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Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Rallying-Tanak leads in Greece after a day of heat and punctures
Rallying-Tanak leads in Greece after a day of heat and punctures Hyundai's Ott Tanak ended the first full day of the Acropolis Rally with a slender three second lead over teammate Adrien Fourmaux as the Greek heat and rough roads left rivals struggling to keep up. Tanak stayed out of trouble to lead on Friday night despite not winning any of the seven gravel stages in temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius. "At times it was difficult to keep everything in one piece but I think in the end we must be happy that we didn't have any big trouble with the tyres or with the car," said the Estonian. Hyundai's reigning champion and last year's Acropolis winner Thierry Neuville led after stage three but then dropped three minutes after collecting two punctures, before taking the day's final stage to end the day eighth. Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta and Kalle Rovanpera also lost time with tyre problems. Teammate and eight-times world champion Sebastien Ogier was in third place, 16.9 seconds behind Tanak after leading up to stage five, and won two stages to Fourmaux's three. The Frenchman's championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans was fourth and Gregoire Munster fifth for M-Sport Ford. Katsuta and Rovanpera were sixth and seventh. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Discipline key for McErlean and Treacy in punishing Rally of Gods
Motorsport There's little, if any need for the Irish crew of Josh McErlean and Eoin Treacy to look for inspiration as they set out on the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece today. Equally familiar as the "Rally of Gods", the 17th stage event that had its ceremonial start beneath the shadows of the Parthenon Thursday evening, is one of most gruelling events of the 14-round WR campaign. McErlean and Treacy already know the depth of the challenge as it's similar in many respects to Rally Italia Sardegna (previous round) where the Kilrea/Killeagh duo spent much of the time sweeping the roads onboard their M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 after re-joining under Super Rally. As he addressed that experience, he also hinted at future plans. "This year is all about growth. Sardinia was unfortunate for us, but at the same time, we were able to gain so much valuable information for the future - and this season is all about building the full toolkit. Everything we learn here helps us grow stronger for what lies ahead." On the Acropolis (the immediate future) he added, "It's another rally where survival matters. You have got to be smart, Sunday's final leg is longer than usual, so the rally keeps throwing challenges right to the finish.' The Greek terrain is unforgiving and punishing on tyres, allied to its high altitude and searing heat, it's as much a mental test as it is physical. McErlean (who finished eighth last year in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) concluded, "Our mindset is all about discipline, learning and managing the rally in the right way.' Over the years, M-Sport Ford has a strong record at the Acropolis with icons Carlos Sainz, the late Colin McRae, Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen all victorious. Along with McErlean, Gregoire Munster, Martins Sesks and Jourdan Serderidis complete this weekend's M-Sport quartet. Reigning WR champion Belgian Thierry Neuville won last year's edition where Hyundai Motorsport had a lock-out of the podium places. A repeat performance would certainly be a welcome boost as they bid to halt the Toyota dominance of both championships. Hyundai are 69 points behind in the Manufacturers' title while (Drivers' title) Estonia's Ott Tanak trails series leader Elfyn Evans by 25 points with Neuville 50 points from the summit. Neuville said, " My goal is to outscore my opponents, but I would like to build some momentum and return to the podium.' First off the start line, series leader Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) will again have to sweep the loose gravel from the roads. A one-time 43 points lead is now 19 with team mates Sebastien Ogier (unbeaten on gravel this season) second and Kalle Rovanpera, a double Acropolis winner, one point further behind. The Junior WRC reaches the halfway mark with all nine crews in Hankook shod Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evos tackling the event including Donegal's Eamonn Kelly and his Monaghan co-driver Conor Mohan. Spain's Carlos Sainz (senior) has ended speculation with an announcement that, following "thoughtful reflection" he will not contest the FIA Presidential election later this year. Currently, Mohammed Ben Sulayem (current president) is unopposed for the election that is set to place at the FIA general assembly in Uzbekistan on December 12th. Motorsport Ireland has confirmed that its Motor Sport Council has refused an application from the Galway Motor Club to re-schedule the Galway Rally on September 21st next. The Galway International Rally remains postponed due to the Storm Éowyn last February. Motorsport Ireland has informed the Galway organisers of the council's decision and advised that "International" status are not awarded to one-day events. Given the already congested nature of the Irish motorsport calendar and the proximity of the 2025 Galway International Rally, it's unlikely that the event will be rescheduled. Meanwhile, following his third straight ITRC win of the season Derry's Callum Devine (66 pts) has increased his lead of the NAPA series to twenty points. Donegal trio David Kelly (46pts), Declan Boyle (40pts) and Michael Boyle (37points) have amassed their scores from all four rounds, Devine's total is from three events. In the co-drivers' championship (that will have a new champion) Patrick Walsh (58pts), Andy Hayes (46pts) and Darragh Mullen (43pts) are the current top trio.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Josh McErlean opens up on the challenges he will face in his second crack at the ‘Rally of the Gods'
