Thrilling Titanic test for Circuit of Ireland
A superspecial stage around the Harland and Wolff shipyard where the famous Titanic was built 100 years ago will form the centrepiece of the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, round three of this year’s all-action Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
IRC stars will go head-to-head on the course in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter in front of thousands of fans gathered for the opening of the Titanic Festival on Friday 6 April. The stage is just over two kilometres in length and is set to form a thrilling spectacle.
At the rally’s official launch in Belfast today (Thursday), event director Bobby Willis said: “The Titanic Super Special Stage will be a feast for motorsport fans and families alike with some of the world’s biggest rallying stars, including current IRC series champion, Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen, thrilling crowds on a stage that will be built beneath grandstands yards from where the Titanic was launched.”
The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland will be based in the historic city of Armagh and will consist of a total of 15 stages, including a test through the centre of Lisburn, which attracted 15,000 fans in 2011.
Mikkelsen aims for revenge in Azores
Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen says he’s desperate to win SATA Rallye Acores next month after coming close to success on the event last season.
The SKODA UK Motorsport star was embroiled in a tight battle for victory with factory SKODA driver Juho Hanninen until he was instructed to hold position in second place in order to secure a one-two finish for the Czech manufacturer.
“I’m really motivated to win this rally,” said Mikkelsen. “Of course it will be a great start to the year and great for SKODA UK if I do but after last year I would really like to win this special event. It’s one of my favourite rallies with a really good atmosphere and amazing stages.”
SATA Rallye Acores forms round one of the 13-event IRC season in 2012. It takes place from 23-25 February on the island of Sao Miguel.
Swedish star Flodin targets IRC bid in 2012
Patrik Flodin is trying to contest the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2012 and has been tipped for success by the driver who won the coveted title last season.
Flodin, a 27-year-old from Sweden, has considerable international event experience and is highly rated, particularly on gravel-based rallies. Although he has yet to finalise his programme for the upcoming IRC campaign he said: “We are working hard to achieve a full IRC season, even if nothing is ready yet.”
If Flodin does progress his plans and finalise an IRC bid then he will be one to watch according to Andreas Mikkelsen, the defending IRC champion. “He’s a good driver and I’m sure he can do some really, really good results. The IRC is a fantastic series and I hope as many drivers as possible come to find that out.”
Arzeno keen to prove potential in IRC
Rising French star Mathieu Arzeno wants to enter selected rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2012 because of the strong competition he expects to face in the IRC’s flagship Super 2000 category.
The 24-year-old from Marseille has tackled a handful of IRC events in the past in two-wheel-drive machinery but is in the process of stepping up to S2000 competition this season.
“From everything I saw in the IRC, I really liked it,” said Arzeno. “It would be fantastic for me to do as many rallies as I could in the IRC. For Super 2000, the IRC is where there is the strongest competition.”
Currently, Arzeno, who works in his family’s car dealership when he is not rallying, is putting together a budget for the 2012 season. “I don’t have a programme finalised and I don’t even know when my next rally is going to be,” he said.