Stobart looking forward to 2009

Kicking off its season at Rally Ireland over January 30-February 1, the Cumbria-based squad will field three cars in the globe’s premier rally series, with the team’s Ford Focus WRCs prepared at M-Sport in Cumbria.

Drivers Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg will once again return to the team to contest all 12 rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship calendar. Estonian pilot Urmo Aava and co-driver Kuldar Sikk have been added to the roster, with the duo scheduled to compete in eight rounds of the championship. The nominated points scorers for the squad will be selected on a round-by-round basis.

The team will continue to receive backing from major sponsor Stobart Group, the UK’s leading multimodal logistics solutions provider. The Cumbrian company’s unstinting support for its rally program was recently rewarded at the prestigious Motorsport Industry Association Awards when Stobart Motorsport claimed Rally Business of the Year. It received the award in recognition of successfully maximising its investment in the FIA World Rally Championship. Despite having a budget which is a fraction of the manufacturer-backed teams, it has successfully established itself as an outstanding performer both on and off the stages and has become a huge fan favourite across the world.

In 2008 the Stobart squad finished fourth in the Manufacturer Championship, and with four of its star drivers inside the top 10 in the Drivers’ Championship standings. The team finished the season on a high at Wales Rally GB when it was joined by global motorcycling superstar Valentino Rossi to celebrate its 50th outing in the World Championship.

The team’s iconic livery was also on display at the Race of Champions when two of its Stobart Ford Focus RS world rally cars were driven by the best-of-the-best at Wembley Stadium in England.

Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler said:
“We are delighted to be involved in the World Rally Championship once again and are very excited about the team’s prospects in 2009. Stobart Group remains committed to its motorsport programme due to the fantastic return it receives in terms of global media exposure and business-to-business opportunities. We hope to see the Stobart drivers challenging for honours throughout the championship’s 12 rounds and continuing to fly the flag for the team at the premier level of rallying.”

Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson said:
“It is shaping up to be a very exciting season for the team. The driver line-up of Matthew, Henning and now Urmo Aava has the potential to deliver very good results, and the Ford Focus WRC will once again be an extremely competitive package. The main aim for the season will be to build on last year’s results and regularly score podium finishes. With a number of new events on the calendar - particularly in the first half of the season - and some significant rule changes, the Stobart team is looking forward to the challenge the FIA World Rally Championship will offer in 2009.”

Source:
http://www.rallye-info.com

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Ducati Monster 696

Specifications

Chassis
Frame	Tubular steel trellis frame
Wheelbase	1450 mm / 57.1 in
Rake	24°
Front suspension	Showa 43mm upside-down forks
Front wheel travel	120mm / 4.7in
Front brake	2 x 320mm discs, 4-piston radial caliper
Front wheel	3-spoke light alloy 3.50 x 17
Front tyre	160/60 ZR 17
Rear suspension	Progressive linkage with preload and rebound Sachs adjustable monoshock
Rear wheel travel	148 mm / 5.8 in
Rear brake	245mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Rear wheel	3-spoke light alloy 4.50 x 17
Rear tyre	160/60 ZR 17
Fuel tank capacity	15 L (of which 3,5 L reserve) / 3.8 US gal (of which 0.9 US gal reserve)
Weight *	161Kg / 355lbs
Seat height	770 mm / 30.3 in
Instruments	Digital unit displaying: Speedometer, rev counter, clock, scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, trip fuel, air temperature, lap time, warning light for low oil pressure, fuel level, fuel reserve, neutral, turn signals, overrev, immobilizer. Ready for DDA system.
Warranty	2 years unlimited mileage
Body colours (frame/wheels)	Red (red/black); Matte Black (matte black/black); White (matte black/black)
Versions	Dual seat
* = The weight excludes battery, lubricants and, where applicable, cooling liquid.
Engine
Type	L-twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder Desmodromic; air cooled
Displacement	696 cc
Bore x Stroke	88 x 57.2 mm
Compression Ratio	10.7:1
Power*	58.8 kW - 80 CV @ 9000 giri/min
Torque*	7.0kgm - 50.6lb-ft @ 7750 rpm
Fuel injection	Siemens electronic fuel injection, 45mm throttle body
Exhaust	2 aluminium mufflers
Emissions	Euro3
Transmission
Gearbox	6 speed
Ratios	1st 32/13, 2nd 30/18, 3rd 28/21, 4th 26/23, 5th 22/22, 6th 24/26
Primary drive	Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.85:1
Final drive	Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 45
Clutch	APTC wet multiplate with hydraulic control
* = Data calculated using an inertia dynamometer

