[IRC] 2012 Tour de Corse
 

Tour de Corse is looking like the first event of the year which will have a really good entry list, expecting Skoda to turn up with Hanninen and Kopecky for the first time plus I guess Peugeot might put in an effort for this one (Bouffier & Neuville?), and finally two strong drivers in the Fiesta too with Basso and Flodin.

Skoda:

Mikkelsen
Hanninen
Kopecky
Gassner
Wiegand (?)

Ford:

Basso
Flodin

Peugeot:

Breen
Arzeno
Bouffier (?)
Neuville (?)

I found Hanninen and Kopecky together quite logical...Skoda has never won any famous rally (and they were 3 times so f..king close on Monte) Try to tell your friends about Skoda and about fabia s2000 being best IRC car. They will ask you: "We are not experts but we know Rally Monte Carlo, Rally San Remo, Rally Tour de Corse. Has Skoda won one of those? No? Oh, what a losers" ...and now try to explain them the truth http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...es/biggrin.gif
P.S. This is true story and it happened to me. Exactly as I wrote.

Yes, I am sure it will grate on Skoda that they haven't won any of the "big three" and it must also mean Peugeot want to defend that title. I think another thorn in their side could be Basso this year though!

Don't know if we'd see the 3 Fabia works drivers on one rally? But you never know.

Sure we will - at least in Barum http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif But I agree that I don't expect them all in Corsica. I think it's more likely going to be only Jan and Andreas.

Hmmm, apart from Barum. http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif

I'm sure I read a quote from Hrabanek somewhere saying they would run two cars on Corsica, Barum and Sanremo.

Anyone know if Corsica will have live tv this year?

It is possible, because Corse is in the middle of nothing (comparing to championship which are priority for Juho and Jan). And live TV coverage is expected...

I think that Jean Matthieu Leandri will take part of this event with the 207 S2000.
I don't know what will do Campana (Mini or Peugeot ?), neither if Succi will start the race.

As far as I know three stages live (one on friday, two on saturday), all of them are on Eurosport International.

Schedule and maps:
http://www.asacc.fr/file/120673/
http://www.asacc.fr/file/120548

Olivier Payet from Reunion island wants to run Tour de Corse this year too http://www.motorsportforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Unsure is with what car though...the Grande Punto S2000 he drove in his championship last year(and years before)had a bick lack of reliability http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...s/confused.gif

nice http://www.motorsportforums.com/imag...lies/smile.gif 320 SS-kilometers, maybe longest IRC-rallye so far?

IRC Monte had more kilometers:
2011: 336,93 km
2010: 396,18 km
2009: 362,25 km

ahhh....sure, right....thanks

Live tv confirmed: Eurosport confirms exciting live coverage of Tour de Corse - News - IRC Intercontinental Rally Challenge - Eurosport

Now let's hope for a good entry!

The entry should shape of very good. I think the victory will be between Juho/Andreas/Bouffier. I hope Arzeno progress some more on this event. I think Breen will have much to prove before this rally is over.

Don't discount Kopecky on this type of event, last year he only finished 15.5s behind Neuville. Basso will also be one to watch.

According to MaxRally, Mini may register for IRC in time for Corsica, then we might see Campana there (and Meeke?) Dreaming....

Sordo in a Mini for Tour de Corse apparently...