Latest articles by Tom Howard
M-Sport boss puts WRC drivers to work to help repair Safari cars
M-Sport drivers Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux were put to work by team boss Malcolm Wilson to help repair their cars following crashes at Safari Rally Kenya.
Hyundai calls for reaction to “nightmare day” at Safari Rally
Hyundai Motorsport deputy team director Julien Moncet says the team must react to its reliability issues after a “nightmare day” realistically ended two shots at a Safari Rally Kenya podium.
WRC Safari Rally: Rovanpera stuns Evans in rain, Neuville crashes out
Kalle Rovanpera pulled clear of Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans after conquering tricky wet conditions as rain hit Safari Rally Kenya on Saturday afternoon.
Greensmith angry by lack of marshal assistance after WRC Safari roll
Gus Greensmith was left angry after being forced to kick his M-Sport Ford Puma's windscreen out to exit his rolled car while Safari Rally Kenya marshals looked on.
WRC Safari Rally: Evans closes in on leader Rovanpera, Tanak retires
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera maintained his Safari Rally lead but is now being chased by teammate Elfyn Evans, while Hyundai’s Ott Tanak retired on the final stage of Saturday’s morning loop.
M-Sport perplexed by "freak" incidents in disastrous Safari Friday
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson says he cannot remember losing all of his points-scoring World Rally Championship cars in a single day before, following a disastrous start to Safari Rally Kenya.
WRC Safari Rally: Rovanpera leads, punctures delay Ogier and Evans
Kalle Rovanpera leads Safari Rally Kenya after Toyota teammates Elfyn Evans and Sebastien Ogier suffered punctures while leading during a dramatic Friday.
Loeb explains battery problem that caused WRC Safari Rally exit
Sebastien Loeb says a depleted battery following a small engine fire ultimately ended his Safari Rally Kenya victory bid just five kilometres from reaching the World Rally Championship service park.
WRC Safari Rally: Evans grabs lead, Loeb retires with engine fire
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans has emerged from an incident-filled Friday morning to lead the Safari Rally while Sebastien Loeb became the event’s first retirement.
The quick fixes that averted a WRC cockpit crisis
When in-car temperatures spiked at potentially dangerous levels on Rally Portugal, a fast-track process was triggered for teams and the governing body to deal with the issue on the new-for-2022 WRC Rally1 cars
WRC Safari Rally: Ogier beats Loeb to lead after opening super special
Sebastien Ogier started the defence of his Safari Rally crown in fine form after edging nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb in a duel at the super special opening stage.
Ogier: "More challenging" WRC Safari Rally will be all about survival
Sebastien Ogier believes this weekend’s Safari Rally will be all about survival with conditions “more challenging” compared to those experienced on the event’s World Rally Championship return last year.
Video: How Hyundai prepares for a WRC event
The World Rally Championship is a travelling circus and unlike circuit racing where teams operate out of pitlanes, rally teams are required to set up camp in temporarily constructed service parks.
M-Sport: Permanent WRC cockpit heat solution shouldn't be rushed
The World Rally Championship and the FIA shouldn’t rush to find a permanent fix to address increased cockpit temperatures with Rally1 cars, according to M-Sport boss Richard Millener.
Loeb expecting "complicated" WRC Safari Rally return
Sebastien Loeb says a lack of experience of the revamped Safari Rally will make a long awaited return to the iconic World Rally Championship event complicated.
Sordo predicts Acropolis Rally WRC return with Hyundai
Dani Sordo has revealed the Acropolis Rally in September will most likely mark his return to the World Rally Championship at the wheel of Hyundai’s third entry.
Skoda unveils all-new Fabia Rally2 car
Skoda has revealed its all-new Fabia RS Rally2 car that is set to feature in the World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship.
WRC Sardinia: The Good, The Bad and a smiling Ott Tanak
Sardinia regularly ranks among the toughest rallies on the World Rally Championship’s calendar given its rough gravel roads, long days and scorching temperatures. The 2022 edition will be remembered for Ott Tanak and Hyundai ending their victory drought. Motorsport.com reviews the highs, lows, turning points, close calls and heartbreak from Sardinia
Pirelli to assess WRC tyres after Safari Rally
Pirelli will wait until after the World Rally Championship's visit to the Safari Rally before deciding if any changes to its tyres are required.
Rally legend Kankkunen eyeing Rally1 WRC test
Four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen is eyeing an opportunity to test a 2022 Rally1 car this summer.
