 'Challenging gravel rally in Lausitz!' Persbericht: ERC
Foto: William Heuvink | Rallycenter
Gravel, it is the favoured surface of every real rally driver who is passionate about drifting. In order to experience some exceptional drifting you don’t necessarily have to go to the Rally of Finland or the RAC .This coming weekend, in the German town of Boxberg, there is a magnificent rally on the programme, consisting of 95% gravel roads. A serious challenge for the competitors of the Euro Rally Challenge.
The Lausitz Rally is the second heat on German soil for the Autosoft Euro Rally Challenge. An eccentric rally due to it's sublime gravel course, but also due to strong and numerous participants competing in this German rally championship race. A race that Mark van Eldik wouldn’t want to miss, but unfortunately the Subaru driver will have to decline this challenge in Boxberg. Mark is still recovering form the injuries which were a result of his accident in Hellendoorn . The entire ERC Family would like to wish him and his navigator a speedy recovery.
Since his victory last Sunday and without van Eldik in the line up, the brand new Dutch Champion, Erik Wevers, is of course the favourite in his Ford Focus WRC06. The pilot from Markelo will however have to keep an eye on Leszek Kuzaj .The Polish driver is making his ERC debut in his Peugeot 207 Super 2000, the same rally car we saw in action earlier this year with Dennis Kuipers behind the wheel. Those who are familiar with Kuzaj know that he is damn fast on gravel and has the guts to go that extra mile in these difficult conditions. Other favourites in Group A are father and son René and Dennis Kuipers, each with their Ford Focus WRC06. Due to the fact that Temmink (professional commitments), Kleinjan (budget) and Hodula (engine) will all not be competing, finishing is for the Focus drives, a guaranty of a plethora of points.
In Group N, Jania Depping who has achieved a very nice second place in the intermediate standings of the ERC and who definitely still has a chance at the final victory, also has the honour of being the first ERC driver to get underway. In the scope of the German Championship, this enthusiastic young lady starts with number 14, which could lead to a few surprises. Her competition in Group N, the Dane Michael Pedersen, will be starting much later in the field with number 58 and Edwin Schilt, teammate of Mark van Eldik, has decided to forfeit the race.
Jan de Winkel isn't afraid to undergo the challenge of this gravel rally in his Renault Clio R3. Despite the front wheel drive, we know that this Renault pilot will indeed be experiencing the enormous pleasure of the gravel.
In Group H, Tim Stebani is forced to stand on the sidelines due to the persistent technical problems with his Skoda Octavia kit car. Joost Kusters will also not be competing giving the Danish father and son team Funch a clear run and hopefully a chance of finishing with their Opel Kadett GT/E.
The Lausitz Rally starts Friday evening with two runs of Reichwalde, a stage of 21,53 km. Saturday continues with 2 passes of Nochten (14,86 km) and Mulhwitz (13,14 km), followed by a circuit in Klitten (11,02 km).The race is concluded with two runs of the stage Mühlrose, with a length of 20,13 km , a serious test of endurance for all competitors. The winner will drive over the finish podium in Boxberg at approximately 18h.
General Information
Lausitz Rally
17-18 October 2008, Boxberg, Ger.
Course: 398,66 km in total, 150,34 km chrono, over 9 SS’s
Friday 17 October: 2 SS's, start 16h15, finish 20h16
Saturday 18 October: 7 SS's, start 8h15, finish 18h01
Start numbers Euro Rally Challenge
14 Janina Depping - Sabrina Beier (DE-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7 N4).
51 Erik Wevers - Jalmar van Weeren (Ford Focus RS WRC06 A8).
52 Leszek Kuzaj - Craig Parry (PL/GB-Peugeot 207 S2000 N4).
55 Dennis Kuipers - Kees Hagman (Ford Focus RS WRC06 A8).
54 René Kuipers - Erwin Mombaerts (Ford Focus RS WRC06 A8).
62 Jan de Winkel - Radboud van Hoek (Renault Clio R3 A7).
58 Michael Pedersen - Mie Petersen (DK-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 N4).
81 Hans Ole Funch - Thomas Funch (DE-Opel Kadett GT/E YS19).
Standings Euro Rally Challenge
Group A
1 Erik Wevers-Jalmar van Weeren (NL) 36.
2 Harry Kleinjan-Annemieke Hulzebos (NL) 21.
3 Mark van Eldik-Michel Groenewoud (NL) 18.
4 René Kuipers-Erwin Mombaerts (NL) 17.
5 Dennis Kuipers-Kees Hagman (NL) 8.
6 John Temmink-Henk-Jan Elbert (NL) 9.
7 Mihali Hodula-Mark Varhidi (HU) 6.
Group R
1 Jan de Winkel-Radboud van Hoek (NL) 30.
Group N/S2000.
1 Michael Pedersen-Mie Petersen (DK) 30.
2 Janina Depping-Sabrina Breier (D) 24.
3 Dennis Kuipers-Kees Hagman (NL) 18.
4 Edwin Schilt-Peter Verschuur (NL) 11.
5 Gerard Sharkey-John F. O’Mahony (IE) 6.
Group H
1 Hans-Ole Funch-Thomas Funch (D) 20. |
