http://www.maxrally.com Maxrally, created by Mediatica and McKlein, is a website featuring independent rally news, photographs and features from the WRC, IRC and other series. http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/raikkonen_japan_the_toughest_yet http://www.maxrally.com/site/raikkonen_japan_the_toughest_yet/#When:11:00:41Z Kimi Raikkonen believes that Rally Japan will be one of the toughest challenges that he faces in his debut season in the World Rally Championship. WRC 2010-09-06T11:00:41+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/big_challenge_for_crews_on_final_japan_leg http://www.maxrally.com/site/big_challenge_for_crews_on_final_japan_leg/#When:09:00:20Z The final leg of Rally Japan this weekend could prove decisive in the outcome of the world championship qualifier. WRC 2010-09-06T09:00:20+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/hirvonen_targets_wins_in_japan_and_wales http://www.maxrally.com/site/hirvonen_targets_wins_in_japan_and_wales/#When:06:42:31Z Mikko Hirvonen says he can win two of the remaining four world championship rallies this season and plans to do all he can to end a largely frustrating campaign on a high note. WRC 2010-09-06T06:42:31+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/football_role_could_force_nobre_out_of_pwrc http://www.maxrally.com/site/football_role_could_force_nobre_out_of_pwrc/#When:22:01:42Z Paulo Nobre says he might be forced to abandon his plans to take part in the Production Car World Rally Championship for a second season after revealing he is planning to run as president of Palmeiras Football Club in his native Brazil. WRC 2010-09-05T22:01:42+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/block_teams_up_with_hip-hop_stars_for_video http://www.maxrally.com/site/block_teams_up_with_hip-hop_stars_for_video/#When:19:32:28Z Rallying and hip-hop have met for the first time, with Ken Block’s Monster World Rally Team releasing the Gymkhana3 part 1 video, featuring popular beat combo The Cool Kids. Other 2010-09-05T19:32:28+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/class_win_for_meeke_and_citroen_in_france http://www.maxrally.com/site/class_win_for_meeke_and_citroen_in_france/#When:19:25:09Z Reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champions Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle have taken class victory on Rallye Mont-Blanc, round five of the French Rally Championship. European 2010-09-05T19:25:09+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/the_goddess_is_back http://www.maxrally.com/site/the_goddess_is_back/#When:17:16:51Z History has a funny habit of turning around in circles. Citroen’s latest and eagerly anticipated rally challenger is of course the DS3. The road car it is based upon is cute, funky, and according to a series of television ads that are on at the moment starring John Lennon (before he died), “anti retro”. 2010-09-04T17:16:51+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/duvals_rallye_de_france_bid_falters http://www.maxrally.com/site/duvals_rallye_de_france_bid_falters/#When:15:06:44Z Francois Duval’s bid to return to the world championship on Rallye de France from September 30-October 3 appears to have faltered after his name did not appear on the draft entry list published last week. WRC 2010-09-04T15:06:44+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/live_stages_to_get_extra_points_in_wrc http://www.maxrally.com/site/live_stages_to_get_extra_points_in_wrc/#When:14:19:39Z The World Rally Championship’s points system could be set for another radical shake-up when extra points are introduced for live televised stages. WRC 2010-09-04T14:19:39+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/prodrive_gathering_to_pay_tribute_to_richard_burns http://www.maxrally.com/site/prodrive_gathering_to_pay_tribute_to_richard_burns/#When:20:57:48Z Fans of Richard Burns will pay homage to England’s only world rally champion, who lost his battle with cancer five years ago in November, at the inaugural Remembering Richard event at Prodrive’s base in Banbury, UK, on September 25. Other 2010-09-03T20:57:48+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/meeke_and_andersson_tipped_for_mini http://www.maxrally.com/site/meeke_and_andersson_tipped_for_mini/#When:09:00:42Z MINI is understood to have signed Kris Meeke and P-G Andersson as its drivers for next season – but Marcus Gronholm remains a possibility, with the Finn testing the Countryman WRC in Portugal next week. WRC 2010-09-03T09:00:42+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mikkelsen_gets_skoda_for_wrc_return http://www.maxrally.com/site/mikkelsen_gets_skoda_for_wrc_return/#When:08:31:41Z Andreas Mikkelsen will return to the World Rally Championship on Rallye de France later this month after agreeing a deal to drive a Skoda Fabia Super 2000 for Pierfranceso Zanchi’s Skoda Rally Team Italy operation. WRC 2010-09-03T08:31:41+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/rally_sweden_to_include_norwegian_stages http://www.maxrally.com/site/rally_sweden_to_include_norwegian_stages/#When:13:22:01Z The forests around Kongsvinger will once again reverberate to the sound of the World Rally Car following Rally Sweden’s decision to spend the first day of their event in Norway next February. WRC 2010-09-02T13:22:01+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/gronholm_to_test_mini_countryman_wrc_in_portugal http://www.maxrally.com/site/gronholm_to_test_mini_countryman_wrc_in_portugal/#When:10:58:01Z Marcus Gronholm will begin testing the MINI Countryman WRC in Portugal next week. WRC 2010-09-02T10:58:01+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/michelin_confirms_wrc_interest_and_begins_testing http://www.maxrally.com/site/michelin_confirms_wrc_interest_and_begins_testing/#When:16:00:29Z Michelin has confirmed it is hoping to return to the World Rally Championship next season – and it has already begun testing its tyres according to sources. WRC 2010-09-01T16:00:29+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/sportscar_star_aims_for_valais_run http://www.maxrally.com/site/sportscar_star_aims_for_valais_run/#When:11:47:55Z Aston Martin sportscar racer Harold Primat is aiming to drive the zero car on this year’s Rallye du Valais in Switzerland at the end October with a view to competing on the European championship counter in 2011. European 2010-09-01T11:47:55+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/dakar_and_wrc_bids_could_run_in_tandem_says_nissen http://www.maxrally.com/site/dakar_and_wrc_bids_could_run_in_tandem_says_nissen/#When:09:36:27Z Despite speculation to the contrary, Volkswagen sporting chief Kris Nissen says he is in no hurry to end the firm’s Dakar programme to move into the World Rally Championship. Other 2010-09-01T09:36:27+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/volkswagen_no_car_decision_taken_yet http://www.maxrally.com/site/volkswagen_no_car_decision_taken_yet/#When:07:29:11Z Volkswagen's motorsport director Kris Nissen has insisted no decisions have been taken over which car would be used in the German firm’s World Rally Championship campaign. WRC 2010-09-01T07:29:11+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/van_dalen_peugeot_207_can_be_a_winner_next_year http://www.maxrally.com/site/van_dalen_peugeot_207_can_be_a_winner_next_year/#When:13:00:42Z Kronos Racing team principal Marc van Dalen believes the Peugeot 207 S2000 will be competitive from the start of next season. IRC 2010-08-31T13:00:42+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/finnish_title_joy_for_veteran_salo http://www.maxrally.com/site/finnish_title_joy_for_veteran_salo/#When:07:59:02Z Juha Salo won his fifth Finnish Rally Championship title at the weekend, taking second place on the Vartti SM-Rally. European 2010-08-31T07:59:02+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/meeke_to_tackle_mont_blanc_in_ds3_r3 http://www.maxrally.com/site/meeke_to_tackle_mont_blanc_in_ds3_r3/#When:06:00:10Z As expected, reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Kris Meeke will tackle the asphalt-based Rallye Mont-Blanc, round five of the French Rally Championship, from September 2-4 at the wheel of Citroen’s new DS3 R3. European 2010-08-31T06:00:10+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/too_much_choice http://www.maxrally.com/site/too_much_choice/#When:23:59:28Z It struck me the other day, when I was helping some friends buy their new car, that the whole experience has become alarmingly similar to buying coffee from Starbucks. The car that they wanted was a Ford Fiesta. 2010-08-30T23:59:28+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/kopecky_honoured_by_mcrae_award_win http://www.maxrally.com/site/kopecky_honoured_by_mcrae_award_win/#When:13:00:47Z Jan Kopecky has described winning the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy on Barum Czech Rally Zlin as a “big honour”. IRC 2010-08-30T13:00:47+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/spare_tyre_risk_pays_dividends_for_hanninen http://www.maxrally.com/site/spare_tyre_risk_pays_dividends_for_hanninen/#When:09:22:49Z Juho Hanninen said he risked carrying one spare tyre for the final loop of four stages on Barum Czech Rally Zlin yesterday (Sunday) in a determined effort to keep his Intercontinental Rally Challenge title bid on track. IRC 2010-08-30T09:22:49+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/more_attack_turned_loix_into_a_record-breaker http://www.maxrally.com/site/more_attack_turned_loix_into_a_record-breaker/#When:21:27:08Z Freddy Loix says his decision to adopt a more