GABRIEL POZZO / MARIO STILLO
RALLY IRELAND
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ARMINDO ARAUJO / MIGUEL RAMALHO
RALLY IRELAND
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MARK HIGGINS / SCOTT MARTIN
RALLY IRELAND
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution driver Gabriel Pozzo (Argentina) will be aiming for a famous victory on this week’s Wales Rally Great Britain. Such a result will make him the 2007 FIA Production Car World Rally Champion. Before the Argentinian driver can celebrate, however, he has to beat 10 other Mitsubishis to top Production points on what will be one of the most unpredictable rallies of the season.
In addition to the 11 Lancer Evolutions competing in the Production element of the final round of the championship, there will be a further 22 Lancer Evolutions gunning for outright Group N success on Wales Rally Great Britain.
Pozzo is in no doubt of the scale of the task which lies ahead of him, but he says he is ready for the challenge. "I have never competed on this event before," he said. "But some times I look at the conditions and think they are quite similar to those I see at home in Argentina. There is rain and fog in the Welsh stages, we have both of those at home. It will be difficult for me, but I will go as fast and as hard as I can. One thing which is very important for me is to have a good recce. That’s crucial, I need to know as much as possible about the roads."
Fellow Mitsubishi drivers like Mark Higgins (United Kingdom) and Juho Hanninen (Finland) will be right on the pace with Pozzo, while Lancer Evolution men Andreas Aigner (Austria) and Armindo Araujo (Portugal) will be desperate to end their season on a high after both crashed out of the lead on the penultimate round of the series in Ireland. Higgins was another to crash out of the lead in Ireland, ending his hopes of lifting the Production Car title for the fist time. In Britain, however, Higgins has another shot at a crown: the British Rally Championship, of which Wales Rally Great Britain is the final round.
Higgins said: "Crashing in Ireland, when I’d done all the hard work to get into the lead, was probably the most disappointing thing in all of my career. Now I’ve put that behind me. Now I am focused on the British title. I want to forget everything else and get on with the job in hand."
Also fighting with Higgins for British glory are fellow Mitsubishi drivers Guy Wilks (United Kingdom) and Gwyndaf Evans (United Kingdom), both of whom will be right at the sharp end of the outright Group N scrap.
The event starts from Cardiff City Hall on Thursday (November 29) at 1930, with the first stage taking place in the forests north of the Welsh capital early the following morning. That first leg incorporates six stages of 140.80km (two loops of three), with Saturday’s timetable following a similar pattern of 104.48km, with the exception of the 1.1km super special at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday night. This is, without a doubt, one of the most incredible sporting venues in which to hold such an exciting and crowd-pleasing spectacle. The organizers of the rally are expecting fans to turn out in their tens of thousands to watch the finest rally drivers in the world competing in the same place as some of the best footballers and rugby players on the planet. The final leg of the rally on Sunday, 114.26km test comprises four stages (two loops of two). The three days of 1,271.94km and 359.54km competition draw to a close back in Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.
While the event starts and finishes in Cardiff, it’s Swansea (to the west of Cardiff) which will play host to the central service each day. For this year, there is a new approach to service, with the organizers running the service park in the marina area of the city, bringing the rally cars and crews closer than ever to the people of Swansea.
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1
M |
Sébastien Loeb
Daniel Elena |
F
MC |
Citroen C4 WRC |
A
8 |
2
M |
Daniel Sordo
Marc Marti |
E
E |
Citroen C4 WRC |
A
8 |
3
M |
Marcus Gronholm
Timo Rautiainen |
FIN
FIN |
Ford Focus RS WRC 07 |
A
8 |
4
M |
Mikko Hirvonen
Jarmo Lehtinen |
FIN
FIN |
Ford Focus RS WRC 07 |
A
8 |
5
MT |
Manfred Stohl
Ilka Minor |
A
A |
Citroen Xsara WRC |
A
8 |
7
M |
Petter Solberg
Philip Mills |
N
GB |
Subaru Impreza WRC 2006 |
A
8 |
8
M |
Chris Atkinson
Stephane Prevot |
AUS
B |
Subaru Impreza WRC 2006 |
A
8 |
9
MT |
Jari-Matti Latvala
Miikka Anttila |
FIN
FIN |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06 |
A
8 |
10
MT |
Henning Solberg
Cato Menkerud |
N
N |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06 |
A
8 |
11
MT |
Luis Perez Companc
Jose Maria Volta |
RA
RA |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06 |
A
8 |
12
MT |
Federico Villagra
Jorge Perez Companc |
RA
RA |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06 |
A
8 |
16
|
Matthew Wilson
Michael Orr |
GB
GB |
Ford Focus RS WRC 06 |
A
8 |
17
|
Xavier Pons
Xavier Amigo |
E
E |
Subaru Impreza WRC 2006 |
A
8 |
18
|
Jan Kopecky
Filip Schovanek |
CZ
CZ |
Skoda Fabia WRC |
A
