Block back to the WRC

Gymkhana star Ken Block is planning to contest three WRC events this year, under his newly renamed Hoonigan Racing Division banner.

The YouTube sensation will not only compete in the WRC, however. His 2013 schedule will take in appearances in the X Games, Rally America, Gymkhana GRID and Global RallyCross. Block himself says he's fortunate to be given the opportunity to compete in sometimes wildly differing series'.

“Once again, I’m trying to fit in as much driving as possible. Unlike most drivers who only compete in one series, I’m very fortunate to be able to race in so many different disciplines. Between competing in X Games, Global RallyCross, Rally America, Gymkhana GRID and WRC, It’s going to be an awesome year. I can’t wait to get it started,” he said.

The Monster World Rally Team name will will be dropped in favour of the new Hoonigan Racing Division, derived from Block's well known 'hooning' ability. The striking new livery takes inspiration from many different places, ranging from 80's skateboarding styles to Miami Vice powerboats.

“With the name change to Hoonigan Racing Division, we wanted to take the look in a slightly different direction, one that has been inspired by my love of 80s and early 90s skateboarding graphics, as well as Miami Vice-era offshore powerboats and a dash of hair metal and old school hip hop mixed in for good measure.”

Block plans to contest the WRC events in his familiar Ford Fiesta RS WRC, with an even more striking colour scheme for 2013. Last year, he competed on a similar number of events and scored points of two of them, proving he can still cut it close to the sharp end even at the age of 45.

“For me it’s great to continue racing in the World Rally Championship. Last year I competed in three events and in two of them I finished within the top ten and scored points. I really enjoy being able to stay somewhat competitive in WRC, despite only competing part-time and not being able to log any testing in the car prior to the actual events. Hopefully I’ll be running a similar amount of WRC events in 2013.” he added.

Breen announced as Peugeot works driver

Reigning Super 2000 World Rally Champion Craig Breen is set to become a Peugeot works driver in the European Rally Championship in 2013.

Breen in action on the Circuit of Ireland 2012

The Waterford driver also becomes part of the Peugeot Rally Academy, the descendent of the Peugeot Cup. It is designed to give talented young drivers the ability to progress in rallying with the backing of a factory. He is joined by Jeremi Ancian and Stephane Lefebvre, who came first and second, respectively, in the Volant 207 championship.

"This is incredible and beyond my dreams. I am really excited to work with a manufacturer like Peugeot Sport, I think of it since I was a young boy. To arrive here in front of a nice season is a good position to be in. My objective is to show good speed and challenge for some victories on a regular basis. For the testing program, I will give the best I can to support the development of the 208 Type R5.” He said.

Breen is set to contest the Rally Liepāja-Ventspils in Latvia, the next round of the ERC, in a Peugeot 207 S2000. After this event he will get an eight round campaign in Peugeot's brand new 208 R5, in which he will carry out an intensive test and development programme throughout the year. Dave Moynihan will partner Breen, taking over the pacenotes from Paul Nagle.

Speculation was rife that Breen was to sit out competing on the international stage after he hadn't released plans to compete in any championships. However this nine round campaign could see Breen win the ERC at his first attempt, as, historically speaking, drivers rarely undertake a full compliment of rallies in the ERC, or it's predecessor, the IRC. However Peugeot Sport Team Principal Bruno Famin says the team aren't fighting for the title.

“With the Peugeot Rally Academy, we are taking another step forward in terms of the support we provide to the winners of our promotional formulas. The 208 Rally Cup [in France] has all the required elements to be a great sporting success, with the 208 R2 which is already a leading car, a varied calendar and the unrivalled concept of offering a ‘drive’ to the winner.” he said.

“I am confident that Craig will confirm all the good things that have been said about him in this year's ERC, and I can't wait to see how our winners will fare alongside him. There is no pressure on them to achieve results. It’s all about accumulating experience for these young drivers; we’re not fighting for the championship.”

Breen faces still opposition in the form of Francois Delecour and Skoda works driver Jan Kopecky, who is still chasing his first international rally title. The Sainteloc Racing team will run Peugeot's works effort.

Note: The above image is copyright to Jordan Murphy/Global Rally News, no unauthorised use.

Hirvonen suffers testing crash

Mikko Hirvonen suffered a heavy crash during Citroen's pre-Rallye Monte Carlo test in the French mountains.

