WRC Rallye de France 2011

WRC Rallye de France 2011 – Preview

RSL Staff

– September 23, 2011Posted in: Featured, News, WRC

Rallye de France, round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship, returns to the Alsace region for the second year, running on its traditional asphalt surface albeit with just 5.41% of the route contested on gravel. Championship leader, Sébastien Loeb, has won Rallye de France the last five times it has run and the Frenchman sealed his seventh FIA World Rally Championship title on home turf last year.

Rallye de France is also the penultimate round of the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship, in which 10 crews – including one Guest Driver – will be fighting for honours. It is also a qualifying round of the FIA WRC Academy.

RALLYE DE FRANCE – ROUTE GRAPHICS

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2010

This year’s route has some modifications, including three totally new stages (Mulhouse, Graviere Bischwiller and Vignoble Cleebourg). Friday’s route is largely the same as 2010 and includes the longest test of the event, the Pays d’Ormont stage, which has been increased to 36 kilometres. Saturday’s two loops of four identical stages are centred around a remote service at Colmar before crews round off the day with the new 3.09 kilometre Mulhouse stage. On Sunday crews tackle two loops of three identical stages – two of which are new to this year’s itinerary – before rounding off the event with the Power Stage. This 4.20 kilometre street stage will be run in Haguenau, Sébastien Loeb’s home town, and the fastest three drivers through this single stage will be awarded additional Championship points. The stage will also be broadcast live on Orange Sport television.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,289.90 km
337.43 km
23

RALLYE DE FRANCE TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Thursday 29 September
Shakedown (P1 and P2) - 08:00-10:00 hrs
Shakedown (P1, P2, P3) - 10:00-12:00 hrs
Shakedown (P3, non-priority and WRC Academy) - 12:00-14:00 hrs
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Zénith - 13:30 hrs
Autograph session (P3 drivers), Forum de L’ill, Illkrich - 16:45 hrs
Autograph session (P1 and P2 drivers), Forum de L’ill, Illkrich - 17:30-18:00 hrs
Ceremonial Start, Place Kleber, Strasbourg - 18:30 hrs

Friday 30 September
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone, Zénith - 11:37 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Zénith - 17:17 hrs
End of day Press Conference, Service Park, Zénith - During the 45’ service

Saturday 1 October
First car arrives for re-group, remote service and Media Zone, Colmar - 11:48 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Zénith - 18:36 hrs
End of day Press Conference, Service Park, Zénith - During the 45’ service

Sunday 2 October
First car arrives for re-group, Haguenau - 12:22 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Zénith - 14:18 hrs
Prize-giving and podium ceremony, Parvis du Parlement Européen - 14:50 hrs
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Zénith - 16:00 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 29 September

Yeray Lemes, WRC Academy
Christian Riedemann, WRC Academy
Juho Hanninen, FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship
Ott Tänak, FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship
Nick Shorrock, Michelin Competition
Sébastien Loeb, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Sébastien Ogier, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Mikko Hirvonen, Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team

Sunday 2 October

Winning FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place in the service park on the ‘WRC Stage’ at the earliest opportunity during the 45’ service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day 45’ service at the teams’ service areas.