attacking driving style after the opening loop of stages of the rain-hit Barum Czech Rally Zlin on Saturday was a key factor in him claiming his third consecutive victory in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season to become the most successful driver in the history of the series by winning six IRC events. IRC 2010-08-29T21:27:08+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/solberg_convinced_he_can_fight_for_wrc_wins http://www.maxrally.com/site/solberg_convinced_he_can_fight_for_wrc_wins/#When:06:54:42Z Petter Solberg is convinced he has the pace to win a round of the World Rally Championship before the end of this season. WRC 2010-08-29T06:54:42+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/loeb_vows_to_concentrate_on_winning_title http://www.maxrally.com/site/loeb_vows_to_concentrate_on_winning_title/#When:06:00:29Z Sebastien Loeb, who recently claimed his 17th consecutive victory on a pure asphalt rally, has said that there will be no heroics when it comes to sealing the world title for a seventh time. WRC 2010-08-29T06:00:29+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mellors_keen_on_giving_cronin_more_proton_runs http://www.maxrally.com/site/mellors_keen_on_giving_cronin_more_proton_runs/#When:21:55:02Z Proton team boss Chris Mellors is ready to hand Keith Cronin another run in his factory-blessed Satria Neo Super 2000, despite the Irishman crashing into retirement on the penultimate stage of the opening leg of Barum Czech Rally Zlin earlier today. IRC 2010-08-28T21:55:02+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/cronin_the_real_deal_according_to_mcshea http://www.maxrally.com/site/cronin_the_real_deal_according_to_mcshea/#When:09:28:14Z Niall McShea believes new Proton team-mate Keith Cronin is the real deal after accompanying the British champion during a test in Czech Republic last Monday. IRC 2010-08-28T09:28:14+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/top_10_the_car_makes_most_likely_to_enter_the_wrc http://www.maxrally.com/site/top_10_the_car_makes_most_likely_to_enter_the_wrc/#When:09:12:13Z There’s been a flurry of activity on the manufacturer front recently, with car makers sniffing around the World Rally Championship like tigers at feeding time. Here’s a list of 10 constructors that might take the plunge, from dead certainties to strong speculation… WRC 2010-08-28T09:12:13+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/no_pain_for_irc_returnee_wilks http://www.maxrally.com/site/no_pain_for_irc_returnee_wilks/#When:23:59:20Z Skoda UK driver Guy Wilks has reported no ill-effects from his back-breaking crash on Rally d’Italia-Sardinia in June. IRC 2010-08-27T23:59:20+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/hirvonen_and_latvala_get_set_to_sample_new_fiesta http://www.maxrally.com/site/hirvonen_and_latvala_get_set_to_sample_new_fiesta/#When:23:57:55Z Ford factory drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala will have their first taste of the new Fiesta WRC at a test between the rallies of France and Spain in October. WRC 2010-08-27T23:57:55+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/toyota_poised_for_imminent_wrc_entry http://www.maxrally.com/site/toyota_poised_for_imminent_wrc_entry/#When:23:54:50Z Toyota is drawing closer to a future engagement in the World Rally Championship, with sources claiming that the decision has already been made for the Japanese giant to return the sport as early as next year. WRC 2010-08-27T23:54:50+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/ogier_craves_more_asphalt_pace http://www.maxrally.com/site/ogier_craves_more_asphalt_pace/#When:23:59:47Z Sebastien Ogier has conceded that he still needs to up his pace on asphalt if he is to take the fight to six-time world champion Sebastien Loeb on a consistent basis. WRC 2010-08-26T23:59:47+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/rally_indonesia_cancelled_aprc_reduced_to_six_rounds http://www.maxrally.com/site/rally_indonesia_cancelled_aprc_reduced_to_six_rounds/#When:23:58:51Z Next month’s Rally Indonesia has been cancelled and will not be replaced, reducing this year’s Asia-Pacific Rally Championship to a six-round series. Worldwide 2010-08-26T23:58:51+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/kimi_likely_to_keep_on_rallying_in_2011 http://www.maxrally.com/site/kimi_likely_to_keep_on_rallying_in_2011/#When:11:57:23Z Kimi Raikkonen is edging closer to a deal to keep himself in the World Rally Championship next year. WRC 2010-08-26T11:57:23+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/bells_and_whistles http://www.maxrally.com/site/bells_and_whistles/#When:10:50:32Z There is a badge of honour out there – particularly prevalent in motorsport – that is worth more to some people than a mayoral chain or even an