McErlean's maiden Rally1 campaign with new team-mate Eoin Treacy continues in Greece at an event that is notorious for its rough and narrow mountain tracks that are not only hard on cars but crews, too, due to the twisting stages limiting natural airflow into the cockpit. This is only the 25-year-old's second career start at the 'Rally of the Gods', although the experience gained from having to open the road and create a clean line for those following behind him on the second and third days of Rally Italia Sardegna at the start of this month should prove useful in his quest to equal — or better — his best result of 2025 so far — an eighth-place finish at May's Rally de Portugal. The Kilrea man was handed the indignity of road sweeping duties on the Mediterranean island as punishment for bowing out with suspension damage on only the second speed test and rejoining on the Saturday under Super Rally rules after M-Sport Ford mechanics worked their magic to correct his Puma Rally1. 'Sardinia was unfortunate for us, but at the same time, we were able to gain so much valuable information for the future, and this season is all about building the full toolkit,' said McErlean, who knows solid results between now and the final round in Saudi Arabia will go some way to helping him retain his M-Sport seat with Motorsport Ireland's support. 'Greece is another rally where survival matters because the roads are so abrasive, the temperatures inside the car can hit 50C, and you have got long loops with no mid-day service. You have got to be smart — and even Sunday's final leg is longer than usual at 62 miles — so this is one of those rallies that keep throwing challenges right to the finish. 'After the disappointment in Sardinia, I want to deliver a solid result for the team. 'They have worked incredibly hard — they deserve something to show for it. Our aim is to manage the conditions and hopefully come away with a strong, trouble-free rally.' Acropolis Rally Greece begins with a traditional ceremonial start beneath the Parthenon on Thursday afternoon before crews set off to tackle a Spectator Special Stage at 4.05pm UK time. A further 16 special stages totalling over 200 competitive miles will follow. McErlean will share garage space with M-Sport Ford team-mate Gregoire Munster who is making his fourth Acropolis Rally start, event debutant and Rally Poland winner Martins Sesks, and gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis for whom this is the eighth time contesting his home round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Belfast Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Callum Devine on course to complete hat-trick at Donegal International Rally
A winner of the Irish Tarmac Championship fixture in 2023 and again in 2024, the Claudy man is aiming to emulate Cathal Curley (1972-1974), Billy Coleman (1984-1986), and the late Manus Kelly who dominated his home meeting between 2016 and 2018 respectively. Devine was quickest out of the blocks on yesterday's 'Malin Head' opener in his Michelin-shod Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, with that setting the tone for much of the Friday leg. 'I am happy enough with how the first leg has gone, it has been a very good day,' reflected Devine, who provisionally leads by 12.4 seconds. 'The speed and times are both there. 'The pace is fast – as fast as it has been all year, actually – and it is nice to be in the mix. The priority now is to ensure we get a good rest overnight because Saturday is a big day.' Although he did not record quickest times on each of the six stages, Devine was able to move into a comfortable lead as some big Rally2 names suffered unexpected setbacks. Event debutant Hayden Paddon was fifth after the opening loop in his C&M Motorsport Hyundai i20 N Rally2 having reported a moment on stage one, a trip into a ditch on two, and a set-up that left the Korean supermini nervous over the bumps and jumps on three. Despite this, and revealing his car felt underpowered for Friday's closing two runs, his time competing in the sport's top tier came to the fore as he vaulted up to second place. 'We are not in the window with the car – it has been challenging but it has also been enjoyable,' the New Zealander said. The battle for third-position is also finely poised but it is Welshman Meirion Evans that currently enjoys the upper-hand over Castrol MEM driving-mate William Creighton who was happier with the ride of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 as he arrived the overnight halt. M-Sport Ford driver Jon Armstrong set the same time as Devine on 'Malin Head' and led after the second test before his works-supported M-Sport Ford Fiesta was struck down with driveshaft failure, leaving it with front-wheel-drive for the seven miles of 'Coolcross'. That demoted him to ninth overall, however, with his car repaired by mechanics at service in Letterkenny, he went on to win two of the afternoon stages to pass Josh Moffett for fifth. Saturday's action comprises four loops of two stages, with the first – the 7.45-miles of 'High Glen' – scheduled to get underway just before 10 o'clock in the morning.
Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Rallying-Ogier leads after tough first day in Sardinia
Toyota's Sebastien Ogier led Rally Italy in Sardinia on Friday after surging from third to first on the final stage of the first full day of action after rivals hit trouble. Hyundai's reigning world champion Thierry Neuville retired on stage five after taking the lead on the fourth stage of the Olbia-based rally in northern Sardinia and then hitting an earth bank. Adrien Fourmaux was in second place, 2.1 seconds behind eight-times world champion Ogier, with Hyundai teammate Ott Tanak third on the gravel tracks. Last year's winner Tanak completed the leg with a damaged shock absorber and 5.2 seconds behind Fourmaux. Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera was down in fifth place with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans sixth after being the first driver to set out and effectively sweeping the road. "It's been a good day, for sure," commented Ogier. "I've done everything I could today, so I'm happy with that." M-Sport Ford's Martins Sesks rolled out while teammates Josh McErlean and Gregoire Munster retired with suspension damage in the morning action on the same new Telti-Calangianus-Berchidda stage that caught out Neuville later. M-Sport expected at least two of the three to resume on Saturday. "That stage where all the drama happened was very tricky,' said Ogier. "It's super narrow and extremely fast. It's always a surprise to see that many incidents, but it can happen very easily there." The rally, round six of the championship, continues on Saturday with more than 120km of timed action. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
