Two new Pasi Laaksomaa Racing Team videos

Two new videos courtesy of Jent.

Videos are from Kangasniemi and Valkeala

FIA Manufacturer's engine

FIA is introducing the Manufacturer's engine, also known as the Global Race Engine, for the 2011 season of WRC and WTCC.

The new engine is a turbocharged 1600cc inline four, with turbo inlet restricted to 33mm and boost limited to 2.5 bar. The projected power output is about 290hp.

Whats fantastic about this is that it will bring the cost of participating even lower, because you can get the engine straight from FIA, or make one yourself. And dont have a homologated 1600cc turbo engine? You can use a 1800cc or 2000cc engine and debore it to the specs and if it holds up for 6000kms between overhauls, its good to go. It will also lower emissions for the series, which is a nice bait for the god damn hippies.

In WRC, most of thing will not change, except the fact that the WRCars will disappear from the top level, you can still see them on national level almost anywhere. The cars, S1600 or S2000 homologated, are still going to be those cool little hatchbacks we all love. And with the advent of electrical engineering, the cars should be just as fast with those active differentials.

In WTCC this will mean a bigger change however. The N/A 2.0l cars like the BMW and the Lada will disappear and more cars like the Seat Leon will take their place. Hopefully it'll be RWD and FWD, would hate to see the dominance of FWD changing the whole series.

Some of the more informed about WTCC of you might be able to educate me what other changes this would entail aswell.

The engine was first written about on FIA InMotion 9/09

HemiMotors Sprint

As I wrote earlier, I attended Hemimotors Sprint last saturday, 6 hours in -10c for the day, my feet were frozen solid afterwards.

I have photos up at 1g.fi and a video.



Jarkko Särkkä was the fastest on the with Jukka Tenho second and Erkki Koskelo third.

WRC Mexico and happenings.

And so came the awaited debut of Ken Block. I will have to redact some of my statements earlier, he does indeed drive a WRC10 Focus this year, instead of the S2000 Fiesta I said he'd drive.

All in all, the rally went south for Ford. Block as expected from a rookie in the series, really was in no place to even have expectations to near podium, and Latvala and Hirvonen both were constantly trailing at 4th and 5th. Though the breakdowns of the few Citroëns were a good thing for them, it wasnt enough. Mr. Latvala speculates the difference being in the technical differences of Citroën and Ford.

The Citroëns have 6 speed gear box, which makes it easier to keep the revs in the optimal range, when the Ford's have a 5 speed gear box. As I really dont know about the technical stuff when it comes to WRCars, I really dont have a comment for this one, but I think Latvala might be onto something. Mikko Hirvonen says that while it might play a role in it, it wouldnt make as big of a difference and he suggests that the Citroëns probably have more power aswell.

The rally ended rather well for Citroën, getting a 1-2-3 finish from Loeb, Ogier and Solberg. Loeb moved to 1st on the Driver's championship, while Ford still holds the top spot on the Manufacturer's championship.

And back to Finnish soil.

Pasi Laaksomaa Racing Team have finished three rallies since the last update, the 50th Hankiralli, AK Service rally and Kangasniemi ralli.

They finished 4th in their class at Hankiralli, driving the team's second car that unfortunately had summer settings.

AK service rally at Sonkajärvi they finished 3rd, due to driving out on stage one.

Kangasniemiralli they finished 5th, but the team made some changes to the settings, still the team's second car, and that gave them the needed edge, even though the rally itself didnt go aswell.

And to my business, I'll be attending HemiMotors rallysprint on 13.3., see you then.