WRC Ford WRC reduced commitment M Sport loses work status

Ford announced Monday, will no longer work as a team to compete in the WRC, it is still M-Sport but as a supplier available.

Ford will not be standing in the future as a works team

On Monday, Ford announced that it will withdraw from the factory of the 2013 season in the WRC. Reason is the current difficult economic situation in Europe. "At this point we decided that it is better for the company and the Ford brand to reduce our exposure to the WRC and apply our resources in other areas," said Roelant de Waard, Vice President Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

Regardless of M-Sport will continue to compete with the Ford Fiesta RS WRC in the World Rally Championship. Ford is currently in discussions with the British team to continue to deliver vehicles and support to engineering base. Team boss Malcolm Wilson said: "We accept the commercial reality of the situation and look forward to continuing our strong technical partnership in the future to continue," said Wilson, who thanked them for their cooperation and recognized that victims must be brought to jobs endanger not Ford.

Since 1997 worked with M-Sport Ford and formed a work team. During this time, get 52 wins in 225 starts, 208 podiums and 156 points in consecutive arrivals. At the end of two world champion titles in the manufacturers standings.

Malcolm Wilson, now the confirmation of the key program for the 2013 season has the highest priority. Moreover, should be continued with unabated foam. "My intention is that we will make in the forthcoming events continue pressure to retract WP and overall victories," said Wilson. As it is to the development work began in March go on Fiesta, to be ready for the season 2013.

WRC Hirvonen Leads In The Last Sardine Day Podiums Seem Related

Mikko Hirvonen is after Saturday in Sardinia nearly 1.5 minutes before the Ford duo Evgeny Novikov and Ott Tanak. The podium seems decided.

Mikko Hirvonen extending its lead from increasingly

The penultimate day of the Sardinia Rally is over and Mikko Hirvonen was able to extend his lead over the chasing Evgeny Novikov and Ott Tanak continues. The Citroen driver is with a total time of 3:10:51,7 hours now comfortable with 1:28,2 minutes on top. Finns separated from his first victory with the French team, only the examination Gallura, which is run through with their 8.24 kilometers on Sunday twice.

"It was a long day and I had to be really careful," concluded Hirvonen together on Saturday. Everything went well and now he had the time on Sunday to make a wide berth to all rocks. "Its not over yet, but it looks good and we have to do tomorrow really no pressure." Accordingly, he will no longer be on the final power stage everything. "I need those points are not, so Ill just try to reach the end of the rally," said Hirvonen.

Evgeny Novikov is in Sardinia before his second podium finish in the WRC, and it also wants to tackle loose. "Before the rally, I already knew that it is a very difficult event and you do not have to do the whole time pressure," said the Russian. His teammate Tanak experienced a difficult day because his car felt like a hot rod of the group N. "I felt every stone," said the Estonian, who wants to hold at all costs his first podium.
Östberg feels fighting spirit

The battle between Chris Atkinson and Mads Ostberg to fourth place before the final day also seems settled. The Ford driver got away on the afternoon with two personal bests and a place in the top-3 continues from Atkinson and is now 46.1 seconds in front. "Its a good result, so Im happy to be back in fourth place to be," enthused Östberg, but the squints slightly on the podium. "A small part of me wants to continue to apply pressure, but we need these points for the championship." To the last podium place, and thus his fellow Ott Tanak yet to begin, but he would have to make up for one and a half minutes.

Between the two duelists Östberg and Atkinson could even go again Sebastien Ogier, which was due to problems at the Australian Mini. On the seventh and eighth without changes are the second VW driver Andreas Mikkelsen and Ford man Martin Prokop.

In the rear of the field to Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg work slowly up again. While the latter on Saturday morning back in the top-10 started and is currently in ninth place, Latvala is ranked at the 15th Rank one. Ford driver Karl Kruuda that closes it behind Solberg, the top-10, was not surprised that the pilot plant it cashed. "It was logical that he would be pushed in front of me," said Kruuda clarified.
Result after the second leg:

1. Mikko Hirvonen, Citroen 3:10:51.7
2. Evgeny Novikov, M-Sport Ford +1:28,2
3. Ott Tanak, M-Sport Ford +2:20,6
4. Mads Ostberg, Ford +3:48,3
5. Sebastien Ogier, Skoda Fabia +4:30,5
6. Chris Atkinson, mini +4:34,4
7. Andreas Mikkelsen Skoda Fabia +6:06,2
8. Martin Prokop, Czech Ford +9:18,9
9. Petter Solberg, Ford +10:15,0
10. Karl Kruuda, Ford +10:56,6

WRC Novikov In Spain At The Start Of Autotek Major Evaluations For DMACK

Evgeny Novikov moves to Spain for Autotek Motorsport, he has entered into with the agreement of DMACK-representation in his home country.

Evgeny Novikov changes for the last race of the season, the cockpit

Evgeny Novikov will contest the final round of the WRC season 2012 is not for M-Sport, but for Autotek Motorsport. The 22-year-old changes to the cockpit due to agreement with the Russian representative DMACK. The Chinese tire manufacturer wants Novikov, like the Czech driver Martin Prokop a Ford Fiesta RS WRC provide. The cockpit of Novikov replaced John Powell from Trinidad and Tobago.

"It is important for DMACK to assess its performance with the best cars and at the events with the greatest challenges," Dick Cormack stressed to the official website of the WRC. "We have more than half of the rallies this season equipped WRC cars and this has given us important feedback for next years production. We improve ourselves have, engine performance in terms made ​​the significant steps and see the competition at the highest level of sport as a key. "On the second and third day of Rally Spain DMACK will first test the house asphalt tires in a WRC-run.