgeny Novikov M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Martin Prokop Czech Ford National Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Thierry Neuville PH Sport Citroen DS3 WRC
Peter van Merksteijn PH Sport Citroen DS3 WRC
Dani Sordo MINI WRT MINI John Cooper Works WRC
Pierre Campana MINI WRT MINI John Cooper Works WRC
Other interesting entries:-
Francois Delcour M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta RS WRC
Sebastien Ogier Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000
Kevin Abbring Volkswagen Motorsport Skoda Fabia S2000
P-G Andersson Proton Motorsport Proton Satria Neo S2000
Giandomenico Basso Proton Motorsport Proton Satria Neo S2000
Craig Breen Craig Breen Ford Fiesta S2000
Louise Cook Louise Cook Ford Fiesta
Lorenzo Bertelli Lorenzo Bertelli Mitsubishi Evo IX
Michal Kosciuszko Dynamic Lotos Mitsubiahi Evo X
Eamonn Boland Eamonn Boland Mitsubishi Evo X
Armindo Araujo TBA MINI John Cooper Works
Good Luck to competitors and teams for a successful start to the new season.
1st January, 2012