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/injury_forces_wilson_out_of_rally_sweden http://www.maxrally.com/site/injury_forces_wilson_out_of_rally_sweden/#When:22:15:01Z Matthew Wilson won’t contest Rally Sweden next week after injuring his ankle during a training session near his home in north-west England earlier today. WRC 2012-02-04T22:15:01+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mini_and_prodrive_on_verge_of_split http://www.maxrally.com/site/mini_and_prodrive_on_verge_of_split/#When:19:02:01Z Mini and Prodrive look set to announce their divorce this week, following a long-running disagreement over the way that their World Rally Championship programme is funded. WRC 2012-02-04T19:02:01+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/bastia_to_feature_on_revamped_tour_de_corse_route http://www.maxrally.com/site/bastia_to_feature_on_revamped_tour_de_corse_route/#When:11:48:08Z This year’s Tour de Corse will include stages around Bastia for the first time since 1994 as part of a revamped itinerary for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier from May 10-12. IRC 2012-02-04T11:48:08+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/makinen_helps_neuville_prepare_for_snow_debut http://www.maxrally.com/site/makinen_helps_neuville_prepare_for_snow_debut/#When:11:06:27Z Thierry Neuville has turned to four-time world champion Tommi Makinen to help him prepare for his debut snow rally in Sweden next week. WRC 2012-02-04T11:06:27+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/solowow_plans_to_capitalise_on_fiesta_s2000_knowledge http://www.maxrally.com/site/solowow_plans_to_capitalise_on_fiesta_s2000_knowledge/#When:22:40:48Z Michal Solowow says the experience he’s gained driving a Ford Fiesta S2000 will ease his transition to a Fiesta RS WRC, run by factory Ford team M-Sport, on Rally Sweden next week. WRC 2012-02-03T22:40:48+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mikkelsen_snow_rallies_will_aid_irc_title_defence http://www.maxrally.com/site/mikkelsen_snow_rallies_will_aid_irc_title_defence/#When:22:21:14Z Andreas Mikkelsen reckons the three snow rallies he will contest prior to his IRC title defence getting underway on SATA Rallye Acores from February 23-25 will hand him an advantage. IRC 2012-02-03T22:21:14+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/fia_says_no_promoter_deal_in_place_for_wrc http://www.maxrally.com/site/fia_says_no_promoter_deal_in_place_for_wrc/#When:18:26:51Z The FIA says it has "not proven possible" to find a new promoter for the World Rally Championship so far, and that it will provide timing and tracking for the series as well as "sporting and technical services" for the time being. WRC 2012-02-03T18:26:51+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/coverage_hopes_prompts_al_ketbi_to_choose_irc http://www.maxrally.com/site/coverage_hopes_prompts_al_ketbi_to_choose_irc/#When:22:05:00Z Rashid Al Ketbi says he has chosen to contest 10 rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2012 because he believes it will give his backer, Skydive Dubai, the best chance of media coverage. IRC 2012-02-02T22:05:00+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/no_mini_split_insists_prodrives_taylor http://www.maxrally.com/site/no_mini_split_insists_prodrives_taylor/#When:18:13:41Z Prodrive’s Richard Taylor has dismissed media reports suggesting the company’s long-term deal with Mini to run its World Rally Championship campaign will shortly be canned. WRC 2012-02-01T18:13:41+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/m-sport_becomes_wrc_academy_promoter http://www.maxrally.com/site/m-sport_becomes_wrc_academy_promoter/#When:19:11:29Z M-Sport will act as both supplier and promoter to the FIA WRC Academy Cup in 2012, the governing body has announced. WRC 2012-01-31T19:11:29+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/ostberg_back_in_the_groove_with_elverum_win http://www.maxrally.com/site/ostberg_back_in_the_groove_with_elverum_win/#When:23:59:09Z Mads Ostberg continued his preparations for his WRC return with a commanding victory on the Norwegian championship Rally Elverum last weekend. European 2012-01-30T23:59:09+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/higgins_mentally_drained_after_snodrift_victory http://www.maxrally.com/site/higgins_mentally_drained_after_snodrift_victory/#When:23:54:42Z David Higgins says he was left "mentally drained" after getting the defence of his Rally America National title off to the perfect start with victory on last weekend’s Sno*Drift Rally. Worldwide 2012-01-30T23:54:42+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/vw_set_to_monitor_wiegands_irc_exploits http://www.maxrally.com/site/vw_set_to_monitor_wiegands_irc_exploits/#When:23:50:36Z Sepp Wiegand will be kept under a watchful eye when he contests 10 rounds of this season’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge. IRC 2012-01-30T23:50:36+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/gronholms_son_to_take_up_rallying http://www.maxrally.com/site/gronholms_son_to_take_up_rallying/#When:23:58:59Z Marcus Gronholm could be