8 |
19
|
Sebastian Lindholm
Tomi Tuominen |
FIN
FIN |
Suzuki SX4 |
A
8 |
20
|
Mads Ostberg
Ole Kristian Unnerud |
N
N |
Subaru Impreza WRC |
A
8 |
21
|
Andreas Mikkelsen
Ola Floene |
N
N |
Ford Focus RS WRC |
A
8 |
22
|
Gareth Jones
David Moynihan |
GB
IRL |
Ford Focus RS WRC 04 |
A
8 |
23
|
Mark Van Eldik
Michel Groenewoud |
NL
NL |
Subaru Impreza WRC |
A
8 |
24
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Conrad Rautenbach
David Senior |
ZIM
GB |
Citroen Xsara |
N
2 |
25
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Peter Van Merksteijn
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NL
|
Ford Focus WRC 06 |
A
8 |
32
P |
Stuart Jones
Craig Parry |
GB
GB |
MG S2000 Sport |
N
4 |
33
P |
Loris Baldacci
Rudy Pollet |
RSM
I |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
34
P |
Mark Higgins
Scott Martin |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
36
P |
Juho Hanninen
Mikko Markkula |
FIN
FIN |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
37
P |
Spyros Pavlides
Denis Giraudet |
CYP
F |
Subaru Impreza WRX Sti |
N
4 |
40
P |
Michal Solowow
Maciek Baran |
POL
POL |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
41
P |
Leszek Kuzaj
Craig Parry |
POL
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
42
P |
Evgeniy Vertunov
Georgy Troshkin |
RUS
RUS |
Subaru Impreza WRX Sti |
N
4 |
43
P |
Claudiu David
Mihaela Beldie |
ROU
ROU |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
44
P |
Alessandro Bettega
Simone Scattolin |
I
I |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
45
P |
Mirco Baldacci
Giovanni Agnese |
RSM
I |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
46
P |
Armindo Araujo
Miguel Ramalho |
P
P |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
47
P |
Andreas Aigner
Klaus Wicha |
A
D |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
48
P |
Hayden Paddon
John Kennard |
NZ
NZ |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
49
P |
Stepan Vojtech
Michal Ernst |
CZ
CZ |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
50
P |
Patrik Flodin
Maria Andersson |
S
S |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
51
P |
Martin Rauam
Kristo Kraag |
EE
EE |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
52
P |
Travis Pastrana
Bjorn Edstrom |
USA
USA |
Subaru Impreza WRX Sti |
N
4 |
53
P |
Niall McShea
Gordon Noble |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
54
P |
Gabriel Pozzo
Mario Stillo |
RA
RA |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
59
P |
Guy Wilks
Phil Pugh |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
60
P |
Gwyndaf Evans
Huw Lewis |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
61
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David Higgins
Ieuan Thomas |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
62
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Phillip Morrow
Daniel Barritt |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
63
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Dave Weston
Aled Davies |
GB
GB |
Ford Focus WRC 04 |
A
8 |
64
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Barry Clark
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GB
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N
4 |
65
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Harry Kleinjan
Sander Roling |
NL
NL |
Skoda Fabia WRC |
A
8 |
66
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Martin Prokop
Jan Tomanek |
CZ
CZ |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
67
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Rene Kuipers
Erwin Mombaerts |
NL
B |
Subaru Impreza WRC |
A
8 |
68
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Jasper Van den Heuvel
Martine Kolman |
NL
NL |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
69
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Wyn Humphreys
Ally Mackay |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
70
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Wout Hazeleger
Bert Bloemendaal |
NL
NL |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII |
N
4 |
71
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Dani Sola
Oscar Sanchez |
E
E |
Honda Civic Type-R |
A
7 |
72
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Reijo Muhonen
Jorma Kopsa |
FIN
FIN |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
73
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Nigel Griffiths
Andrew Owens |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
A
8 |
74
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Stephen Petch
Michael Wilkinson |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
75
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Stephen Simpson
Mark Booth |
GB
GB |
Hyundai Accent WRC |
A
8 |
76
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Michal Kosciuszko
Maciek Szczepaniak |
POL
POL |
Fiat Punto S2000 |
N
4 |
77
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Miles Johnston
Ian Bevan |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII |
N
4 |
78
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Jaap Sinke
Pascal Meijs |
NL
NL |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V |
