Henning Solberg confirms 2009 deal
The Solberg family will be represented in the WRC by at least one driver in 2009 following news that Henning Solberg has secured a full season in a Ford Focus RS WRC. Henning and co-driver Cato Menkerud will tackle all 12 rounds of the championship in an M-Sport run car bearing the bright orange livery of the pair’s sponsor - Nordic consumer electronics retailer, Expert. A positive outcome from a meeting today with Expect gave Henning the necessary backing for his fourth consecutive World Rally season and his third with the Ford team.

Mikkelsen with M-Sport
Andreas Mikkelsen will drive an M-Sport prepared Ford Focus WRC in the 2009 World Rally Championship, according to sources at M-Sport. It is unclear which M-Sport team Mikkelsen will drive for but it is thought he has secured a good deal with Malcolm Wilson.The news apparently came as a surprise to Ramsport's Rob Atkinson who expected Mikkelsen to stay with his team for 2009. Ramsport's participation as a Manufacturer Team in the upcoming season is now in doubt. Mikkelsen's equipment, which includes three Ford Focus world rally cars, has been transferred to the Malcolm Wilson outfit in Cumbria.

Indonesia WRC Postponed to 2011
The World Rally Championship Commission has agreed in principle that Rally Indonesia shall not return to the world championship until 2011, instead of 2010 as was published in the FIA's long range calendar in 7th December 2007. Rally Indonesia chief Jeffrey JP explained 2009 was the year of their country's national presidency campaign, and they would not have the chance to prepare properly for their official WRC candidate rally at that time. WRCC President Morrie Chandler confirmed this situation, adding that there were many other outstanding queries concerning the 2010 calendar. "The WRCC consider that it would be sensible to wait till the whole Promoter situation is resolved before acting on the published 2010 list. The promoter for example may prefer to revert to a fourteen round calendar or work on a winter calendar".

Leszek Kuzaj stops rallying
Two spectators were killed and two more injured as a result of an accident on the opening stage of the Prazsky Rallysprint in the Czech Republic last Saturday (December 6). The accident, involving a Peugeot 307 WRC crewed by two-time Polish champion Leszek Kuzaj and his Welsh co-driver Craig Parry, happened on the opening stage when the car lost control of a left-hand bend. The 307 slid into a group of spectators. It is yet to be established whether the spectators were standing in a prohibited area. A 26-year-old Polish man died on the spot and another 24-year-old male from the Czech Republic died from his injuries in hospital later. An eight-year old girl suffered a broken leg, while her mother escaped with light injuries. The police are investigating the crash. Kuzaj, 42, announced his immediate retirement from the sport.

3mmm