First 2010 title clincher for Loeb and Elena

Rally Japan, the tenth of the thirteen rounds of the 2010 FIA World Rally Championship could prove decisive for the attribution of the World Drivers’ title. Read more

Ford in search of victory hat-trick in Land of the Rising Sun

After winning the last two versions of Rally Japan in 2007 and 2008, BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team returns to the Pacific Ocean island of Hokkaido next week intent on sealing a third consecutive win there. Read more

MARK CRONJE TO LEAVE CASTROL TOYOTA MOTORSPORT TEAM TO PURSUE BUSINESS INTERESTS

Toyota Motorsport driver and multiple rally champion Mark Cronjé announced that he will be leaving the Castrol Toyota team to pursue his growing business interests with effect from 1 September 2010.

“It was a very difficult decision for me, but in the interest of my growing kitchen construction business I have decided to take a sabbatical from racing to concentrate all my efforts on the business,” says Cronjé.

Cronjé, a multiple karting and track racing champion, joined the Toyota development team in 1996, winning the Production Car Class E title and Rookie of the Year award. In 1999, he moved to Class D in a Toyota Tazz.

He was introduced to off-road racing with the Castrol Toyota squad in 2003, and began earning his wings in rallying in 2006. He was the South African off-road Class E champion in 2005 and the national rally champion in Class A6 in 2006 and Class A7 in 2007.

Since 2006 he has raced in both the top S2000 rally and SP off-road classes and during this time won 3 national rallies and 1 off-road event.

His business concern led to his decision to stop participating in the National Off-Road series two years ago. According to Cronjé it has now reached a point where he is forced to spend even more time managing it.

“I am very sad to leave at this vital point in the season, but have done so in the interest of the team. Hopefully it will allow Toyota Motorsport enough time to find a replacement and get him accustomed to the Auris S2000 so he can be a serious championship contender for next year,” Cronjé added.

Toyota Motorsport team manager Glyn Hall says although Mark’s decision was unexpected, he fully understands the reasons for it. “Mark has been associated with Toyota since his teenage years and has been a stalwart in the team for nearly two decades.

“It is very difficult to simultaneously manage a growing business and a racing career and Mark took a long term view on his future, recognising the need to concentrate on his business. We respect his decision and would like to thank Mark for his invaluable contribution over the years. We wish him well with his future ventures.”

Hall added that Cronje’s decision will not affect his co-driver Robert Paisley. An announcement on a replacement for Cronje will be made before the Cape Swartland Rally on 17 and 18 September.

Petter Solberg World Rally Team with two cars in Rallye de France

Alongside the Citroën C4 for Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson, the PSWRT will also run a second car for the upcoming Rallye de France. Read more

IRC: Barum Czech Rally Zlin (August 27-29) – Into rival territory!

The ninth round of the 2010 IRC takes teams to the Barum Czech Rally Zlin in the Czech Republic, home of the biggest rivals of the Peugeot 207 S2000 and its drivers! This explains why the French representatives have set their sights so high for the weekend, although their expectations are tinged with a certain degree of lucidity. Read more

Another full house for Team Total on Osram Rally in Eastern Cape

The Osram Rally, sixth round of the 2010 Sasol South African Rally Championship, is always a tough challenge for the country’s special stage racers with its fast, sweeping roads and dizzying drops off high mountain passes in the Southern Drakensberg of the Eastern Cape.  It’s all about bravery and complete faith in the directional calls of the co-driver. Read more

Tough challenge for Hutchison and Coetzee on Osram Rally

Reigning class A7 champions Evan Hutchison and Elvene Coetzee found the going tough in last weekend’s Osram Rally in the Eastern Cape, bringing their Motorite Racing class S2000 Volkswagen Polo home in 12th place overall and 12th in class. Read more

OPPORTUNITY MISSED FOR BASIL READ/BIZHUB FORD RALLY TEAM

It was a bitterly disappointing weekend of lost opportunities for the Basil Read/bizhub Ford Rally Team in the Eastern Cape when Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich were forced to retire after completing the first stage of the Osram Rally, round 6 of the Sasol SA Rally Championship… Read more

Team PIRTEK on a high altitude high

Saturday, 21 August saw the running of the OSRAM Rally hosted by The Sports Car Club in Barkly East. Thirty of South Africa’s top teams fell under starter’s orders for the sixth round of the SASOL South African National Rally Championship. Read more

LEEROY POULTER CLINCHES A6 CHAMPIONSHIP – GEMMELL TAKES FIGHT FOR OVERALL INTO LAST TWO ROUNDS OF CHAMPIONSHIP

The ultra-fast Osram Rally, staged in Barkly East over the weekend, saw Toyota secure its first championship in the 2010 season. This honour goes to Leeroy Poulter and Henry Dearlove in their Imperial Group backed Class A6 Auris. Read more

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