Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

BWRT set for Wales Rally GB

Brazil World Rally Team press release

Daniel Oliveira and Carlos Magalhaes, Mini John Cooper Works WRC

Daniel Oliveira and Carlos Magalhaes, Mini John Cooper Works WRC

XPB Images

Oliveira expects to finish with a high performance his first WRC’s campaign in Wales

Daniel Oliveira and Carlos Magalhaes, Mini John Cooper Works WRC
Daniel Oliveira and Carlos Magalhaes, Mini John Cooper Works WRC

Photo by: xpb.cc

The Brazilian hopes to give BWRT more Manufacturer points in Great Britain

Brazil WRT driver Daniel Oliveira is hoping to seal his first WRC’ season with another high performance at Wales Rally GB, 13th and ultimate showdown of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship starting next week (10-13 November).

The Brazilian gave the BWRT two more points for the Manufacturer’s Championship in the last Rally of Spain, but this rally features completely different conditions from the tarmac stages he faced more than ten days ago.

This year’s itinerary is extended to four days, and there will be also some asphalt sections, since the event starts on Thursday 10th with two speed tests on sealed-surface. But it's the gravel-based forest stages that Wales Rally GB is most famous for. Also is well known for being one of the most unpredictable rallies in terms of the roads conditions and weather forecast.

The crews will have to travel from one coast to the other across different sceneries and conditions, from the legendary Great Orme road in North Wales, through the forests of West Wales and down to the military ranges of mid Wales to cover 353,53 competitive kilometres in 23 stages.

Argentinean co-driver Fernando Mussano will join Oliveira on board the Nº12 MINI John Cooper Works WRC once again and both will arrive with more kilometres working together to this final round.

Early this week the South American pair landed in Great Britain to join the factory MINI WRC test team in a two-day test at Walters Arena Motorsport forest complex, in South Wales, where they worked alongside Geoff Jones, one of Oliveira’s gravel crew members, and who won precisely a national event at Walters Arena last mouth.

Daniel and Fernando focused on building the pace note technique and the practice of the driving lines for the slippery and tricky gravel roads they will tackle throughout the rally’s weekend.

This rally features a mixture of fast open corners, with some jumps and narrow twisty technical sections. The weather also affects the road, from dry to muddy and wet conditions, which can also affect the level of the grip in this event. The mix of fog and rain could also be a threat specially in the tree-line sections of the hilly forest.

Daniel’s word. “I’m really looking forward to this rally because it will be our last appearance this season and we want to finish it in the best way possible. We have undergone a thorough preparation for this particular round and earned more kilometres than expected in the pre-test in really tricky conditions. Our aim is to complete every stage and to try to give the BWRT more points for the Manufacturer’s Championship”.

Itinerary and schedule. This Wales Rally GB’s edition will move its Headquarter from Cardiff to Builth Wells in mid-Wales, which allowsthe drivers to reduce the liaison kilometres to tackle each leg. There will be an overnight halt in Llandudno after the three opening stages on Thursday after which the start ceremony in Conwy will take place. Drivers will stay overnight in Cariff on Friday and Saturday, where the finish ceremony will be celebrated. Shakedown will take place at Builth Wells on Wednesday and the recce will start on Monday.

Facts and figures. 78 drivers will enter the event and as well as bringing the curtain down on the main WRC, Wales Rally GB will stage the final round of the WRC Academy series. The most recent winner was Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) in 2010 and precisely Loeb arrives leading the standings with 8 points over Mikko Hirvonen (Ford). Both will be fighting for the 2011 FIA World Rally Driver Championship title.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article CRT to support the entries for Wales Rally GB
Next article Petter Solberg looks for strong Wales Rally GB finiah

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA