Rally-eMag December 2013 / Contents
The season comes to a close
Let me start by offering my apologies for the delay between the last
issue and this one. It’s hard to build a business out of a rally magazine and although we have been working hard, there is still a long
way to go to make it profitable. That means that we have other jobs
to attend to as well. The busy end of year period caused some delay
with creating this issue for you, so sorry for the wait, but you can be
assured that we will keep doing what ever needs to be done to get
you a monthly Rally-eMag the coming year!
On a positive note, we have put together the most elaborate issue to
date for you! We cover all six final rallies of the season which should
keep you entertained for a while. In her season wrap-up Anna Rudd
discusses the highs and lows of the M-Sport this season. I’d like
to take some time to talk about the general highs and lows of the
season here.
When we talked to Mikko Hirvonen in Monte Carlo early this year
he was full of confidence. He was the only top-ranked driver with a
full year of experience in his current car. With Loeb’s departure this
should be his year to shine. We now all know that is not quite how
things played out. Hirvonen’s, or Citroën’s for that matter, season
was disappointing. Just three wins and two of them for Loeb who
wasn’t doing the full season. Dani Sordo scored an emotional win
in Germany but that was not enough to prevent team management
from taking drastic measures. Both Hirvonen and Sordo leave the
team to be replaced by Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg.Good news
for the UK fans! Both Hirvonen and Sordo found a home elsewhere,
at M-Sport and Hyundai respectively.
This Month
Rallye de FranceAlsace
- One down, one to go
RallyRACC-Rally de
Espana
Page 11
Page 28
The inside view
Anna recaps the season
Croatia Rally
8/64
Enjoy reading!
Steven van Veenendaal / Editor
Rallye Sanremo
Page 36
- Kopecky goes for gold
- It ain’t over till it’s over
Page 50
Page 41
Rallye International
du Valais
Of course, this was Volkswagen’s season. After a year long ‘test
session’ they were ready, but modest at the season start. Aiming
for genuine podium speed in the half of the season they rapidly
matched and surpassed their own goals. Ogier was in incredible
form this season and it’s difficult to imagine anyone taking his crown
soon. Neuville has the speed but it remains to be seen how fast and
reliable the Hyundai is next year.
M-Sport did not log a single win this season, but with Neuville they
did deliver the brightest young star of the sport. Neuville recorded
a bunch of second place finishes to finish the championship in that
spot too, definitely a breakthrough season. He’ll be the star at Hyundai next year making room for another young British talent at MSport in Elfyn Evans. Enough to look forward to again!
- An interesting ending to an
interesting year
- I came, I saw, I conquered
Page 20
Wales Rally GB
- All good things come to an end
Page 58
Who made it?
Publisher: Rally-eMag
Words: Steven van Veenendaal,
Harry van Veenendaal.
Photography: Bas Romeny, Steven van Veenendaal.
Who helped?
Who we thank!
How to reach us?
Logo design: Minse Blom
PR Photography from:
Peugeot Sport, Hyundai Motorsport, Citroen Racing, FIA ERC.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rally-emag.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
emagrally
Twitter: @emagrally
Issuu: www.issuu.com/rally-emag
Distribution: Issuu.com
Columnists: Anna Louise Rudd,
Michael Jenkins.