W&R - Wheeled and Rolling!!: abril 2011

miércoles, abril 13, 2011

WRC 2011: Rally Jordan

After Sweden, Mexico and Portugal, which have been very different in characteristics. Rally Jordan is the one with the lowest stages, some of them below sea level. And also, as it is the only one in the calendar held in a muslim country, the calendar must be subjected to the traditions. Thats why is the only one that ends on a saturday.

Also, because of the geography and the political inestability of some countries in the area, there were doubts about the organization and even rumors about cancelation were in the air. The FIA had to step up and confirm that event was a go. But it didnt count on the condition that if something might fail, it will. Reports from the teams about the changes in the logistics to move the recce cars and team´s service trucks to Jordan via Israel confirmed that the equipment is arriving late and even the organization has confirmed that the first day of competition will be canceled as the event has been shortened. .

Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe Director of Motorsports has directly confirmed to me via twitter, that all day 1 stages have been canceled (73.48 kms). To qualify as a full round of the WRC, they must run at least 66 per cent of the route. 5 hours ago, 12 team trucks crossed the border from Israel to Jordan, and more will follow, after arriving late to Haifa in Israel. When the equipment arrives to Jordan at the Rally Park past midnight, members from the team will start to set the service areas. Rally cars arrived without problems as they are transported by air.

The teams have already done recce in standard 4x4 vehicles and shakedown will be held atr 12:30 until 14:30 local time, in the afternoon the ceremonial start. The race will be friday - 114.30 kms, and saturday - 115 km of rally stages. This will be difficult for Mikko who will start in first place, and he will be limited to recover from cleaning the roads in a regularly short and now shorter rally.