WRC - World Rally Championship - FIA
The 2010 World Rally Championship (WRC) is here. With a start in Sweden this Thursday (11th February 2010) the championship promises to be really exciting.
Rally is something I always liked but didn't follow much. A couple of years ago I went to see the Cardiff Super Special at the Millennium Stadium counting for the Wales Rally GB, last rally of the championship. It was a great evening and I promised to myself to go back, so I did.
Last year I decided that I should see more than the Super Special and went to SS9 and SS12 stages in Halfway, also in Wales. It was amazing, we had a great day and promised to go back in 2010...and so we will.
Why is 2010 WRC special? The answer is: a lot.
Rally is (at least for me) getting more and more exciting specially when comparing with F1. I believe it is not just me who thinks like this. Kimi Raikkonen, 2007 F1 World Champion decided to move from F1 to Rally. After he had a go at it in 2009 just for one Rally (I believe it was Finland) he is now ready for a whole World Rally Championship (WRC). Every Rally fan is looking forward to see what he will be able to do behind the wheel of a Rally car. So, something to look forward to.
After a come back in 2009 to the Rally of Portugal, Marcus Gronholm is now ready for the Rally Sweden. The two times World Champion can stay away for longer from the Rally World and this year he is actually registered to try to get some points to the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team. Something else to look forward to.
Petter Solberg is also prepared to give his best to try to come back to the title fight. With the same car as the six times world champion Sebastian Loeb, Solberg has no excuses to not get in the middle of the fight. Another something to look forward to.
For the ones that follow Rally, 2009 Latvala accident in Portugal is still in your minds. (if you didn't see it you should)
If you were think bye bye Ford Focus, you couldn't be more wrong, Ford has just announced that the exact car Latvala crashed in Portugal is now rebuilt and will be used in Sweden by: Yes, that is right, Jari-Matti Latvala.
You might already have been across a video of a black Rally car doing crazy things in an Airport. That car was driven by Ken Block. This great stunt driver is having is first try at the WRC this year. Ken Block will appear in seven events of this years calendar starting in Mexico. What will he be able to do? Lets see.
If all this is still not enough, there is still the big fight between Sebastian Loeb and 2009 runner up Mikko Hirvonen.
In 2009 Mikko Hirvonen came to Wales (UK) in the lead and ready to stay in the front and get his First World Rally Championship (WRC) title. Mikko Hirvonen gave everything, he was flying on every stage. Unfortunately for him that was not enough as the already 5 times world champion managed to be even faster and take the title. (it was a great rally)
Mikko Hirvonen has been preparing himself to be faster and once again try to get the title.
The statistics would say that Sebastian Loeb will once again be the Champion. Statistically why wouldn't he be? I just gave you many reasons why Sebastian Loeb might not get the WRC title this year. I would say, everything is possible.
On a relative matter, I want to wish Armindo Araujo all the luck to try to once again win the P-WRC. As a Portuguese I was very happy he got the title in 2009 (first Portuguese making it). In 2008 I was lucky enough to talk to him and he seemed to be a very simple/nice guy. Força Armindo.
To finalize I want to call everyone's attention for the new Championship S-WRC (S2000). It will be the first year of what will be the rest of Rally's life. Once again, as a Portuguese, I want to wish all the luck to Bernardo Sousa that is schedule to appear on a Ford Fiesta S2000.
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