Iron Cross. That is the whistle. A whistle in the wrong hands is more dangerous than a chimpanzee with an Uzi. 2010-08-25T10:50:32+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/quesnel_expects_top_fives_from_raikkonen http://www.maxrally.com/site/quesnel_expects_top_fives_from_raikkonen/#When:10:27:25Z Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen should be looking to finish in the top five on the next two rounds of the World Rally Championship, according to his team principal Olivier Quesnel. WRC 2010-08-25T10:27:25+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/paddons_speed_impresses_pirelli_star_driver_head_short http://www.maxrally.com/site/paddons_speed_impresses_pirelli_star_driver_head_short/#When:10:19:15Z Pirelli Star Driver supervisor Phil Short has admitted he was surprised at the front-running pace Kiwi Hayden Paddon showed on last week’s Rallye Deutschland. WRC 2010-08-25T10:19:15+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/loeb_defends_safety_on_rallye_deutschland http://www.maxrally.com/site/loeb_defends_safety_on_rallye_deutschland/#When:17:07:42Z Sebastien Loeb has defended Rallye Deutschland after his rivals labelled the Trier-based event dangerous last week. WRC 2010-08-24T17:07:42+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/pons_plans_asturias_run_to_recapture_lost_pace http://www.maxrally.com/site/pons_plans_asturias_run_to_recapture_lost_pace/#When:17:04:44Z Xevi Pons will enter the European championship-counting Rally Principe de Asturias in Spain next month in an effort to improve his form on asphalt. European 2010-08-24T17:04:44+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/sordo_offered_citroen_junior_team_drive http://www.maxrally.com/site/sordo_offered_citroen_junior_team_drive/#When:16:34:47Z Citroen team principal Olivier Quesnel has confirmed Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier will drive in the Citroen Total World Rally Team next season – after he offered Dani Sordo a full-time seat in the Junior squad. WRC 2010-08-24T16:34:47+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/kopecky_wary_of_zlin_superspecial_threat http://www.maxrally.com/site/kopecky_wary_of_zlin_superspecial_threat/#When:23:59:17Z Jan Kopecky has vowed to treat Barum Czech Rally Zlin’s opening superspecial stage with the utmost respect. IRC 2010-08-23T23:59:17+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/quesnel_considers_meeke_for_ds3_r3_drive http://www.maxrally.com/site/quesnel_considers_meeke_for_ds3_r3_drive/#When:17:28:46Z Olivier Quesnel is considering calling up Kris Meeke to drive Citroen Racing’s DS3 R3 on a rally in France before the end of the season. European 2010-08-23T17:28:46+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/raikkonen_held_back_by_set-up_in_germany http://www.maxrally.com/site/raikkonen_held_back_by_set-up_in_germany/#When:15:40:29Z Kimi Raikkonen’s hopes of a top-six finish on Rallye Deutschland were hindered by the wrong set-up for the final day of the Trier-based event. WRC 2010-08-23T15:40:29+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mcshea_told_to_push_on_proton_irc_return http://www.maxrally.com/site/mcshea_told_to_push_on_proton_irc_return/#When:17:24:32Z Proton R3 Rally Team boss Chris Mellors will tell Niall McShea to go flat-out when the Malaysian marque returns to Intercontinental Rally Challenge action in Czech Republic this week. IRC 2010-08-22T17:24:32+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/loeb_didnt_expect_eighth_deutschland_win http://www.maxrally.com/site/loeb_didnt_expect_eighth_deutschland_win/#When:17:14:21Z Sebastien Loeb has revealed that his record-breaking eighth victory on Rallye Deutschland earlier today wasn’t a foregone conclusion when he arrived in host city Trier to prepare for the pre-event reconnaissance last Monday. WRC 2010-08-22T17:14:21+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/block_disappointed_following_germany_exit http://www.maxrally.com/site/block_disappointed_following_germany_exit/#When:06:36:10Z Ken Block has described his disappointment after retiring from Rallye Deutschland this morning. WRC 2010-08-22T06:36:10+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/giraudet_breaks_ribs_in_rallye_deutschland_smash http://www.maxrally.com/site/giraudet_breaks_ribs_in_rallye_deutschland_smash/#When:20:01:11Z Experienced navigator Denis Giraudet has sustained a number of broken ribs in a crash on Rallye Deutschland earlier today. WRC 2010-08-21T20:01:11+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/volkswagen_launches_race_touareg_3 http://www.maxrally.com/site/volkswagen_launches_race_touareg_3/#When:07:58:49Z Volkswagen launched its latest Dakar car – the Race Touareg 3 – in Trier, Germany, last night. Worldwide 2010-08-21T07:58:49+00:00