Source:
http://www.ducati.com

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Kronos ready for legendary Monte Carlo

The first Monte Carlo Rally was held in 1911. In two years, the event will celebrate it's centenary. Its 77th edition takes place next week, from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 January. A survey recently showed that the "Monte", as experts say, is that the rally, by far, "speaks more to the general public." For the first time in 2009, Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg tackles this "monument" of road races with a clear objective: to join the fight for victory!

"Winning in Monte Carlo is the dream of all the professionals of rally, but it will not be easy. Remember that we are a private opposed to three teams of factory Peugeot Sport, Abarth and Skoda, said Marc Van Dalen, team manager. We will try out hardest, but our resources are limited. On the other hand, our motivation has no limits. The Monte Carlo Rally is a unique challenge because of its length, its geographical spread, mountainous regions it passes through and the period of the year in which it takes place, which maximizes the uncertainty of road conditions. This year, organisers of the Automobile Club de Monaco revived the tradition with the return of the famous "Night of Turini" which uses a shortened version. With more than 362 timed kilometres, the Monte Carlo Rally is the longest IRC round ever in Europe. With a start and a finish in Monaco, but two nights of rest in Valence, just 100km south of Lyon, the total length of the event exceeds 1400km, which is also unusual. "It will be one of our strengths," continues Van Dalen.

Throughout our victorious campaign in 2008, the Peugeot 207 S2000 has shown a perfect reliability. The engineers and mechanics Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg are fluent in the operation, and the two 207s prepared for "Nico" and Freddy are totally new. "The Special 77th Rallye Monte-Carlo are outlined in the Alps, Vercors, Ardèche , Haute-Loire and the hinterland of Nice. This means if the tests facing the 65 teams entered are varied, especially in the midst of a winter that seems to superbly ignore the "global warming". As is always the case in Monaco, the choice of tires will be important. "The range available to us by our partner BFGoodrich, is perfect", continues the sporting director of Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg. "In Monaco, the tire is never ideal. It is necessarily a compromise between the various road conditions encountered between returns to the service park. This is where the intelligence of the race driver takes on particular importance. Last season proved that, with Freddy Loix and Nicolas Vouilloz, the Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg is particularly well equipped in this respect."

Source:
http://www.rallye-info.com

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Ducati Monster S2R 1000

Specifications

Chassis
Frame	Tubular steel trellis frame
Wheelbase	1440 mm / 56.7 in
Rake	24°
Front suspension	Showa 43 mm fully adjustable upside-down fork
Front wheel travel	130 mm / 5.1 in
Front brake	2 x 320 mm discs, 4-piston caliper
Front wheel	5-spoke light alloy 3.50 x 17
Front tyre	120/70 ZR 17
Rear suspension	Progressive linkage with preload and rebound adjustable Sachs monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
Rear wheel travel	148 mm / 5.8 in
Rear brake	245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Rear wheel	5-spoke light alloy 5.50 x 17
Rear tyre	180/55 ZR 17
Fuel tank capacity	14 L (of which 3 L reserve)/ 3.6 US gal (of which 0.8 US gal reserve)
Weight *	178 kg / 392 lbs
Seat height	800 mm / 31.5 in
Instruments	Electronic panel: speedometer, rev counter, warning light for low oil pressure, indicators for high beam, fuel reserve, turn signals, LCD clock, immobilizer
Warranty	2 years unlimited mileage
Body colours (frame/wheels)	(red with white stripe - red - black) (black with white stripe - matte black - black)
Versions	Dual seat
* = The weight excludes battery, lubricants and, where applicable, cooling liquid.
Engine
Type	L-twin cylinder, 2 valves per cylinder Desmodromic; air cooled
Displacement	992 cc
Bore x Stroke	94 x 71.5 mm
Compression Ratio	10:1
Power*	70 kw - 95 hp @ 8000 rpm
Torque*	94,1 Nm - 9.6 kgm @ 6000 rpm
Fuel injection	Marelli electronic fuel injection, 45 mm throttle body
Exhaust	2 aluminium mufflers
Emissions	Euro3
Transmission
Gearbox	6 speed
Ratios	1st 37/15, 2nd 30/17, 3rd 27/20, 4th 24/22, 5th 23/24, 6th 24/28
Primary drive	Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.84:1
Final drive	Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 41
Clutch	Dry multiplate with hydraulic control
* = Data calculated using an inertia dynamometer

