WRC: Sardinia breaks a record

Mini's return to the WRC is accompanied by an explosion in the number of entrants in the premier category of world rallying. The field in Italy will be fantastic.

Published on 26/04/2011 à 10:30

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Le Rally of Sardinia which will be held from May 5 to 8 has revealed its entry list. There are no less than 20 new ones WRC distributed between three manufacturers: Citroën, Ford and Mini, the English firm making its comeback in the world championship in Italy.

Firstly, we obviously find the entrants registered on a Citroën, its official drivers and Sébastien Loeb in particular, beating the top of the heap. Then come the Ford drivers and a plethora of customers, as well as Mini which will be present with no less than 5 WRCs.

So here is the list:
Citroën: Loeb, Ogier, P. Solberg, Van Merkesteijn Junior AND Senior.
Ford: Latvala, Hirvonen, Ostberg, Wilson, Villagra, H. Solberg, Andersson, Al Qassimi, Kuipers and Novikov.
Mini: Meeke, Sordo, Oliveira, Araujo and Flodin.

For their start, the Minis could well do well, their very remote starting positions (between 15th and 31st place) ensuring them a well-cleaned track. In any case, this return of Mini with its Countryman WRC should, hopefully, spice up a category that is already very hectic at the start of the season.

Slightly down, the S2000 category will not be less attractive with 12 entries distributed mainly among Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia, a single Fiat Punto and Peugeot 207 coming to join the fight.