ProDrive continues with Minis in 2013

According to Richard Taylor from ProDrive the team will continue with Minis in selected rallies in 2013. So, it's time to start the rumour mill for potential mini pilots next year... presumably we could expect another appearance in WRC by Jarkko Nikara??!

Hänninen excited about Fiesta WRC

Finnish online media MTV3 reported about Juho Hänninen's test with WRC Fiesta (the article is in Finnish only). After a lengthy and very successful career at Skoda Juho is excited about stepping up to WRC and enjoying the potential of Fiesta.

Footage from Ostberg's Monte test reveal engine problems

Mads Ostberg has also been testing for Monte. Footage shows that M-Sport experienced slight engine failure problems during the day.

Hänninen testing a WRC Fiesta for Monte

Juho Hänninen is preparing for his M-Sport entry in Monte Carlo. Watch the video here.

Grönholm to test for VW

According to planetemarcus.com, former WRC champion Marcus Grönholm will support the VW Rally Team as a test driver next year. If we are lucky we might see him in full action in Rallye Finland ;)

Hänninen receives an award

As the winner of most IRC events, Juho Hänninen receives the Rally Challenge award. The significance of this award is pinpointed by the fact that this year he was able to beat the most successful rally driver of all times, Sebastien Loeb. Congratulations!

Top motorsport series are loosing champions - so what?

The Finnish newspaper and online media Turun Sanomat has posted a somewhat silly article today (available in Finnish only, sorry about that) about top motorsport series loosing their champions (refering to F1 and WRC in particular). According to the article the value of multiple champions is almost too high for these series if they are going to loose them. Presumably, Loeb will not be able to compete for the title in WRC next year due to his decision to race only some rallies during the season. The same is happening in F1 with champions such as Schumacher retiring for next year.

So, how sad is this really? If we are looking at the next year in WRC and WRC2 series these two will be extremely interesting for spectators and rally-enthusiasts since we are seeing new teams and new, young and extremely talented drivers entering the scene. Nothing can be taken for granted next year, and this makes the game far more interesting than what we have seen during the past years, when the biggest gamble was whether some of the rivals of Loeb will be able to challenge him or not.

The scene is changing and there's more room for future champions to show their talent.