Photo:
http://www.psndealer.com
http://uun-halimah.blogspot.com

Source:
http://www.ducati.com

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Sarrazin heads Peugeot's challenge

The first leg of the 2009 Rallye Monte-Carlo lived up every bit to its promise thanks to a menu of three stages which featured a staggering variety of conditions, ranging from fresh snow, ice and rain to dry asphalt. Choosing the ideal tyres for the different combinations proved crucial and the front-runners ran a variety of options, including studded and non-studded snow tyres, as well as 'slicks'. Tonight's leader is Finn Juho Hanninen, 11.9 seconds clear of Peugeot Sport's Stéphane Sarrazin who claimed one fastest time.

In addition to being the opening round of this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the 2009Rallye Monte-Carlo also promises to be one of the calendar's most spectacular fixtures, too, thanks to weather conditions which have so far been in perfect keeping with the winter classic's reputation.

The engineers, ice-note crews, weather forecasters and crews spent much of the day weighing up the different tyre options, beginning with the choice for the first two stages at the pre-start service park in Monaco. The 2008 IRC Champion Nicolas Vouilloz opted for studded snow tyres hich enabled the Peugeot 207 Super 2000 driver to post the fastest time on SS1, 2.3 seconds clear of Hänninen (Skoda) and 16.3s quicker than Gardemeister (Fiat) who both chose non studded snow tyres. The opening test was also marked by the early retirement of Didier Auriol (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) who went off after taking the gamble of contesting the icy stage on dry weather tyres. Stéphane Sarrazin, who also went out on 'slicks', succeeded in finishing eighth behind three other Peugeot runners, namely Sébastien Ogier (snow tyres), Freddy Loix (studded tyres front, non-studded rear) and Kris Meeke ('slicks').

In contrast, dry weather tyres turned out to be the best option for SS2 which saw Sarrazin record the best time, 13.3s ahead of Basso (Fiat) and 36.8s quicker than Kopecky (Skoda). Vouilloz dropped almost a minute on the second test and handed the lead to Hanninen (fourth fastest).

At the following service halt, all the competitors thought long and hard about their tyre choices for the day's final test which turned out to be snowy towards the finish. Most runners chose studded snow tyres, including Peugeot UK's Kris Meeke who posted the fastest time to make it three best times from three for the Peugeot 207 Super 2000. Sarrazin completed SS3 just seven tenths of a second slower than the Ulsterman to move five seconds closer in the overall standings to Hänninen who opted for non-studded snow tyres. Nicolas Vouilloz was slowed by a front-right puncture and is a little more than half a minute adrift of the Finn this evening. French youngster Sébastien Ogier, who is making his Monte Carlo debut in the colours of BFGoodrich, and who is also driving the 207 Super 2000 competitively for the very first time this week, is provisionally fourth overall, ahead of Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg's Freddy Loix and Peugeot UK's Kris Meeke. Five Peugeot drivers figure in the overnight top-ten, while two other207 Super 2000s follow in 13th and 19th places in the hands of Slovenia's Andrej Jereb and Italian Tobia Cavallini respectively.

Thursday's leg promises to be just as complex with a menu of six stages, including Saint Bonnet le Froid (SS5/SS8) where more snow is expected. Competitive action gets under way at 9.58amand the total length of Leg 2 is 443.08km, including 145.78km in stages.

Stéphane Sarrazin: "It's been a very positive day. I was on slicks for SS1 which proved extremely difficult because the conditions were basically a cocktail of slush and ice. I did what I could to make up as much time as possible over the drier portions. The second stage was 90per cent dry or damp, so I was on the ideal rubber for that one. Then, on SS3, I drove cautiously on the clear asphalt to start with, before pushing harder in the snow towards the end."

