Citroen's test their "spy car" in Portugal
Dani Sordo tested Citroen's hybrid C4 WRC in Algarve the day after the end of the Vodafone Rally of Portugal. This twin engined car was driven on asphalt stages in the area, using many features parallel to KERS equipped cars in F1. These include access to 30% more torque at the switch of a button, when both the electric and the orthodox engine work together. Dani explained the curious spy-car character of the car. "In electric mode you can drive through villages without making the slightest noise, which is very unusual for a competitor car. Better for the environment and more comfortable for the crew, making road sections more pleasant!". This test followed three days after FIA President Max Mosley said he was thinking of introducing more eco-friendly measures into rallying when systems had been perfected in Formula 1.

Asia Pacific Rally Championship – round 1
None of the registered drivers scored points in New Caledonia, first round of the FIA's APRC series. Only three APRC crews entered: Brian Green broke a hub and rear axle on the second stage, fellow New Zealander Hayden Paddon had gearbox trouble and local driver Jean-Louis Leyraud had engine failure. Regular championship drivers are expected to appear at the series' second rally. The second half of the event was cancelled because of heavy rain. International event winner was Subaru driver Claude Clavel while the national category winner was Alexis Barbou (Mitsubishi).

Donnelly wins again in Ireland
Eugene Donnelly scored his 16th Irish Tarmac championship rally when he won the Circuit of Ireland. His Skoda Fabia WRC finished ahead of Eamonn Boland's Impreza WRC. Third was Tim McNulty driving his Subaru Impreza WRC 12B, followed by Aaron MacHale in a Ford Focus WRC. First group N car was fifth place Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 driven by John McGlaughlin.

First round in Belgium
Former European rally champion Patrick Snijers was a shock non-starter at the opening round of the Belgian series, the TAC Tielt Rally, after a speeding offence during recce. Paul Lietaer won in a Subaru World Rally Car ahead of Melissa Debackere in a Toyota Corolla WRC. Both Peter Tsjoen and Tim van Parijs went off the road in their Focus World Rally Cars.

VW wins in Greece
Christos Papachristopoulos won the asphalt Filippos Rally, third round of the Greek national series, held in the north of the country, in a veteran VW Golf Kit Car ahead of several Mitsubishis.

Rain la Malaysia
Remember the late afternoon storm at the Malaysia GP? One week later the opening rally in the Malaysian series was halted in mid afternoon on Day 1 - by torrential storms! Eventual winner was Mike Ratnam (Proton Wira) though Saladin Mazlan led at half way in a new Proton Gen 2.

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