about to embark on the next stage of his career as a team manager after it was revealed that his son is about to start driving. Other 2012-01-29T23:58:59+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/flodin_targets_irc_after_pulling_sweden_entry http://www.maxrally.com/site/flodin_targets_irc_after_pulling_sweden_entry/#When:23:55:10Z Patrik Flodin has canned his Rally Sweden entry in order to secure a switch to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for 2012. IRC 2012-01-29T23:55:10+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/araujo_unsure_of_wrc_schedule_due_to_money_woes http://www.maxrally.com/site/araujo_unsure_of_wrc_schedule_due_to_money_woes/#When:23:50:13Z Armindo Aruajo says he’s unsure how many rounds of this year’s World Rally Championship he’ll be able to tackle due to a lack of budget. WRC 2012-01-29T23:50:13+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/debut_mini_win_for_al-kuwari_ends_al-attiyahs_qatar_run http://www.maxrally.com/site/debut_mini_win_for_al-kuwari_ends_al-attiyahs_qatar_run/#When:18:17:34Z Nasser Al-Attiyah’s wining run on the Qatar International Rally is over after he fell short in his bid to make it victory number 10 on the Middle East championship qualifier. Worldwide 2012-01-28T18:17:34+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/atkinson_postpones_wrc_return http://www.maxrally.com/site/atkinson_postpones_wrc_return/#When:18:04:02Z Chris Atkinson’s long-awaited return to the World Rally Championship has been postponed yet again after it emerged that he won’t be taking up his entry for Rally Sweden next month. WRC 2012-01-28T18:04:02+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/sainz_tips_ogier_to_become_world_champion http://www.maxrally.com/site/sainz_tips_ogier_to_become_world_champion/#When:13:45:21Z Carlos Sainz has tipped Volkswagen Motorsport driver Sebastien Ogier to win the World Rally Championship in the future following his standout performance on the Monte Carlo Rally last week. WRC 2012-01-28T13:45:21+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/al-attiyah_in_struggle_to_make_it_10_qatar_wins http://www.maxrally.com/site/al-attiyah_in_struggle_to_make_it_10_qatar_wins/#When:23:34:56Z Nasser Al-Attiyah faces a tall order in his bid to make it 10 successive victories on the Qatar International Rally after a troubled opening day to this year’s event in his Kronos Racing Peugeot 207 Super 2000. Worldwide 2012-01-27T23:34:56+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/waldegard_to_demo_jay_kays_porsche http://www.maxrally.com/site/waldegard_to_demo_jay_kays_porsche/#When:23:12:24Z Bjorn Waldegard, who won last November’s East African Safari Classic driving for Tuthill Porsche, will make a rare appearance in a Porsche 914-6 – similar to the one he drove to equal third place on the Monte Carlo Rally in 1971 – at next month’s Race Retro event in the UK. Other 2012-01-27T23:12:24+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/higgins_confident_of_rally_america_title_defence http://www.maxrally.com/site/higgins_confident_of_rally_america_title_defence/#When:23:00:27Z David Higgins says he has the right car to defend his Rally America National title but admits he’ll face strong opposition in his bid to secure top honours for Subaru Rally Team USA. Worldwide 2012-01-27T23:00:27+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/mini_in_funding_hope_after_monte_podium http://www.maxrally.com/site/mini_in_funding_hope_after_monte_podium/#When:16:24:14Z Mini team chief Dave Wilcock is hoping Dani Sordo’s second place on last week’s Monte Carlo Rally will kick-start further investment in the programme. WRC 2012-01-26T16:24:14+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/nicolas_warns_irc_stars_to_expect_tough_circuit_test http://www.maxrally.com/site/nicolas_warns_irc_stars_to_expect_tough_circuit_test/#When:16:17:23Z Former international rally driver Jean-Pierre Nicolas says the Circuit of Ireland will be “incredibly demanding” when it hosts round three of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from April 6/7. IRC 2012-01-26T16:17:23+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/titanic_dock_stage_for_circuit_of_ireland http://www.maxrally.com/site/titanic_dock_stage_for_circuit_of_ireland/#When:16:02:35Z Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally bosses will mark the event’s first appearance in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this April with a superspecial stage in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter where the doomed vessel was launched 100 years ago IRC 2012-01-26T16:02:35+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/brynildsen_makes_wrc_move_with_adapta_ford http://www.maxrally.com/site/brynildsen_makes_wrc_move_with_adapta_ford/#When:17:28:18Z Eyvind Brynildsen will make his World Rally Car debut in Sweden, having secured a deal to join Mads Ostberg in the Adapta Ford line-up, and hopes it is the start of a longer programme. WRC 2012-01-25T17:28:18+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/campana_hopes_for_more_wrc_runs http://www.maxrally.com/site/campana_hopes_for_more_wrc_runs/#When:09:00:22Z Pierre Campana hopes he can secure additional outings in the World Rally Championship this season following his seventh-place finish on the Monte Carlo Rally last week. WRC 2012-01-25T09:00:22+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/rautenbach_walks_away_after_rules_row http://www.maxrally.com/site/rautenbach_walks_away_after_rules_row/#When:06:53:10Z Conrad Rautenbach, the Zimbabwean rally driver who finished eighth in the World Rally Championship as part of the Citroen Junior Team in 2008, has quit the sport amid frustration at a legal battle that he underwent in order to secure last year's South African Rally Championship. Worldwide 2012-01-25T06:53:10+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/stohl_aigner_can_shine_in_irc http://www.maxrally.com/site/stohl_aigner_can_shine_in_irc/#When:16:41:10Z Manfred Stohl has backed his new signing Andreas Aigner to come out of the international wilderness and shine when he contests the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in a Stohl Racing-run Subaru Impreza R4 STI this season. IRC 2012-01-24T16:41:10+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/turini_panizzi_and_a_fiat_500 http://www.maxrally.com/site/turini_panizzi_and_a_fiat_500/#When:22:42:23Z For every forward-thinking and practical individual, there is at least one unhinged lunatic out there. In Fiat's case, that madman was called Carlo Abarth. Originally, he was an Austrian called Karl, but in the aftermath of the second world war he decided that it might be more politically correct to Latinize his name and re-invent himself as a natural born Italian. WRC 2012-01-23T22:42:23+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/drive_of_the_day_-_monte_day_5_dominique_savignoni http://www.maxrally.com/site/drive_of_the_day_-_monte_day_5_dominique_savignoni/#When:14:48:50Z Francois Delecour had an exceptional treat in store for his co-driver Dominique Savignoni on Savignoni's very last rally. WRC 2012-01-22T14:48:50+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/speedy_solberg_gets_suspended_ban http://www.maxrally.com/site/speedy_solberg_gets_suspended_ban/#When:13:06:03Z Ford driver Petter Solberg has been given a suspended ban from Rally Sweden, to be imposed if he is caught exceeding the speed limit by 50 per cent or more over the next six rallies. WRC 2012-01-22T13:06:03+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/monte_carlo_finish_loeb_achieves_perfection http://www.maxrally.com/site/monte_carlo_finish_loeb_achieves_perfection/#When:10:18:05Z Sebastien Loeb didn't just win the Monte Carlo Rally for a record-extending sixth time (with a crushing victory margin of 2m45.5s), he also set the fastest time on the power stage. WRC 2012-01-22T10:18:05+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/drive_of_the_day_-_monte_day_4_petter_solberg http://www.maxrally.com/site/drive_of_the_day_-_monte_day_4_petter_solberg/#When:20:34:26Z The idea of Petter Solberg returning to the Ford camp and being welcomed back with open arms seemed pretty unlikely when he walked out of the team that had brought him into the World Rally Championship to join Subaru in mid-2000. But the Solberg/Ford reunion is working rather well, with a jubilant Norwegian storming to three fastest times in four stages today and carving into second-placed Dani Sordo's advantage. WRC 2012-01-21T20:34:26+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/monte_day_four_review_loeb_metronomic_solberg_mounts_a_charge http://www.maxrally.com/site/monte_day_four_review_loeb_metronomic_solberg_mounts_a_charge/#When:20:18:53Z Leader Sebastien Loeb ambled ever further into the distance as the final full day of 2012's elongated Monte Carlo Rally progressed - but all eyes were on the podium battle, as Dani Sordo tried to stay ahead of a marauding Petter Solberg and Mikko Hirvonen. WRC 2012-01-21T20:18:53+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/fire_ended_anderssons_swrc_domination http://www.maxrally.com/site/fire_ended_anderssons_swrc_domination/#When:19:38:29Z PROTON team principal Chris Mellors has talked of the disappointment at P-G Andersson's retirement from a seven-minute SWRC lead on Rallye Monte-Carlo. WRC 2012-01-21T19:38:29+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/disaster_for_proton_as_andersson_retires http://www.maxrally.com/site/disaster_for_proton_as_andersson_retires/#When:19:25:11Z Proton's dream of an incredible result on its World Rally Championship return appears to have ended as P-G Andersson retired three stages from home in Monte Carlo. WRC 2012-01-21T19:25:11+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/ogier_monte_shunt_my_biggest_yet http://www.maxrally.com/site/ogier_monte_shunt_my_biggest_yet/#When:18:47:25Z Sebastien Ogier says the crash that ended his heroic Monte Carlo Rally run was the most violent of his career so far, as his co-driver Julien Ingrassia confirmed that he did not suffer any broken bones. WRC 2012-01-21T18:47:25+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/monte_podium_fight_not_over_yet