The title “Wales” has been dropped from the name of Britain’s round of the world championship round, the final of the series, following continued impasse with former sponsors, the Wales Assembly Government. Plans are going ahead with the 2009 event as outlined in June, with activities based at Cardiff, the event funded by the British motorsport federation.

Czech driver Vaclav Pech headed a Skoda World Rally Car 1-2-3 result in neighbouring Slovakia when he won the IMPA Rally Bratislava. He drove a Fabia, Octavia WRC cars finished second and third.

The French gravel championship event Rallyes des Langres was won by Jean Marie Cuoq driving a Peugeot 307 WRC followed by two Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX group N cars.

The stewards of the Acropolis Rally will reconvene in Finland this Thursday (30 July) to discuss the legality of crankshaft balancing on Nasser Al Attiyah’s PCWRC championship leading Subaru Impreza N14. This preparation technique was questioned when Nasser’s engine was stripped after the Acropolis Rally, on which Nasser finished second in the category. Until the outcome of the meeting is known, the results of the Acropolis Rally and the PCWRC championship standings are provisional. The next round of the PCWRC is Repco Rally Australia (2-6 September).

Karamjit Singh is reported to be the driver of the official Proton Satria Neo S2000 on the Pacific Cup APRC events in his native Malaysia, Indonesia and China. This resumes an old successive partnership when the Mellors Elliot prepared Proton Pert (rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) cars took Karamjit to the inaugural FIA Production Car World Rally Championship in 2002. Karamjit also won the APRC three times early this decade. MEM will also enter a second car in the Barum Rally driven by Brian Bouffier with the possibility of a third entry in San Remo Rally.

Monte Carlo has announced special plans for their 2010 IRC event. The event will start in Valence and finish in Monaco. There will be a 9 km “selection” stage run in the Vercors region to define the starting order, while most of the action will be in the Ardeche region. One other major change; GT cars will be allowed to compete.

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