Crash costs Fiesta Arctic debut

Tue, 25 Jan 10:00:00 2011

Ford World Rally Team has had to drop plans to debut its all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car in Finland's Arctic Lapland Rally next weekend.

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Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were set to each take on a day's driving in the two-day snow and ice rally based in Rovaniemi as part of the final tests for the new vehicle ahead of the 2011 World Rally Championship.

A heavy accident in testing in Sweden while Latvala and Anttila were driving has damaged the vehicle - the very model set to be used in the Arctic Rally - and the car requires extensive repair which have put paid to the chance of competing in Finland.

Latvala and Anttila emerged unscathed from the injury.

"We will repair the damage to the car before continuing our testing in Sweden later this week," team director Malcolm Wilson said. "We're confident we can complete all our scheduled test work this week, but unfortunately we need to sacrifice our appearance at the Arctic Lapland Rally to do that.

"I'm sorry for all the fans there who were looking forward to seeing Mikko and Jari-Matti in action in the Fiesta RS WRC, but completing our work in Sweden is the best option to ensure our preparations are completed for Rally Sweden," added Wilson.

"It was my error," Latvala admitted. "I tried to use the snow banks to slow the car, but it rolled in the road before vaulting the snow banks and hitting some trees. The Fiesta RS WRC stood up to the impact remarkably well and Miikka and I escaped unhurt. The fact that the team can repair it and we can continue to test this week shows just how strong it is."

Eurosport

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  1. Motors TV is not a freeview channel and WON'T be­ showing the WRC on UK tv:

    ESPN has acquired the rights­ to the World Rally Championship in the United Kingdom­ for 2011 after striking a deal with WRC promoter North­ One Sport.

    The exclusive deal is significant because­ ESPN has guaranteed four and a half hours of­ programming around each WRC event in 2011, more than­ British television viewers have seen before. Also­ included in the rights package is content for ESPN’s UK­ website and the ESPN Classic channel.

    “This is a­ pioneering TV agreement, not only in the UK but­ globally,” said North One chief executive Simon Long,­ who has prioritised finding a UK broadcaster to replace­ digital channel Dave, which held the rights last year.­ “It brings the exciting prospect of more coverage,­ fresh programming and more promotion than ever before.­ The combination of the innovative content, production­ and digital promotion that ESPN offers combined with­ our revamped sport is extremely good news as we seek to­ reach out to new fans in the UK.”

    Whilst ESPN has­ still to confirm its precise broadcast plans, North One­ revealed that each of the 13 events will feature a­ preview programme and daily highlights show. The new­ ‘Power Stages’ concept in the WRC will have­ studio-based coverage. “WRC is a superb, dynamic­ product with a fervent following and a growing legion­ of enthusiasts,” said Jeroen Oerlemans, ESPN’s vice­ president and channel manger for Europe, Middle East­ and Africa.

    From skorob, on Tue 8 Feb 7:11

  2. tv coverage last year was awful, didnt give any overall­ footage of the event, Eurosports coverage of the IRC is­ far better and shows how it should be done. would be­ happy to pay if I knew the footage would be worth­ watching. Doesnt help that I work stupid hours so have­ to record the programmes which dont have any consistent­ times. Bring back Eurosport like they had to with Moto­ GP!

    From lex3980, on Sat 5 Feb 11:11

  3. oor Latvala, always taking criticism.....:)

    From Twilite Rider, on Sat 5 Feb 4:02

  4. The guy who said that there was no tv coverage of the­ WRC in 2011, in the UK is wrong
    because it is on­ motor's tv. I 've looked at the motor's web­ site and it is listed on there.

    From philip2wdavies, on Sat 29 Jan 3:37

  5. Looks like the wrc has taken another hit - ESPN will­ now be the only coverage it gets in the UK, a pay to­ watch channel, as Dave channel on freeview are no­ longer going to show it :( . The WRC is dying with only­ 2 real manufacturers and one ' pretender' ­ manucturer (MINI). Now with no 'real' tv­ coverage, its going to go downhill even further. At­ least the IRC has more manufacturers and is always­ exciting with different drivers winning different­ rallies etc, not always either Loeb or Latvala or­ Ogier.

    From skorob, on Fri 28 Jan 11:42

  6. Stop knocking Latvala. He is the only one who really­ seems to push. He is the only one faster than Loeb­ regularly, but I obviously understand he has to finish­ to win. This is an existing sport and remember it is­ better to watch the ones on the limit that those just­ backed off from it - Colin McRae was another example.­ Didn't always win but by god was he good to watch.

    From JAMES, on Fri 28 Jan 6:56

  7. Why are you lot always beating up on Latvala? Give the­ guy a break

    From philip2wdavies, on Fri 28 Jan 1:14

  8. Same old Latvala...Theres no doubting his pace but­ he'd need to get his act together!!!If he keeps­ crashing out this season he should be replaced at­ M-Sport!!Theres alot more reliable drivers there than­ him..

    What a clown..

    From Tully, on Wed 26 Jan 22:12

  9. No wonder Latvala drives for Ford = Fix Or Repair­ Daily!

    From skorob, on Wed 26 Jan 14:36

  10. So eurosport will we see coverage of the Artic rally,­ or have to wait a few weeks

    From Cliff, on Wed 26 Jan 13:54

  11. Latvala hasn't even started the season yet and­ he's having accidents!

    From Martin N, on Wed 26 Jan 7:02
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