Xlerate | Motorsport Magazine

BRC | RD7 – ULSTER RALLY 2021

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021 adminBRC, British Rally Championships, RALLY, ULSTER RALLY

After six thrilling rallys, the 2021 British Rally Championship reached its climax at the final round on the challenging Northern Irish tarmac roads of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally. The Irish have a rich history in rallying and the Ulster Rally began life in 1976, where names such as Ari Vatanen, Billy Coleman, Jimmy McRae and Roger Clark all contested the event. Cast one’s eyes over the roll of honour and ye shall find a plethora of rallying greats which include Arikkala, Blomqvist, McRae, Rohrl, Brookes and Wilson to name…

BTRDA NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

BTRDA | RD6 – RALLY NUTS STAGES 2021

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 adminBTRDA, BTRDA RALLY, RALLY NUTS STAGES

Just two weeks had passed since the Cambrian Rally took place over the World Class gravel stages of North Wales and the BTRDA was soon back in action on the Rally Nuts Stages for the final round of the 2021 MRF Tyres Rally Series. The Championship contenders faced more of the World Class Welsh Stages that we know and love, only this time they were a just little further south in the Myherin and Hafren Forest Complexes. Organised by the Midlands Manor Motor Club this popular event has been around…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLY WRC

WRC | RD12 – ACI RALLY MONZA 2021

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021 adminACI RALLY MONZA, FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, OGIER, WORLD RALLY, WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, WRC

Making its return to the FIA World Rally Championship and closing the season for the second year running (after a forfeiting Rally Japan); the ACI Rally Monza signified the final outing for the outgoing generation of World Rally Cars before the switch is made to Hybrid next year. The final event in which last year saw Frenchman Sébastien Ogier clinch his 7th World title after snatching the Championship away from his Welsh teammate Elfyn Evans; would once again also deliver one last battle for the 2021 title between the pair…

BRC NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

BRC | RD6 CAMBRIAN RALLY 2021

November 6, 2021November 6, 2021 adminBRC, British Rally Championships, CAMBRIAN RALLY, RALLY

There was a whiff of Wales Rally GB in the air of North Wales for the penultimate round of the 2021 British Rally Championship at the Visit Conway Cambrian Rally….. but then the sun came out. Heavy overnight rain with some early morning fireworks out on the stages all contributed to this atmosphere, which some likened to the British round of the World Rally Championship that has played out of the very same stages in recent years. Organised by the very capable North Wales Car Club, the seaside town of…

BTRDA NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

BTRDA | RD5 CAMBRIAN RALLY 2021

November 5, 2021November 5, 2021 adminBTRDA, BTRDA RALLY, CAMBRIAN RALLY, RALLY

The penultimate round of the 2021 MRF Tyres BTRDA Rally Series headed to North Wales for the Visit Conway Cambrian Rally. The Sea–Side town of Llandudno once again played host to this North Wales Car Club organised event which was now in its 66th edition. With a selection of hand-picked World-Class Gravel Forest Stages on offer, the event covered 42 miles over 6 Gravel Stages in Gwydir Forest, Penmachno and Alwen; with a final short all new Asphalt stage called Twin Lakes thrown in to end the day with. The…

FIA World Rally Championships Sustainable Hybrid Future

NEWS & FEATURES WRC

WRC | The drive to a sustainable future in Hybrid rally cars

October 28, 2021October 28, 2021 adminHYBRID, SUSTAINABILITY, WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, WRC

Next year the FIA World Rally Championship will reset and move to a new generation of Hybrid Rally1 cars, in a new wider sustainable approach to its competition; beginning at the iconic Monte Carlo Rally in January. This implementation of hybrid rally cars in the top tier Rally1 competition class and the usage of sustainable fuels is part of WRC’s and the FIA’s desire to cut down on carbon emissions from the World Rally Championship and throughout motorsport. Photo: M-Sport The three main teams that currently participate at the sports…

BTCC NEWS & FEATURES RACE

BTCC | BRANDS HATCH GP FINAL – 2021

October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 adminBRANDS HATCH, BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP, BTCC, KWIKFITBTCC

The final round of the BTCC descended upon the Brands Hatch GP Loop. Five drivers were in with a chance of winning, but Ash Sutton was the favourite, going into the weekend with a decent points lead. The qualifying was dominated by Honda’s. The front row was locked out by the BTC cars with Senna Proctor on pole, and Josh Cook alongside. The second row saw the Halfords racing with Cataclean Hondas of Daniel Rowbottom and Gordon Shedden. Proctor made a good start and led the field going into Paddock…

ERC NEWS & FEATURES RALLY

ERC | RD7 RALLY HUNGRY

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021 adminerc, EUROPEAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, FIA ERC, RALLY HUNGARY

After his previous two victories at the Azores and Fafe rallies, heading into the penultimate round of the 2021 European Rally Championship at Rally Hungry, Andreas Mikkelsen had one hand on the 2021 ERC trophy already with his 71 point lead. A fast mixed asphalt rally was the 7th round of the ERC and covered 182km over 14 stages which would allow the Norwegian Mikkelsen to be crowned his second international rally title in just a week. The event got underway with a short 4.35km Shakedown qualifying test for which…

Extreme E NEWS & FEATURES OFF ROAD

EXTREME E | ISLAND X PRIX 2021

October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 adminEXTREME E, EXTREME E ISLAND X PRIX, ISLAND X PRIX

Rosberg X Racing survive gruelling Island X-Prix to extend championship lead in penultimate Extreme E weekend Rosberg X Racing claimed their third Extreme E race win after a car-killing weekend on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Drivers Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson were able to have a clean run in the final race to take the chequered flag with a 25 second advantage over runners up Jutta Kleinschmidt and Mattias Ekström of ABT Cupra, who lost a door in their final lap. It looked like Chip Ganassi Racing were going…

NEWS & FEATURES RALLY WRC

WRC | RD11 RALLY RACC CATALUNYA DE ESPANA 2021

October 17, 2021October 17, 2021 adminFIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS, RALLY RACC CATALUNYA DE ESPANA, WORLD RALLY, WRC

After a two year, COVID enforced absence from the FIA World Rally Championship; The RACC Rally Catalunya De Espana made a welcomed return for round 11 of the 2021 season. For an event that first joined the WRC in 1991 and relocated to Salou in 2002, after many years of being a mixed surface event; the penultimate round of the seasons saw a return to an entirely Asphalt event for the first time since 2009. Photos: Hyundai Motorsport WRT With 17 fast, flowing, super-smooth tarmac stages that covered 280km, the…