Tom Howard and Andy Simmons are in Portugal to preview the next round of the World Rally Championship. They were also present at the gala dinner last night to celebrate the 50th season of WRC, and bring us all the news about how the special anniversary is being marked this weekend.
Tom Howard is back from Croatia to analyse all the action from WRC Rally Croatia, including a frantic Sunday when sudden rain and tyre choices were the story of the day.
Mechanics are an integral part of motorsport regardless of discipline and those that work in the World Rally Championship mechanics are regarded among elite. These unsung heroes are expected to perform miracles against the clock to prepare and repair WRC cars during events. Unlike other forms of motorsport, rallying’s version of the circuit racing pitstop is known as a service and these occur after a series or loop of special stages held on closed roads. Drivers and co-drivers will return to the...
Tom Howard talks to new FIA Rally Director Andrew Wheatley . Wheatley took over the position vacated by Yves Matton last year, and steps up from being WRC category manager. He’s a rally veteran having worked across Belgian and Polish championships, including a long spell at M-Sport in the early 2000’s. WRC’s new Rally1 hybrid era is underway, and today we talk about how the FIA plans to take that forward, responding to changes in the automotive sector with the shift to electrification. And work ...
Tom Howard is fresh off the plane from Sweden with his full review of how Kalle Rovanperä took an emphatic victory to take charge of the championship. The 21 year old decided on muted celebrations, after giving his support to the people of Ukraine currently under Russian invasion, exactly 21 years after his father Harri took his only World Rally Championship victory at the same event. In contrast, Elfyn Evans had a weekend to forget. A 10 second time penalty caused by him leaving the designated ...
This weekend there'll be no Sebs, plenty of studs and guaranteed sub-zero temperatures. Following a 2021 break, Rally Sweden is back on the calendar and moving to a new location further north, which will guarantee a spectacular backdrop of snow and ice. On the podcast today we hear from Esapekka Lappi about his first start of the year and how the new cars will handle in the conditions. Plus we hear from M-Sport Team Principal Rich Millener about his target for the weekend.
Tom Howard is back for a new season of WRC. Joining him on the podcast today is Martyn Lee to talk about the new Rally1 cars and championship battle with Ogier running a limited season. We also hear from Sebastien Ogier, Craig Breen, Oliver Solberg, Ott Tanak, Kalle Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans ahead of action starting later today.
Tom Howard (News Editor, motorsport.com and Autosport) is joined by rally legend Petter Solberg to look back at the Acropolis Rally and why he's so happy it's back on the calendar. Petter also talks about the success of son Oliver's own career and some of the pressures which come from social media.
Tom Howard talks to Molly Taylor who is currently competing in Extreme E and this weekend's WRC Acropolis Rally Greece. Molly reveals how a facetime call from Nico Rosberg got her interested in Extreme E, how successful female drivers can inspire a generation of young girls who see them as role models, and she previews this the WRC action this weekend.
Tom Howard is joined by M-Sport Ford team principal Richard Millener to talk about their success in Safari Rally Kenya. Due to Covid restrictions, Rich and Malcolm Wilson had to run operations from their base in the UK and he talks about the logictical problems they faced. But also how technology has opened up the new oppotunities to get close to the rally without having the travel. The team have flown from Kenya to Estonia to re-prep the cars, with 15 of their team out of the country for at lea...
Sebastien Ogier further extended his lead in the World Rally Championship with a comfortable victory in Rally Sardinia ahead of Toyota team-mate and title rival Elfyn Evans. On Gravel Notes today, Tom Howard is joined by Nick Garton to look back on the good, the bad and the sweary.
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville has tempered his team's hopes of victory in this weekend's Arctic Rally, ahead of the second round of the 2021 World Rally Championship. Team principal Andrea Adamo has declared that "nothing less than victory" is acceptable for the defending manufacturers' champion on the WRC's first visit to Lapland, which is a late COVID-related substitution for Rally Sweden as the only snow event on the 2021 calendar. Nick Garton takes a look ahead at the rally. Nick also speaks to...
David Evans brings you another episode of Gravel Notes to look back at Rallye Monte Carlo. His thoughts on why Ott Tänak's crash won't play on his mind and certainly won't slow him down. Plus, what is next on the calendar? Will there be snow in Sweden on 13-16 February or will WRC head straight to Mexico? Finally, as you may have read in Autosport or Motorsport News, it was the last week for David who has taken on a new challenge after 23+ years bringing you the latest rally news. It's a very fo...
