PLANET RALLY
Next week’s Rally Sweden boasts a 100 per cent increase in the number of WRC Trophy entries over round one. Two drivers – Valeriy Gorban (Mini) and Lorenzo Bertelli (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) – will compete and aim to topple early series leader Jourdan Serderidis, who scored a lonely victory in the French Alps. The DS 3 WRC driver was the only WRC Trophy round one starter… Skoda Fabia R5 driver Teemu Asunmaa took a 7.7-second win over Juha Salo (Peugeot 208 T16) on a warmer-than-usual Arctic Rally last weekend. Instead of the usual minus 25 degrees, temperatures hovered around zero for the Finnish Championship opener in Rovaniemi… As well as supporting Japanese drivers Hiroki Arai and Takamota Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing is also helping develop co-driver Sayaka Adachi this season. All three contested the Arctic Rally, with Adachi finishing fourth alongside Jarkko Nikara in a Tommi Makinen Racing-run Subaru Impreza. Arai and Katsuta finished 10th and 20th respectively, having parked their Markko Martin-run Ford Fiesta R5s in snowbanks during the weekend… The FIA has appointed ORECA as an official supplier of R4 kits. The kits can be adapted to all production vehicles, potentially expanding the horizons of the R4 category. Cars fitted with the ORECA kits will be permitted in domestic series – on approval from individual ASNS – as well as FIA regional series... Gus Greensmith has revealed the livery for the Ford Fiesta R5 he will use in this year’s WRC2 series. The M-sport-run car will be seen for the first time at next week’s Rally Sweden… Nasser Al-attiyah starts his pursuit of a 13th Middle East Rally Championship title at this week’s Qatar International Rally (February 3/4)…