Motorsports News

• Home
• Latest

• November 2018
• October 2018
• September 2018
• August 2018
• July 2018
• June 2018
• May 2018
• April 2018
• March 2018
• February 2018
• January 2018
• December 2017
• November 2017
• October 2017
• September 2017
• August 2017
• July 2017
• June 2017
• May 2017
• April 2017
• March 2017
• December 2016
• November 2016
• October 2016
• September 2016
• August 2016
• July 2016
• June 2016
• May 2016
• April 2016
• March 2016
• February 2016
• January 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• July 2015
• June 2015
• May 2015
• April 2015
• March 2015
• February 2015
• November 2014
• October 2014
• September 2014
• August 2014
• July 2014
• June 2014
• May 2014
• April 2014
• March 2014
• February 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• July 2013
• June 2013
• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• August 2012
• July 2012
• June 2012
• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011

Another new high-profile European rally car, the Citroen DS3 R3, has been confirmed for a French driver at the International Rally of Queensland, adding even more excitement an unprecedented line-up of contenders for the May event on the Sunshine Coast.

The 200 km/h, two-wheel drive Citroen, with the same production origins as the four-wheel drive car used by eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb in the FIA World Rally Championship, will be driven in Queensland by New Caledonia-based veteran.

The Citroen, two new Belgian-sourced Skoda Fabia S2000s, up-rated versions of the dominant Proton Satria Neo S2000s from Malaysia and other significant entries from India, Japan, Malaysia and New Zealand flag a sharp jump in the level of competition for the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, of which the International Rally of Queensland on 25-27 May will be round three.

And the battle on the Sunshine Coast will be no less fierce among competitors in round three of the Bosch Australian Rally Championship.

In the outright class, two new purpose-built Honda Jazz hatchbacks from Italy are expected to face a Mazda2 making its debut with four-time champion Simon Evans and a host of powerful “unrestricted” Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and Subaru Imprezas.

The burgeoning SUV class will feature the sport’s first diesel-powered Subaru Forester, while the hugely-popular Australian Classic Rally Challenge will see Neil Bates’ new WRC-replica 1980 Toyota Celica, Jeff David’s Porsche 911, Stewart Reid’s Ford Escort RS1800 and a host of other 70s- and 80s-era rally legends.

Adding a completely new spectacle will be the inaugural Side-by-Side Rally Challenge for two-seater quad vehicles. Two of Australia’s most successful international rally drivers, Cody Crocker and Michael Guest, will go head-to-head for Polaris and Can-Am respectively in an expected field of up to 15 of the rapid and nimble machines.

International Rally of Queensland Event Director Errol Bailey said the line-up of high-quality vehicles across the various categories competing in May was the event’s best in memory and the rally shaped up as one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere this year.

“In Jean-Louis’ Citroen, the Protons and Skodas, International Rally of Queensland spectators will be seeing cars that are current front-runners in various categories and classes of the World Rally Championship – nothing less than the latest-generation world contenders,” he said.

“Add a stunning array of international driving talent with current or past World Rally Championship experience – Chris Atkinson, P-G Andersson, Alister McRae, Guarav Gill, Karamjit Singh, Cody Crocker, Michael Guest, Neal Bates – plus the challenging and scenic terrain of the Sunshine Coast and Mary Valley hinterland and we have the ingredients for an event that no-one should miss.

“With its combination of world championship cars, latest Australian championship contenders, classics and Side-by-Sides, there will be no other rally event like it this year.”

Jean-Louis Leyraud, who has driven Subarus in the three most recent Queensland events, says his Citroen is the best rally car he’s owned during a long career.

“This a brand-new car that I bought in France in November 2011. The car arrived in New Caledonia in mid-January and I have already done 200 km of testing,” he said.

“This car goes to 200 kmh and is very light and small. The suspension is a new technology coming from the WRC, the gearbox is a six-speed sequential semi-automatic with the paddle shift at the steering wheel, which is very fast to shift. The engine is a 1600 turbo with a lot of torque and develops 220 horsepower.

“It’s very easy to drive and very fast. I would like to be in the top three for two-wheel drive cars in Queensland.”

Full details of the International Rally of Queensland event program and pre-event ticket sales will be announced in April.

See the original post...

Copyright © All Vic Pty. Ltd. 2007-2024

Home | Features | Records | Online Store | Media | Careers | Contact Us