David is joined by former Autosport journalist Anthony Peacock as they drive to Rally Monte-Carlo for the opening round of the season. The guys look back at their favourite Monte Carlo stories including a pant-wetting moment as they drove home late at night in a Peugeot 106. They discuss what could happen this weekend as the rally kicks off from Casino Square and heads into two night stages in the Alps. How will drivers settle into new teams? How will Monte's stages challenge the crews from the ...
David Evans and Colin Clarke @VoiceOfRally look back at 2019. The highs, the lows, the winners and the crashes. Don't miss this feature-length edition of the Gravel Notes podcast as we raise a glass of sherry and scoff a mince pie during this special Christmas edition. Plus two exclusive interviews to end the year. David reviews the season with Kalle Rovanperä and Manchester's Chris Ingram.
Toyota’s driver line-up, the RAC Rally and mince pies. Those are the three key elements in this week’s Gravel Notes. Obviously, David’s paying most attention to Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä’s arrival in Puuppola, but there’s still plenty of time to talk through the hot potato that is, when the season’s fit for that first mince pie...
Citroen Racing has announced it will depart the World Rally Championship with immediate effect - stating Sebastien Ogier's decision to move to Toyota left it with no alternative. The firm announced its decision on Wednesday, confirming mounting speculation of a withdrawal. Ogier and team-mate Esapekka Lappi had a year left to run on their contracts, but the six-time world champion's decision to walk away after a difficult season aboard the C3 WRC left Citroen with no lead driver. A statement fro...
The final round of the World Rally Championship in Australia was cancelled due to the catastrophic bushfires which caused loss of life and destroyed homes. At times like these, sport takes a backseat to far more important events. However there is still plenty to discuss as there was criticism for not cancelling the event sooner, whilst others thought it was an overreaction. David Evans looks at the situation from all angles. The Constructors Championship was automatically decided and there was i...
David Evans looks ahead to Rally Australia and the end of another incredible season of WRC. With so many drivers fighting to be 'best of the rest' there's everything to fight for down under.
Welcome to a very historic occasion following a weekend of amazing drama and theatre. Ott Tänak says he channelled the difficulties of his rollercoaster WRC career so far into his title-clinching Rally of Spain drive. On this podcast David catches up with Tänak, moments after he wins the title. Plus we talk Dakar Rally as Fernando Alonso confirms he will be competing with Toyota for the 5,600 mile event which sees less than half the entrants reach the finish line. David interviews both Fernando ...
Can Ott Tänak secure the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship in Spain? David Evans is back on the podcast to look at the title battle, with 28 points separating Tänak and Sébastien Ogier.
Colin Clark (@VoiceOfRally) joins David in the Citroen as they drive to the Mull Rally on the Isle Of Mull. They look back to Wales Rally GB last weekend and ask: was Llandudno the best location and should it be changed for next year? One thing which they both agree on was the racing which was magnificent. Plus they're looking ahead to this weekend on the Isle Of Mull for the Beatson’s Building Supplies Mull Rally.
Join David Evans as he presents Autosport's official start to Wales Rally GB live from the M-Sport garage inside the Service Park. Broadcast from 7:20pm on Wednesday 2nd October on our Youtube and Facebook channels, plus streamed live on the Gravel Notes podcast, he talks to drivers and personalities from the world of rally.
David talks about the legends stage of RallyDay 2019 last weekend. Plus, the calendar for 2020 and looking ahead to Wales Rally GB next weekend.
Welcome back to Gravel Notes. On today's show David is reflecting on Rally Turkey and the unbelievable action it delivered. The chief benefactor of the chaos was Sebastian Ogier who crafted a victory by driving brilliantly. The C3 WRC led for 15 out of 17 stages on the rough roads around Marmaris last weekend, with Ogier leading home team-mate Esapekka Lappi - the Finn securing his second runners-up spot in three rallies following a similar result at home in Finland. Citroen conducted a crucial ...
Join David Evans for the first 'Gravel Notes' as he looks ahead to the Rally Turkey. Can Sebastien Ogier secure his third World Rally Championship win of 2019? Or can Tanak repeat his victory of last year? Plus David looks back at the season so far and major talking points of 2019. Listen to Gravel Notes with David Evans for weekly discussion of the WRC, European Rally Championship, Dakar Rally and much more.
