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Changes are coming to World Rally Championship racing in 2010… new schedule was just posted on WRC.com last week and rules changes/safety changes will be added in the coming weeks. This PR regarding the new “electronic yellow flag system” was posted this week….

A new electronic version of the yellow flag traditionally waved to warn drivers of hazards ahead will be introduced on World Rally Championship events from 2010.

The new system, developed by Italian automotive company Magneti Marelli, can receive and display information about hazards on the rally stage far more quickly than is possible using the existing method of personnel by the road side waving flags.

The Magneti Marelli Yellow Flag device is mounted inside a car’s cockpit and enables rally organisers to communicate directly with driver and co-driver via a flashing yellow light to warn them of a hazard ahead. The device also sounds a loud alarm to capture the crew’s attention.

By pressing a confirmation button, the co-driver informs the organisers that the danger signal has been received, after which the flashing and the loud noise stop.

The device is also equipped with a wireless connection to a GPS antenna fitted on the car, which transmit the car’s position and allows for further interaction between the crew and the race organisers.

Magneti Marelli boasts a rich tradition in motorsport and has been the Official Automotive Telemetry Sponsor of the World Rally Championship since 2008.

Roberto Dalla, Managing Director of Magneti Marelli Motorsport, said: “The WRC is the ideal scenario in which to improve our products and a market where to present innovative technological solutions. As of today, thanks to the WRC Electronic Yellow Flag System, it also represents a chance to do something extremely useful for the pilots and the fans who watch this exciting sport.

“In 2009 Magneti Marelli feels even more a part of this world and with the awareness that there is still plenty that can be done to improve both fun and safety,” he added.

Find out more about the new warning system from Magneti Marelli in our EXCLUSIVE ‘Electronic yellow flag’ video in the WRC TV section.

If you’re a fan of historic rally cars, and especially the Audi Quattro, then this is a competition not to be missed.

Wrc.com has teamed up with McKlein Publishing to offer three copies of its fabulous new book ‘Audi Quattro - A Rally History’ personally signed by the world renowned rally photographer Reinhard Klein.

The turbocharged, four-wheel-drive Audi Quattro sparked a WRC revolution when it made its competitive debut on the 1981 Rallye Monte Carlo.

After only ten snow-covered kilometres of the first special stage, Hannu Mikkola in a Quattro had caught and passed the helpless Lancia Stratos of Bernard Darniche, the winning combination in 1979.

Superb traction and seemingly limitless power were the keys to its success that made the Quattro legendary and helped Audi to capture the hearts of thousands of fans.

McKlein’s new book provides a detailed record of all the rally cars that Audi launched - from the Audi 80 to the Quattros and the Coupé S2 - as well as a comprehensive statistics section.

Written by John Davenport, a former rally co-driver and team manager, and accompanied by more than 400 beautiful pictures taken by Klein, this high-quality 252-page book would make a terrific addition to any coffee table.

We have three signed books up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning one, answer the question in the WRC Extra section.

For more information about the full range of McKlein’s motorsport publications visit: www.rallywebshop.com

OK - I can hear you all collectively rolling your eyes right about now. We are so inundated with articles about “going green” and “global warming” or “healing the environment” that we’re all about to scream. But with all the exotic locations around the globe that we choose to host various auto racing events, an impact upon the local/surrounding environment should be considered.

Last week we heard about the environmental concerns surrounding the 2009 running of SCORE’s Primm 300 out in the Nevada desert. Apparently last year’s event was devastating to the desert tortoise, an animal that has been plagued with adversity in recent years as more development comes to the desert. Even out here in California we’ve heard about its plight and adjustments have been made to accommodate this important creature. SCORE was instructed by the Department of Fish & Game to forbid any “recon” maneuvers by teams prior to the race as it was discovered that the off-road scouting of the track was what caused the tortoise so much trouble. A lot of drivers (and fans) were outraged by the decision, but when you decide to run an event in an exotic location - such as a desert, near a wetland area or other protected/fragile region, environmental impact is definitely a concern.

A report was released today by the folks at FIA’s World Rally Championship Series that a study done on the recent Rally Australia had caused no significant impact on the area’s wildlife within the region. The top concern in this area was the endangered koala who has suffered many setbacks in recent years as well as other threatened species in the area of the rally’s route.

Perhaps other series will conduct studies on the impact of their chosen track locations in the future. While most series are set track driven - asphalt, dirt, etc. in large stadiums in pre-set locations - others like off-road, rally, etc. tend to have their races set in remote mountainous, wilderness locations where environmental impact should be a major consideration. As we evolve our ideas of what’s important to us all and weigh the impact that sports such as auto/motorcycle and even boat racing might have upon the surrounding area, we will all reap the benefits of such considerations and can look forward to a better future for all concerned.

The 2009 SCCA RallyCross National Championship is still a month away, but the opportunity to save money by registering early will expire on Sept. 25. Luckily, the chance to win your registration fee back remains, as four contingency programs have been announced for this year’s Championship event in Fountain, Colo., Oct. 9 – 11.

Those planning to enter the 2009 SCCA RallyCross National Championship should consider registering soon, as the registration fee will increase from $100 to $140 at midnight (CDT) on Sept. 25. Registration is available online at www.scca.com/rally, by selecting “RallyCross National Championship” from the left-side menu. A downloadable PDF entry form is also available.