How Tanak turned the tables to deliver Hyundai a timely WRC triumph
The 2019 champion has been a bit-part player recently, but Ott Tanak ended a 15-month drought in fine style with a dominant win in Sardinia. On a weekend when championship leader Kalle Rovanpera struggled with cleaning the road, his Hyundai rival has made his belated arrival into the title race and given cause for those predicting a walkover from the Toyota star to pause
Rovanpera glad tough WRC Sardinia weekend is over
Kalle Rovanpera admitted he was glad to exit a tough Rally Sardinia having executed a clever strategy to extend his World Rally Championship lead.
Tanak: Hyundai "nowhere close to perfection" but WRC win provides hope
Ott Tanak says his World Rally Championship Hyundai is "nowhere close to perfection" but believes his Rally Sardinia victory has provided a much needed "extra boost" to the team.
Breen puts “important" WRC podium return down to new approach
Craig Breen believes a “letting the car do the work” approach helped get his World Rally Championship campaign back on track after scoring an important podium in Sardinia.
Breakthrough WRC Rally1 victory a "great relief" for Hyundai
Hyundai’s first World Rally Championship Rally1 victory at Rally Sardinia has been described as a “great relief” by deputy team director Julien Moncet following a difficult start to 2022.
WRC Sardinia: Dominant Tanak ends victory drought
Ott Tanak ended his World Rally Championship victory drought with a convincing win at Rally Sardinia that marked Hyundai’s first triumph in the new Rally1 era.
WRC Sardinia: Tanak extends lead on final morning
Ott Tanak extended his Rally Sardinia lead on Sunday morning to edge closer to claiming his and Hyundai’s first World Rally Championship victory of the season.
Lappi: “Pretty hard to take” losing WRC Rally Sardinia lead
Esapekka Lappi says crashing out of the Rally Sardinia lead was “hard to take” as the Toyota driver felt he wasn’t taking any risks on the tough gravel stages.
Tanak refusing to think about drought-ending WRC Sardinia win
Ott Tanak is refusing to think about a possible drought ending World Rally Championship victory at Rally Sardinia, despite holding a commanding lead after dominating Saturday’s stages.
Breen feels sorry for marshal after WRC red flag confusion
Craig Breen says he feels sorry for the marshal at the centre of a red flag mishap that triggered a confusing end to Saturday’s action at Rally Sardinia.
WRC Sardinia: Tanak holds commanding lead amid red flag confusion
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak moved into a commanding Rally Sardinia lead after dominating Saturday’s stages before a red flag triggered confusion on the final test.
WRC Sardinia: Tanak leads Breen as Neuville rolls into retirement
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak has opened up a healthy Rally Sardinia lead over M-Sport's Craig Breen after an eventual Saturday morning, headlined by crashes for Esapekka Lappi and Thierry Neuville.
WRC Sardinia: Lappi crashes out, Tanak takes lead
Esapekka Lappi has crashed out of Rally Sardinia, handing the lead to Hyundai’s Ott Tanak in Saturday morning's opening stage at the World Rally Championship event.
Evans to rejoin WRC Rally Sardinia to salvage points
Elfyn Evans is set to rejoin Rally Sardinia after Toyota successfully completed a repair on a water leak that forced the Welshman to retire on Friday morning.
WRC Sardinia: Lappi leads Tanak as organisers cancel stages
Toyota’s Esapekka Lappi has moved into a slender lead from Ott Tanak at Rally Sardinia after World Rally Championship organisers were forced to cancel Friday’s final two stages.
Neuville: Rally Sardinia effectively “over” after transmission issue
Thierry Neuville believes his Rally Sardinia weekend is effectively “game over” as Hyundai’s reliability woes struck the World Rally Championship title contender again.
WRC Sardinia: Tanak surges to the lead, drama for Neuville
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak has claimed the Rally Sardinia lead after an action-filled Friday morning that featured a retirement for Elfyn Evans and transmission issues for Thierry Neuville.
WRC Sardinia: Early leader Evans retires after water leak
Elfyn Evans’s World Rally Championship title hopes have suffered another blow as a water leak has forced the Toyota driver to retire from Rally Sardinia.
WRC drivers frustrated by “dangerous” hanging dust in Sardinia
World Rally Championship drivers have issued widespread criticism of the “dangerous” Rally Sardinia stage conditions caused by hanging dust.
