IRC news before Rally San Marino

RALLY SAN MARINO WILL BE A HIT, SAYS SIVIERO

Rally San Marino, round seven of the all-action Intercontinental Rally Challenge, will recreate the event’s glorious past according to double world champion co-driver Tiziano Siviero.

The rally is a new addition to the IRC for 2012 but is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year when it takes place from 5-7 July.

Siviero, who works as part of the organising team, said: “Great choices [of stages] and great efforts have been made by the organisers who want to celebrate the 40th anniversary with a return to the glorious past. The most beautiful and difficult stages have been revived. The roads are in excellent condition, well prepared and the stages have a really good rhythm.”

Twelve of the 13 stages take place in neighbouring Italy. However, the final stage on day one is held entirely in the Republic of San Marino and uses an all-asphalt route.

MIKKELSEN MAINTAINS TITLE PUSH

Andreas Mikkelsen’s bid to defend his Intercontinental Rally Challenge crown is on course despite his failure to score points for the first time since he crashed out of the lead of the Mecsek Rallye in Hungary in September 2011.

Mikkelsen retired from the Geko Ypres Rally when he broke a suspension component nudging a bank in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia Super 2000. But with title rival Jan Kopecký contesting the clashing Hustopeče Rally in Czech Republic – where he recorded his fifth consecutive win of the season – Mikkelsen continues to hold a six-point title lead.

“It’s a long season and it’s still not over,” said Mikkelsen. “There are a lot of good rallies to come and we want maximum points from these two gravel events [in San Marino and Romania].”

LOIX PRAISES IRC COMPETITION ON RETURN

Freddy Loix has praised the level of competition he experienced on his return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on last week’s Geko Ypres Rally.

Loix, a seven-time winner in the series, last tackled an IRC round Cyprus in November 2011. He finished second in Ypres after being outpaced by former champion Juho Hänninen.

“I’ve known for the last three or four years that the level of the IRC is very high,” said Loix. “It’s always difficult to fight against the young drivers who are going very quick who are sitting in good cars. But on every rally if you want to win it’s difficult.”

Loix would like to take part in more IRC rallies this season but admits he has no firm agreement in place.

CATANIA BACK IN THE IRC WITH NEW CO-DRIVER

Davide Catania will have a new co-driver when he returns to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge on Rally San Marino next month.

Catania hasn’t competed in the all-action series since SATA Rallye Açores in February but will be back in action on the gravel event when he will chase IRC 2WD Cup honours in his Citroën DS3 R3T, co-driven by Luca Culasso.

He said: “The Azores was a great place with its beautiful landscapes and wonderful people, but it was a [tough] adventure due to bad weather without great sporting satisfaction. I ran some editions of Rally San Marino in the last years and for me this is a help to reach a good result in the IRC 2WD Cup standings. We will participate with the usual Citroën DS3 R3T of the BP racing team.”