Publications
Partners
Ford has abandoned plans to debut its all-new Fiesta RS World Rally Car in Finland's 2011 Arctic Lapland Rally over January 28/29.
Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were scheduled to drive a leg each in the two-day snow-and-ice rally based in Rovaniemi. It was due to be the final part of the squad's pre-season test programme before February's opening round of the FIA World Rally championship in Sweden.
However, a serious accident on the second day of the team's test in Sweden last weekend forced the team to drop its appearance at the Arctic Rally. Latvala and Anttila were unhurt in the 150km/h crash but the Fiesta RS WRC required extensive repairs before the test could continue.
The same car was to have been used in the Arctic Rally but there was insufficient time to repair the damage and complete the Swedish test programme before travelling to Rovaniemi for the rally. The team has revised its schedule and the car will now remain at the test location to finalise preparations for the Rallly of Sweden over February 10-13.
DRIVER ERROR
"We will repair the damage to the car before continuing our testing in Sweden later in the week," explained Ford team director Malcolm Wilson. "We're confident we can complete all our scheduled test work this week but unfortunately we need to sacrifice our appearance at the Arctic Lapland Rally to do that.
"I'm sorry for all the fans who were looking forward to seeing Mikko and Jari-Matti in action in the Fiesta RS but completing our work in Sweden was the best option to ensure our preparations are completed for Sweden."
Latvala explained the accident happened over a sixth-gear crest.
"It was my error," the Flying Finn admitted. "I tried to use the snow banks to slow the car but it rolled in the road before vaulting the snow banks and hitting some trees. The Fiesta stood up to the impact remarkably well and Miikka and I escaped unhurt.
"That the team can repair it and we can continue to test this week shows how strong it is."
Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were scheduled to drive a leg each in the two-day snow-and-ice rally based in Rovaniemi. It was due to be the final part of the squad's pre-season test programme before February's opening round of the FIA World Rally championship in Sweden.
However, a serious accident on the second day of the team's test in Sweden last weekend forced the team to drop its appearance at the Arctic Rally. Latvala and Anttila were unhurt in the 150km/h crash but the Fiesta RS WRC required extensive repairs before the test could continue.
The same car was to have been used in the Arctic Rally but there was insufficient time to repair the damage and complete the Swedish test programme before travelling to Rovaniemi for the rally. The team has revised its schedule and the car will now remain at the test location to finalise preparations for the Rallly of Sweden over February 10-13.
DRIVER ERROR
"We will repair the damage to the car before continuing our testing in Sweden later in the week," explained Ford team director Malcolm Wilson. "We're confident we can complete all our scheduled test work this week but unfortunately we need to sacrifice our appearance at the Arctic Lapland Rally to do that.
"I'm sorry for all the fans who were looking forward to seeing Mikko and Jari-Matti in action in the Fiesta RS but completing our work in Sweden was the best option to ensure our preparations are completed for Sweden."
Latvala explained the accident happened over a sixth-gear crest.
"It was my error," the Flying Finn admitted. "I tried to use the snow banks to slow the car but it rolled in the road before vaulting the snow banks and hitting some trees. The Fiesta stood up to the impact remarkably well and Miikka and I escaped unhurt.
"That the team can repair it and we can continue to test this week shows how strong it is."