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Considered the first pure asphalt round of the season, the Croatia Rally joined the WRC schedule two years ago and the varied roads around the country’s capital city, Zagreb, are already seen as some of the most challenging on the calendar. With the service park located within Zagreb itself, the stages take place in the north of Croatia close to neighbouring Slovenia. The roads feature a wide variety of different asphalt types, which means that available grip is constantly shifting, while mud and rain can bring about further challenges. Some sections are technical and twisting, but many others are fast and flowing with jumps and crests. Much of the route for this year is familiar from 2022. After the shakedown on Thursday morning and a ceremonial start in Zagreb that evening, Friday’s opening day action takes place just to the west of the city.
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Toyota Gazoo Racing makes asphalt return in Croatia

IN Toyota Gazoo Racing, Croatia, WRC

Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team heads to the Croatia Rally for the fourth round of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship season on April 21-23, 2023.


This isn’t an all-new car of course, nor is it even a facelift (that comes next year, when the Countryman gets new headlights and Union Jack-themed taillights just like the rest of the Mini range, as well as new digital displays). But though it looks no different, the 2020 Countryman JCW’s updates run far deeper than facelifts conventionally do. With 306hp and 450Nm now on tap, the new Countryman JCW has made gains of 75hp and 100Nm over the 2019 model - a full one-third more power and torque than before. That’s all courtesy of an updated version of the B48 2.0-litre turbo engine, which is now in the same spec as you’d find in the BMW M135i, M235i, and X2 M35i. As a result, the 0-100km/h time drops from 6.5 to 5.1 seconds, and it’s powerful enough flat-out to warrant a 250km/h electronic speed limiter. It’s rather a different beast to drive now, and finally feels special enough to justify its existence (and its price tag).
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Rally the Troops | Mini Countryman John Cooper Works

IN MINI, Countryman, JCW, John Cooper Works, MINI Countryman, MINI John Cooper Works

The biggest and most expensive Mini you can buy gets a lot more power for 2020, finally giving it performance that’s worthy of the JCW name.


1. The last time Toyota made such a car was 20 years ago. The Celica GT-FOUR brought the company 30 rally victories, four drivers' championship titles and one manufacturers' championship. It remains one of the most iconic rally-bred cars the world has ever seen. In a reference to its illustrious predecessor and its all-wheel-drive technology, the Toyota GR Yaris will have a GR-FOUR logo on its tailgate.
Happenings

Five Fast Facts | Toyota GR Yaris

The world has been waiting for a car like this. Thank you, Toyota, for giving us a potential gem.


McRae was the youngest and also the first British driver to win the World Rally Championship Drivers’ Title in 1995, making him a household name. Four years later, McRae joined Ford, who also unveiled a new car for the ’99 season — the Focus WRC. Tragically, McRae died in a helicopter accident in 2007.
Happenings

Colin McRae’s Focus Up For Grab!

IN Colin McRae, Colin, McRae, Ford, Focus, WRC, 1999, Ford Focus WRC, 1999 Ford Focus WRC, World Rally Championship

The 1999 Ford Focus WRC, chassis #68335, is estimated at between 120,000 to 140,000 Euros


For this test, the aerodynamics were closely scrutinised by the engineers. “The freedom allowed by the FIA regulations offers us a much larger range of possible solutions than before,” says project manager for the 2017 World Rally Car, Alexis Avril. “The bodywork of the WRC must entirely cover that of the original model and the maximum width is set at 1875mm. In this framework, we have a lot of freedom to design the wheel arches and bumpers. We can also create air intakes for re-cooling the rear brakes and add on a diffuser. Paradoxically, there are more restrictions for the design of the rear wing than today, but its efficiency will be increased tenfold by its further backed and raised positioning.”
Motorsports

Citroën Racing Tests Their 2017 WRC Car In Finland

IN Citroën Racing, Citroën, WRC, 2017 WRC, 2017 World Rally Car, FIA

Citroën Racing chose the roads of Finland for the third development test session of its 2017 World Rally Car; Kris Meeke and Craig Breen testing car's aerodynamic performance


You see, the 124 Spider is the result of an agreement formed between Fiat and Mazda about three years ago. Mazda would develop and manufacture both its new MX-5 and the Spider at its factory in Hiroshima, with the two cars featuring each brand’s own engines. So, whereas the MX-5 uses a naturally aspirated 1.5 or 2.0L Skyactiv engine, the Spider will come with a turbocharged 1.4L lump from the 500 Abarth.
Happenings

An Itsy Bitsy Spider

IN Fiat, Spider, 124, Roadster, Sports car,

Japanese engineering with Italian style. Fiat revives another iconic nameplate with this, the new 124 Spider.


