Gassner Jr targets IRC career boost

13th January 2012

By Giles Wade

Hermann Gassner Jr will switch to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2012. The German, who failed to sparkle on his debut season competing in Super 2000 machinery last term, hopes the strong nature of the competition in the IRC will make him a better driver.

The 23-year-old, who has agreed an eight-event programme in a Red Bull-backed Skoda Fabia S2000 run by Raimund Baumschlager’s BRR squad, will link up with new co-driver Klaus Wicha following his split with former navigator Kathi Wuestenhagen. He will also contest Germany’s world championship counter in late August.

“It looks like I’m going to spend a lot of time in the cockpit this year, and that’s a good thing too,” said Gassner Jr. “It’s certainly the best for my development. I’m going to try and keep up with the best of them from the very start. My team as well as my familiar rallying machine, the Skoda Fabia Super 2000, will help me in doing so. And with Klaus Wicha a very experienced co-driver will be available to me. I can hardly wait for the season to finally kick off.”

Gassner Jr made his IRC debut on the Canon Mecsek Rallye in Hungary last September, finishing fifth overall. His 2012 title bid will begin on next month’s all-gravel Sata Rallye Acores and will include the rounds in Gran Canaria, Corsica, Hungary, Beglium, Czech Republic, Italy and Cyprus.