http://www.maxrally.com/site/monte_podium_fight_not_over_yet/#When:18:25:41Z With all the gaps in the lead pack seeming pretty large at the start of day four of the Monte Carlo Rally, it looked like it would be a quiet run to the finish - but Dani Sordo, Petter Solberg and Mikko Hirvonen's battle for second, third and fourth is still bubbling away as they prepare to reconvene for the potentially decisive night stages. WRC 2012-01-21T18:25:41+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/how_tyres_make_the_crucial_difference_on_the_monte http://www.maxrally.com/site/how_tyres_make_the_crucial_difference_on_the_monte/#When:14:08:32Z Tyres are more important in Monte Carlo than on any other event in the World Rally Championship, owing to the huge variety of road and weather conditions encountered. WRC 2012-01-21T14:08:32+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/features/entry/drive_of_the_day_mikko_hirvonen2 http://www.maxrally.com/site/drive_of_the_day_mikko_hirvonen2/#When:16:14:00Z Taking on Sebastien Loeb in the same team isn't for the faint hearted, especially when you've also got just a few weeks before the season opener to acclimatise to Citroen life after six seasons in the Ford camp. WRC 2012-01-20T16:14:00+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/monte_day_three_review_ice_cant_stop_loeb http://www.maxrally.com/site/monte_day_three_review_ice_cant_stop_loeb/#When:15:56:14Z Sebastien Loeb's rivals were pinning their hopes of a Monte Carlo Rally upset on a sudden change of weather catching the world champion off-guard. But when the snow and ice returned, it was Loeb whose guesswork proved correct. And then it dried up and he pulled away some more... WRC 2012-01-20T15:56:14+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/citroen_makes_right_call_as_snow_hits_monte http://www.maxrally.com/site/citroen_makes_right_call_as_snow_hits_monte/#When:11:54:36Z The weather turned unco-operative on the third morning of the 2012 Monte Carlo Rally - and while the works Citroen team got its reaction right, others were left kicking themselves for unwise rubber choices. WRC 2012-01-20T11:54:36+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/todt_promises_promoter_solution_by_sweden http://www.maxrally.com/site/todt_promises_promoter_solution_by_sweden/#When:10:45:09Z Jean Todt, the president of world motorsport's governing body, the FIA, has said that a new promoter for the World Rally Championship will definitely be in place for the Rally Sweden in two weeks' time. WRC 2012-01-20T10:45:09+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/makinen_declares_pajunen_is_next_finnish_superstar http://www.maxrally.com/site/makinen_declares_pajunen_is_next_finnish_superstar/#When:09:18:22Z Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen has tipped Mikko Pajunen as Finland's next big talent after he finished third on the recent Riihimaki Rally, the opening event of the country's national championship. European 2012-01-20T09:18:22+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/monte_day_two_review_loeb_enjoys_the_sunshine http://www.maxrally.com/site/monte_day_two_review_loeb_enjoys_the_sunshine/#When:17:49:45Z Sebastien Loeb did everything you would expect him to on day two of the 2012 World Rally Championship opener - dominating from the front and leaving Dani Sordo and Petter Solberg to provide the close action, while the rally lost a major entertainment factor when Sebastien Ogier demolished his S2000 Skoda. WRC 2012-01-19T17:49:45+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/andersson_shows_what_proton_can_do http://www.maxrally.com/site/andersson_shows_what_proton_can_do/#When:17:16:23Z For the last few years, Proton's rallying exploits have been a story of occasional promise unfulfilled amid endless frustrations. But this winter the team insisted there was cause for confidence - and P-G Andersson's Monte Carlo Rally performance is showing that optimism was well-founded. WRC 2012-01-19T17:16:23+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/the_giantkilling_ends_as_ogier_crashes_out http://www.maxrally.com/site/the_giantkilling_ends_as_ogier_crashes_out/#When:17:03:02Z Sebastien Ogier's heroic Monte Carlo Rally run came to a violent end on Wednesday's final stage when the Frenchman crashed his Volkswagen-run S2000 Skoda out of sixth place overall. WRC 2012-01-19T17:03:02+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/delecour_wants_further_wrc_outings http://www.maxrally.com/site/delecour_wants_further_wrc_outings/#When:13:41:39Z Monte Carlo legend Francois Delecour is hoping to do "two or three" more World Rally Championship events this year at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta RS WRC, with backing from the Romanian government. WRC 2012-01-19T13:41:39+00:00 http://www.maxrally.com/news/entry/hirvonen_finding_his_feet http://www.maxrally.com/site/hirvonen_finding_his_feet/#When:11:32:10Z Mikko Hirvonen's second morning of action as a works Citroen driver has got off to an encouraging start, with the Finn the big mover of the opening loop of day two stages in Monte Carlo. WRC 2012-01-19T11:32:10+00:00