N
4 |
79
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Brian Green
Fleur Pedersen |
NZ
NZ |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII |
N
4 |
80
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Evgeniy Novikov
Alexey Aksakov |
RUS
RUS |
Subaru Impreza WRX Sti |
N
4 |
81
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Robert Swann
Darren Garrod |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
82
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Hans Weijs jr
Hans Van Goor |
NL
NL |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
83
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John O'Leary
Michael Coleman |
IRL
IRL |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
84
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Darren Gass
Neil Shanks |
GB
GB |
Citroen C2 S1600 |
A
6 |
85
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Shaun Gallagher
Clive Jenkins |
IRL
GB |
Citroen C2 R2 |
A
6 |
86
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Subhan Aksa
Hendrik Mboi |
RI
RI |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII |
N
4 |
87
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Gavin Cox
Tim Hobbs |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI |
N
4 |
88
|
Peter Van Merksteijn Jr
Eddy Chevaillier |
NL
B |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII |
N
4 |
89
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Rob Gill
Anders Howard |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
90
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Wayne Radford
Paul Drew |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
91
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Simon Harraway
Craig Drew |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
92
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Giorgio Bacco
Alessandro Biordi |
I
RSM |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
93
|
Gabor Mayer
Robert Tagai |
HON
HON |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
94
|
Jonathan Greer
Jonny Hart |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
95
|
James Smith
Chris Melling |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
96
|
Huw Jeffreys
Avarina Connor |
GB
GB |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
97
|
Oleksii Tamrazov
Oleksandr Skochyk |
UA
UA |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
98
|
Melis Charalambous
Mark Crisp |
GB
GB |
Skoda Octavia WRC |
A
8 |
99
|
Peter Stephenson
|
GB
|
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
100
|
George Thomas
Graham Hopewell |
GB
GB |
Citroen CR2 |
A
6 |
101
|
James Wozencroft
Christopher Ridge |
GB
GB |
Suzuki Swift |
N
2 |
102
|
Francesco Trevisin
Alessandro Michelet |
I
I |
Subaru Impreza |
N
4 |
103
|
David Meredith
David Roberts |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
104
|
Lorna Smith
Joanne Oakey |
GB
GB |
Suzuki Swift |
N
2 |
105
|
Hugh Evans
Iestyn Williams |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX |
N
4 |
106
|
Matt Beebe
Gareth ROberts |
GB
GB |
MG ZR 160 |
N
3 |
107
|
Mandy Bowman
Kenneth Bowman |
GB
GB |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V |
N
4 |
108
|
Stefan Davis
|
GB
|
Ford Puma |
A
6 |
109
|
Jason Pritchard
Martin Jones |
GB
GB |
Citroen C2 R2 |
A
6 |
110
|
Vytautas Baranauskas
Gediminas Celiesius |
LIT
LIT |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
111
|
Victor Henriksson
Mark Walker |
S
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
112
|
Emre Yurdakul
Can Erkal |
TUR
TUR |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
113
|
Martin Laverty
Andrew Roughead |
IRL
GB |
Citroen C2 R2 |
A
6 |
114
|
James Everard
Mark Ammonds |
GB
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
115
|
Burcu Cetinkaya
Cicek Guney |
TUR
TUR |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
116
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Kazutomo Kusama
Stefan Arndt |
J
GB |
Citroen C2 |
A
6 |
117
|
Paul Benn
Richard Cooke |
GB
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST150 |
N
3 |
118
|
Elfyn Evans
Richard Edwards |
GB
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
119
|
Dave Weston
Claire Mole |
GB
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
120
|
Tony Jardine
Maurice Hamilton |
GB
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST150 |
N
3 |
121
|
Giovanni Caposiena
Barbara Perugini |
I
I |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
122
|
Richard Parry-Jones
Hugh Parry-Jones |
GB
GB |
Ford Fiesta ST |
N
3 |
123
|
Supradip Dey Roy
Bradley Magnus |
GB
GB |
MG ZR |
N
1 |
124
|
Dale Robertson
Paul Beaton |
GB
GB |
MG ZR |
N
1 |
125
|
Luke Pinder
Martin Taylor |
GB
GB |
MG ZR |
N
1 |
126
|
Richard Sykes
Simon Taylor |
GB
GB |
MG ZR |
N
1 |
127
|
Matt Cotton
Anthony Godden |
GB
GB |
MG ZR |
N
1 |
128
|
Adrian Linton
Jonathan Linton |
BDS
BDS |
Opel Astra OPC |
N
3 |
129
|
Martin Roberts
Rich Mills |
GB
GB |
Citroen C2 R2 |
A
6 |
130
|
Steve Graham
Tony Graham |
GB
GB |
Vauxhall Astra |
N
4 |
131
|
Fin McCaul
Neil Burgess |
IRL
GB |
BMW 120D |
N
4 |
132
|
Darren Jones
Paul Burley |
GB
GB |
Skoda Felicia |
A
5 |