Nicolas Vouilloz: "The choice of studded tyres for the first two stages wasn't bad, but I lost a fair amount of ground on SS3 after picking up a puncture which made my car difficult to drive. I cut a corner a little too much and then had to live with the result of that for the last seven kilometres or so."

Freddy Loix: "I am pleased to be in the overnight top-five at the end of Day 1. The first stage was really difficult and I had to adjust my driving style to the conditions."

Sébastien Ogier: "It's been a tough day but the end result is positive. My first day in the 207 Super 2000 was marked by extremely treacherous conditions. On top of that, I picked up a slow puncture on the last stage after clipping a rock about 10km after the start. That must have cost me around 20 seconds, but I was a little fortunate because the end of SS3 was snowy."

Kris Meeke: "What an incredible day that was! I don't think dry weather tyres were the best option for the first two stages, and I was glad to get through them unscathed. I wanted to put in a good run on the last stage and I was delighted to learn that I had scored the fastest time."

Source:
http://www.rallye-info.com

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Ducati Monster S4R Testastretta

Specifications

Chassis
Frame	Tubular steel trellis frame
Wheelbase	1440 mm / 56.7 in
Rake	24°
Front suspension	Showa 43 mm fully adjustable upside-down fork
Front wheel travel	130 mm / 5.1 in
Front brake	2 x 320 mm discs, 4-piston 4-pad radial caliper
Front wheel	Y-shaped, 5-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17
Front tyre	120/70 ZR 17
Rear suspension	Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
Rear wheel travel	148 mm / 5.8 in
Rear brake	245 mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Rear wheel	Y-shaped, 5-spoke in light alloy 5.50 x 17
Rear tyre	180/55 ZR 17
Fuel tank capacity	14 L (of which 3 L reserve)/ 3.6 US gal (of which 0.8 US gal reserve)
Weight *	177 kg / 390 lbs
Seat height	800 mm / 31.5 in
Instruments	Electronic panel: speedometer, rev counter, warning light for low oil pressure, indicators for high beam, fuel reserve, turn signals, LCD clock, immobilizer
Warranty	2 years unlimited mileage
Body colours (frame/wheels)	(red with white stripe - red - black) (titanium with black stripe - red - black)
Versions	Dual seat
* = The weight excludes battery, lubricants and, where applicable, cooling liquid.
Engine
Type	L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled
Displacement	998 cc
Bore x Stroke	100 x 63,5 mm
Compression Ratio	11.4:1
Power*	95.7 kw - 130 hp @ 9500 rpm
Torque*	103.9 Nm - 10.6 kgm @ 7500rpm
Fuel injection	Marelli electronic fuel injection, 50mm throttle body
Exhaust	2 aluminium mufflers
Emissions	Euro3
Transmission
Gearbox	6 speed
Ratios	1st 37/15, 2nd 30/17, 3rd 27/20, 4th 24/22, 5th 23/24, 6th 24/28
Primary drive	Straight cut gears; Ratio 1.84:1
Final drive	Chain; Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 43
Clutch	Dry multiplate with hydraulic control
* = Data calculated using an inertia dynamometer

Photo:
http://uun-halimah.blogspot.com

Source:
http://www.ducati.com

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Ducati Desmosedici GP 9

Ducati Desmosedici GP9 Technical Specifications

Engine
liquid-cooled, 90 degree V4 four-stroke, desmodromic DOHC, four valves per cylinder.

Capacity
799cc

Maximum power
more than 200hp

Maximum speed
in excess of 310 kph/192 mph

Transmission
Six-speed cassette-type gearbox, with alternative gear ratios available. Dry multiplate slipper clutch. Chain final drive.

Carburation
Indirect Magneti Marelli electronic injection, four throttle bodies with injectors above butterfly valves. Throttles operated by EVO TCF (Throttle Control & Feedback) system.

Fuel
Shell Racing V-Power

Lubrificant
Shell Advance Ultra 4

Ignition
Magneti Marelli

Exhaust
Termignoni

Frame
Carbon fibre chassis, pressed aluminium swing-arm.

Suspension
Ohlins upside-down 42mm front forks and Ohlins rear shock absorber, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping.

Tyres
Bridgestone 16.5" front and rear

Brakes
Brembo, two 320mm carbon front discs with four-piston callipers. Single stainless steel rear disc with two-piston callipers.

Dry weight
148kg

Source:
http://www.ducati.com

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