"The accident happened in a fast corner, maybe fifth gear. We were going about 100km/h on slick tyres, when I missed the turn-in for the corner by a fraction. We got on slush and that was it, there was nothing I could do.” He said.

The Finn's Citroen DS3 WRC collided with a bank and rolled three times, damaging part of the rear of the car and the driver's-side door. However he and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen emerged totally uninjured from the crash, which happened on their final day of testing.

The Citroen World Rally Team, this season sponsored by Abu Dhabi, had already completed two previous days of testing before Hirvonen's crash. Hirvonen himself completed two days testing in the French Alps last month (December 2012).

Rallye Monte Carlo marks Hirvonen's second season as a Citroen works driver, having claimed one win and ten podium places. He finished fourth in Monte Carlo last season, on his Citroen début.

More details of Hyundai's WRC return

Hyundai have announced more details about their 2014 World Rally Championship comeback.

Michel Nandan will head up the firm's WRC campaign as Team Principal. The Frenchman ran the Peugeot WRC Team from 1999 to their withdrawal in 2005. It was during this time they claimed two Drivers World Rally Championships, three Manufacturer World Rally Championships and 24 individual wins in three years. He was also Technical Director of the Suzuki World Rally Team during their development year of 2007 before being replaced when the team entered the WRC in 2008.

“I am honoured to have been chosen by Hyundai to spearhead its exciting new entry into the WRC.“ said Nandan, “The project is still in its infancy, but things are moving rapidly, and I am looking forward to developing the team as this year progresses. There is much to be done, of that we are fully aware, but with a dedicated facility in Alzenau and an ambitious core of highly motivated personnel, we are already making good progress.”

Hyundai have also formed a motorsport arm of the company, Hyundai Motorsport GmbH. The WRC team will be based in Alzenau, Germany. Hyundai's European HQ is based not far away from their Motorsport base.

Nandan also said the firm were purposely using a temporary version of their i20 World Rally Car because they are carrying out component testing and analysis in other areas.

“We are deliberately using an interim version of the i20 to carry out important component testing and to ensure that we have done our homework before we enter competition. This phase will continue throughout 2013 as we prepare for our first full season back in WRC in 2014. There are a lot of other decisions that we will have to make during the course of the year, particularly regarding the selection of drivers, but this also requires time and due diligence. We will, at the same time, keep a close eye on how the 2013 WRC season unfolds.” Nandan said.

The car Hyundai will use in the WRC, the Hyundai i20 WRC, has been tested in South Korea and Europe ahead of it's planned WRC début in 2014. Details of drivers have not been announced as yet.

Delecour to contest 10 events

Francois Delecour's 2013 ERC season will comprise of 10 events, beginning with this weekend's Janner Rally in Austria, which is also the opening round of the season.

The 50-year old former World Rally winner in the days of the Group A Ford Escort Cosworth, Delecour has been out of a full works drive in an international championship since he and Mitsubishi parted ways after a disastrous 2002 campaign in the squad's less-than-competitive Lancer WRC.

However, he hasn't been dormant since then. He returned for the 2011 Rallye Monte Carlo in a Peugeot 207 S2000 and posted competitive times on his way to fifth overall. He then finished sixth overall in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC on the 2012 edition of Rallye Monte Carlo, having run there for most of the rally. On the final stage of the rally, he swapped seats with co-driver Dominique Savignoni as a retirement present to him.

Delecour also contested the full Romanian Rally Championship in 2012, winning the title outright. He will now tie up with the Kronos Racing team for a 10 round championship, making him more or less a full-time driver as few drivers contest every round. He will also contest the entire Romanian National Championship.

He said: "I hope we'll be able to do about 10 ERC rounds this year: that would be the plan, plus all the Romanian championship, so it's definitely going to be a busy year. But I feel much better prepared than I did last season, because I've been competing regularly and we've got a proper programme in a perfectly developed car with the chance to go testing as well.”

He likened his 2013 ERC championship to a full factory effort, with the ability to test before events giving him a much higher chance of success. The Kronos Racing team has experience running semi-works and full factory teams, having run Citroen's entry in the WRC in 2006 and Peugeot in the IRC series.

Delecour has never tackled the Janner Rally before, however his winning experience of the Rallye Monte Carlo will pay dividends in the changeable conditions of the Austrian rally.