Ford Fiesta pair primed to continue Rally GB success story

Ford World Rally Team enters next week’s new-look Wales Rally GB (13 - 16 September) bidding to add to its long list of successes in one of the sport’s classic events. The Blue Oval has claimed the top step of the podium on 10 occasions since the launch of the FIA World Rally Championship in 1973, a record unmatched by any other manufacturer.

Current drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Petter Solberg are also no strangers to the winners’ laurels in Britain. Latvala and co-driver Miikka Anttila will defend their 2011 victory when they won by almost four minutes in a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car, and Solberg, co-driven now by Chris Patterson, took four consecutive victories from 2002 to 2005.

Fiesta RS WRCs filled eight of the top nine places in 2011, but the 2012 event will be very different from last year’s encounter. Traditionally the final round of the championship in November, its hallmarks are rain, fog, ice and snow. However, a September date promises more benign conditions and this could be the fastest Rally GB ever.

Cardiff, capital city of Wales and located on the south coast, has been the rally base since 2000. The action takes place over narrow but fast gravel forest speed tests further north, more commonly used by lorries transporting timber.

Tree-lined tracks in the hilly woods contrast with wide-open sections on exposed military land, and log piles frequently line the roads ready to trap the unwary. The roads can become rutted during the second pass with exposed rocks presenting another hazard.

As well as their victories, both Fiesta RS WRC drivers bring a wealth of experience to the rally. Finland’s Latvala began his career in Britain and has more starts in this event than any other WRC round. This will be his 11th appearance. Solberg first competed in Rally GB in 1998 and this will be the 37-year-old Norwegian’s 15th start.

“I enjoy driving on narrow, fast, flowing roads like these and it’s one of my favourite rallies,” said 27-year-old Latvala. “We’re used to winter conditions here so if it stays dry then the characteristics of the event will change considerably. In dry weather the roads will give good grip and speeds will be high.

“One of the big decisions will be tyre selection. In the dry we should use Michelin’s hard compound rubber, especially as the surface in some forests is abrasive. But the allocation we’re allowed means we can’t do that for the entire rally, so it will be tricky to know when to use soft tyres and when to use harder rubber.

“In winter it’s important to identify muddy sections. If it’s drier it’s not necessary to pay so much attention to the surface, but I’ll need to concentrate harder in corners because the car will carry more speed. Logs are another hazard in Britain. They are often piled high on the side of the road and clipping one can break the suspension and end the day immediately,” added Latvala.

Solberg admitted that Rally GB was one of his pre-season targets for a strong result. “I’ve been very successful in Britain during my career and it’s a rally that suits me. I enjoy the forest tracks because they’re fast and a good challenge. You have to use the whole road – and sometimes a bit more – to keep the speed high,” he said.

“Accurate pace notes are important because overhanging branches often prevent a clear view of the road. The earlier date this year will obviously make a difference and I expect the roads will be faster and rougher in places. That could also make it tougher for the tyres.

“The team has worked hard since the last gravel round in Finland to unlock more speed. We were surprised at the pace of that rally and our priority is to ensure we are up there and challenging for a win,” added Solberg.