Sadly, this, the Evo X Final Edition, will be the model's swansong. After ten, well, evolutions, its storied 23-year history will be coming to an end. There will not be a replacement for the current Evo X (which has been in production since 2007), as Mitsubishi wants to move towards increased electrification and hybridisation of its cars.
Happenings

The Final Evolution

IN Mitsubishi, Evo, Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Final

Break out the tissue packets and say a teary farewell; the Mitsubishi Evo as we know and love it is going the way of the dodo.


The announcement of Loeb’s participation adds to the fevered anticipation building ahead of the Macau race, which sees the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia return to the Guia Circuit as part of the celebration of the 60th running of the Grand Prix. Loeb may be new to Macau’s 6.2km Guia street track, but he does have experience of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup both as a driver and a team boss in the Porsche Carrera Cup France, and on a city circuit. In 2012, he won the two Porsche Carrera Cup France rounds held around the streets of Pau. Earlier this year, Loeb made his debut at the pinnacle of Porsche one-make racing — the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, contesting both the Spanish and Monaco rounds. Having conquered the world of international rallying, Loeb has turned his remarkable talent to circuit racing. When he arrives in Asia, he will be met by a Porsche Carrera Cup Asia brimming with both experience professionals and young talent, several of whom have previous experience at Macau. All eyes will be on the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia this November to see whether the world’s most successful rally driver can beat his formidable rivals and conquer the Guia Circuit to take a coveted Macau victory.
Motorsports

Sébastien Loeb Confirmed For Macau Grand Prix Invitational

IN Porsche, Carrera, 911, PCCA, GT3 Cup Car

Porsche China has announced that nine-time FIA World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb will make his Porsche Carrera Cup Asia debut at the end-of-season invitational at the Macau Grand Prix.


Johan van Tongeren's Impreza began its life in early 2000. But as the white paint fouled up after ten years, Johan decided to spruce it up himself and gave it a name:
Readers' Rides

The Barracuda | Subaru Impreza WRX GC8

IN Subaru, Impreza, GC8, Holland

Johan's Barracuda isn't just a rolling art display, it is built like a tank with all the firepower too!


With Citroen, Ford and MINI battling for glory in rallying’s showcase category, Simon Long, CEO of North One Sport, said Volkswagen’s decision to switch its focus from off-road events to the WRC was another boost for the all-action championship. “The WRC is the pinnacle of rallying; it’s all about being the world’s best and Volkswagen is right up there as one of the world’s best automotive brands,” said Long. “Coming hard on the heels of the BMW and MINI announcement this is yet another vote of confidence in the future direction of the WRC. The WRC is all about innovation - whether that’s on the sporting, technical or promotional side. We’re finding new ways to connect with fans, new ways of developing the sport and the technology beneath it, and that very much mirrors what Volkswagen are looking to do as a business and with its Polo.
Motorsports

Another Boost For The WRC As Volkswagen Signs Up

IN WRC, Volkswagen, Polo, R, 2013

Volkswagen will be returning to the FIA World Rally Championship from 2013.


After 14 punishing gravel special stages in the Jordan Valley, Ogier finished the two day event ahead of second-place Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland after trailing him in the final Power Stage, near the Dead Sea. In the end it was Ogier who came out tops as he recorded the fastest timing to best Latvala by half a second.
Motorsports

Ogier Strikes Again!

IN WRC, 2011, Jordan

Following his success in Portugal, the French man records yet another victory in the Jordan Rally.


Motorsports

Citroën DS3 WRC

IN Citroen, DS3, WRC, Sébastien Loeb, Rally, FIA

Citroën has unleashed an all-new contender for the 2011 World Rally Championship - the Citroën DS3 WRC, the hotly anticipated replacement for the multi-championship winning C4 WRC.


The company, founded by David Richards, is viewed as one of the most respected and successful in rallying.
Motorsports

MINI Makes A Comeback To Rallying

IN MINI, WRC, Rally, Prodrive

The 2011 World Rally Championship will see the new MINI WRC contesting in six of 13 scheduled rounds, with MINI competing in the full 2012 season. This is the car...


Like the manual STI, the A-Line is equipped with Subaru’s SI-Drive system that allows the driver to select his or her preferred mode of driving, a trend that is commonly found in most performance cars these days. With the SI-Drive, three modes are available. Push the knob downwards to select 'Intelligent' for eco-friendly driving, twist the knob left for the normal 'Sport' and right for 'Sport Sharp' if you need sharpened throttle response for spirited driving. Naturally, we had it in 'Sport Sharp' for the most part.
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An Automatic Choice | Subaru STI A-Line

IN Subaru, WRX, STI, Boxer engine, AWD

The meanest car in Subaru's lineup having a slush box? Some of you may be having a laugh, but to the masses it seems like a plan.



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