Alongside registration links on the RallyCross National Championship web page is a “Contingency” link detailing the four contingency programs available for this year’s participants. Posting in all classes, Volkswagen of America will pay $200 for a win and $100 for a runner-up finish to eligible drivers. Subaru is in on the act as well, paying $1,250 for a win, $750 for second and $500 for third to registered Subaru drivers in the Stock All-Wheel Drive, Prepared All-Wheel Drive and Modified Four-Wheel Drive classes.
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It could be argued that the arrival of the World Rally Championship in Australia was a deal born more out of commercial sense rather than a sporting necessity. Australia might not have had the kind of lengthy rallying tradition which Europe can boast, but it certainly new how to put on a show.

Within a few years of its arrival in 1989 - courtesy of the departure of America’s Olympus Rally - Australia’s inclusion on the annual roster of world rallies was assured. The event soon grew to become a benchmark rallies against which others would be judged. While events in the northern hemisphere talked about superspecial stages and taking the sport to the public, Australia got on with it, running through the streets of Northbridge and then to a purpose-built side-by-side spectacular in Langley Park on the banks of the Swan River.

It all started in 1989, when 59 cars left the Freemantle start bound for Richmond Raceway on a dreary September evening. Toyota’s Juha Kankkunen won the first ever WRC stage in Australia. Thirty-two stages later and the Finn won the inaugural Rally Australia. While the organisers of the event celebrated a highly successful debut at the highest level, Kankkunen’s employers at Toyota partied alongside them as they marked the first ever WRC win for the Celica GT-4. Kenneth Eriksson had made it a double celebration, completing a one-two down under. Given Australia’s ‘close’ proximity to Japan, Toyota’s win couldn’t have been better - or more dominant, with the Celica’s posting 29 fastest times to leave Lancia choking in the rich red dust.

With Miki Biasion left in Europe, his second world title all-but sewn up, Markku Alen and Alex Fiorio were sent to Australia, armed with a brace of battle-weary Deltas which had already seen service in Argentina. They were powerless on the Western Australian roads. Australia’s first WRC round would be the last time the eight-valve Delta was seen in official WRC action.

While the two powerhouses of world rallying fought over first, a certain Malcolm Wilson was turning in a star drive to place a Vauxhall Astra GTE in sixth overall. Ford’s team director was the highest placed two-wheel drive competitor and only a handful of seconds away from being the first non-Lancia or Toyota.

The ball-bearing -surfaced roads around Perth had arrived in the world of world rallying. And, for the rest of this week, wrc.com will remember some of the most intriguing moments on these rich red tracks.

The New Zealand Rally Championship starts to hot up this weekend with the fourth of five rounds held in the Wairarapa.

Defending champion and leader Hayden Paddon will have a job on his hands to fend off Masterton’s Richard Mason on his home turf. Then add Emma Gilmour to the mix - on a roll after fourth overall in Japan’s Rally Hokkaido last weekend - and it is set to be a showdown for the top step of the podium. The two-day round is broken into 15 special-stage tests, totalling 250km of gravel-spraying action.

Drivers in the New Zealand Rally Championship after three rounds.
1. Hayden Paddon 200
2. Richard Mason 173
3. Emma Gilmour 162
4. Matt Jansen 105
5. Chris West 80

BP Ford Abu Dhabi Team driver Mikko Hirvonen has won the Acropolis Rally of Greece, round seven of the 2009 World Rally Championship, after a perfect drive through the toughest conditions of the season in his Focus RS WRC.

The 28-year-old Finn carried a comfortable lead into Sunday’s final five stages, and kept out of trouble to finish 1min 12.9sec ahead of the man in second place, Citroen Junior team driver Sebastien Ogier.

See the full story at www.carracing.com/racing/rally/

The second half of the 12-round FIA World Rally Championship starts next week with the toughest event of the season - The Acropolis Rally of Greece.

In geographical terms Greece might only be a short hop from the last round in Sardinia, but when it comes to the state of the roads, the Acropolis is a world apart.

Rocky mountain tracks and searing heat combine to make the Acropolis a full on car-breaker. And although the event has a new-look for 2009, the fundamental challenges for cars and drivers remain.

For cars, success in Greece is all about strength, reliability and speed. They must withstand the pounding from loose rocks which litter the surface of the mountain tracks, as well as bedrock which forms the base of the roads.

Temperatures are likely to be well above 30ºC, placing high demands on engines and gearboxes. Because the winding, climbing roads and many hairpin bends make this a relatively slow rally (only Turkey was slower in 2008), there is little cooling from the flow of air.

Drivers and co-drivers can expect an uncomfortable weekend for the same reasons. Cockpit temperatures are expected to be the highest of the year, which makes fitness a crucial factor. Regular fluid intake is vital to stave off dehydration and ensure the crew operates at peak performance.

Saturday’s route takes competitors into the Peloponnese region, a traditional Acropolis venue during the 1980s, for all-new stages. Sunday’s final day, the shortest of the rally, heads north and east of Loutraki and includes two passes over the epic 33.00km Aghii Theodori - the longest stage of the rally

The rally finishes back in Loutraki at 1436hrs after 17 stages and 371.02 competitive kilometres.

One week after finishing third in the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen is preparing to make his asphalt rally debut at the Rally della Marca in Italy this weekend.

Raikkonen, who was F1 world champion in 2007, will drive an Abarth Grande Punto S2000 on Saturday’s event, which starts from the town of Pederobba. The one day rally comprises ten special stages and a total of 124 competitive kilometres.

So far this season, rally fan Raikkonen has already contested two winter rallies in his native Finland - the Arctic Rally and the Rally of Mikkeli - but this weekend marks his first rally on asphalt.

As on his previous rallies, he will be co-driven by fellow Finn Kaj Lindstrom, the man who formerly partnered multiple WRC champion Tommi Makinen.

Check out this awesome video of a European rally car flipping over in the turn… WHOA!