WRC Sardinia: Neuville claims early lead after super special stage win
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville claimed an early lead at Rally Sardinia after winning the opening stage to kick off the second gravel event of the World Rally Championship season.
WRC drivers braced for "melting" Sardinia temperatures
World Rally Championship drivers are braced for a "big challenge" as they face "melting" temperatures and increased cabin temperatures at Rally Sardinia this weekend.
Latvala: Toyota's Fuji 24h hydrogen tech has WRC potential
Toyota World Rally Championship boss Jari-Matti Latvala believes hydrogen power could be an option for rallying to consider in the future as he prepares to tackle the Fuji 24 Hours this weekend.
WRC teams make car modifications to combat cockpit temperatures
World Rally Championship teams have made modifications to their cars in a bid to reduce concerning cockpit temperatures ahead this weekend's Rally Sardinia.
Evans: Rovanpera “adapted quicker” to 2022 Toyota WRC car
Elfyn Evans believes there is “a bit of work” required to ensure the 2022 World Rally Championship Toyota GR Yaris is perfectly suited to his driving style.
Gronholm believes Rovanpera is ready to win WRC title
Two-time world rally champion Marcus Gronholm believes Kalle Rovanpera has all the skills to win this year's WRC crown and end Finland's title drought.
FIA working with WRC teams to combat increased cockpit temperatures
World Rally Championship teams and the FIA are working on solutions to resolve the issue of increased cockpit temperatures in the new Rally1 cars.
Loeb secures WRC Safari Rally return with M-Sport
World Rally Championship legend Sebastien Loeb will rejoin M-Sport to contest next month’s Safari Rally.
Neuville: Hyundai unreliability allowing Rovanpera to run away in WRC
Thierry Neuville says Hyundai's ongoing reliability issues are becoming "very frustrating" and contributing to Toyota's Kalle Rovanpera running away in the World Rally Championship title race.
WRC drivers call for improved Pirelli rubber after Portugal punctures
Several World Rally Championship drivers have called for improvements to the control Pirelli tyres following a spate of punctures at Rally Portugal last weekend.
How the WRC celebrated its milestone in style
OPINION: The World Rally Championship’s celebration of its 50th anniversary season in Portugal was a welcome opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the pioneers who forged such a significant legacy.
WRC Portugal: The Good, The Bad and the emergence of a future legend
The World Rally Championship has a new star on its hand as Kalle Rovanpera notched up a third consecutive win on the weekend the championship celebrated its 50th anniversary season. Motorsport.com reviews the highs, lows, turning points, close calls and heartbreak from a Rovanpera masterclass in Portugal.
Loeb discussing more WRC 2022 outings with M-Sport
Sebastien Loeb says he is discussing the possibility of contesting as many as two more World Rally Championship rounds this season.
Ogier confirmed for Safari WRC return with Toyota
Toyota has announced Sebastien Ogier will rejoin the team for the Safari Rally round of the World Rally Championship next month.
Latvala: Rovanpera's Portugal WRC win reminiscent of a dominant Ogier
Toyota boss Jari Matti-Latvala has likened Kalle Rovanpera’s Rally Portugal victory to the dominance Sebastien Ogier produced on his way to a first World Rally Championship title in 2013.
WRC Portugal: Rovanpera beats Evans to take third consecutive win
Kalle Rovanpera has extended his World Rally Championship points lead after securing his third consecutive win with victory at Rally Portugal.
WRC Portugal: Rovanpera extends lead to close in on victory
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera has moved a step closer to winning Rally Portugal after extending his lead over teammate Elfyn Evans in tricky wet conditions on Sunday morning.
Rovanpera shocked to be leading WRC Rally Portugal
Kalle Rovanpera says he is surprised to be leading Rally Portugal heading into the final day given the disadvantage of starting the gravel rally by opening the road.
WRC Portugal: Rovanpera charges into lead as wet weather hits
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera has charged into the lead of Rally Portugal after overhauling World Rally Championship team-mate Elfyn Evans across a weather affected Saturday afternoon loop of stages.
Dashboard distraction prompted rare Ogier mistake at Rally Portugal
Sebastien Ogier says a dashboard distraction following a hybrid issue with his Toyota prompted an uncharacteristic driving error, resulting in a second WRC retirement from Rally Portugal.
WRC Portugal: Evans extends lead, Ogier and Loeb in trouble again
Elfyn Evans extended his Rally Portugal lead over Toyota teammate Kalle Rovanpera after a drama-filed Saturday morning.