Inside Rally

News has broke that Citroen have dropped WRC driver Kris Meeke.

An official statement from Citroen have said, “due to an excessively high number of crashes, some of which were particularly heavy and could have had serious consequences with regard to the crew’s safety”

Citroen team principal Pierre Budar said, “This wasn’t an easy decision to make because it effects a driver and a co-driver, but it is largely founded on safety issues which come under my preoccupations as team principal,” said Budar.

“We have consequently chosen to make this decision as a preventive measure.”

Kris Meeke is well known for his ‘win it or bin it’ driving style. Although spectacular for fans to watch. It’s often a very costly repair and rebuild job for Citroen. Whose finances have been questioned at the end of last year and start of the 2018 season. With Pierre Budar saying that it will be the skill of his team, rather than the size of the budget that the French manufacturer will rely on.

Citroen have not announce its revised driver plan for the rest of the season yet. However it will field Craig Breen and Mads Ostberg, who had already been brought in for a part programme this season. Both were already lined up on the next round in Sardinia, with Sebastien Loeb returning once again later in the season for WRC Rally Spain.

Today, rallying superstar and marketing legend Ken Block, has confirmed that he will be returning to the stages with Ford. Competing in three American rallies, as well as entering the Spanish round of the World Rally Championships.

Block last competed in the WRC back in 2014 on the Spanish round in Catalunya. Ken Block and his Hoonigan racing team had since been competing in the FIA World Rallycross Championships for the past two years. But They announced last year that 2017 was their final year. With Ford moving the RX budget across to WRC to help M-Sport retain Sebastien Ogier and continue the fight to retain the WRC title. As a result, Block’s team mate Andreas Bakkerud moved to EKS in WorldRX and Block has moved onto other projects, still with the involvement of Ford.

One of those projects is with a 90’s Group A Ford escort Cosworth. Which he will use to compete on three rounds in the U.S Rally: Oregon Trail Rally, New England forest Rally and the Idaho Rally International

As well as WRC Rally Spain with the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC car.

Images:Hoonigan Racing Divison

This time last week, Mexico was being dominated by a Frenchman. Taking the lead after years away from the WRC. Putting the ‘non-believers’ in their place. The greatest driver in the sport dominated the rally world on Saturday’s Mexican stages – Until a puncture dropped him down the table. 7 Days later and King of the Sebastien’s swapped the 30C plus heat for the subzero temperatures of an airfield in the middle of England. That didn’t stop him. Loeb once again proved his near unbeatable talents to take a win on the brand new Silverstone Rallycross track.

Admittedly. Being round one of the British Rallycross Championship, the national professionals, with their much smaller budgets didn’t stand much of a chance against the best machines and drivers in the world. With Peugeot team-mate Timmy Hansen & newly signed EKS driver Andreas Bakkerud also taking part in what was basically a competitive recce for when the World RX championship comes to town in May. It was mostly a 3 horse race, as last years World RX machines left the rest of the field standing off the start line. But it was still a joy to watch this driving god, show his incredible speed away from the world media and have some fun.

It was a bit of a shame for the real competitors of the British Rallycross, who pretty much had no chance of a win in the supercar class. However, having three of the biggest stars in the sport taking part, gave the national championship a huge promotional boost. How many of the hundreds of spectators that were there, would normally battle through the snow to go and spectate? Anything that brings in new fans to a sport is always a good thing. Something I wouldn’t have normally gone to myself. It was a brilliant day out and there were other British stars that were great to see and support too, with the likes of Mark Higgins & Julian Godfrey. Ones to watch for the rest of this year, for the British Rallycross Championship title.

-Daniel Darrall

It was a Rally take over at Race Retro show in Coventry. As Ex-WRC cars, stars and Classic icons from the past go for a blast on the Live Rally Stage and exhibition halls. From Escort’s to VW Polo WRC and everything inbetween. Some in the hands of past legends such as Miki Biasion, Tony Mason, Matt Neal & Alister McRae.

Here is all the action from an amazing weekend at Race Retro, in pictures by Daniel Darrall