WRC News in brief

A round-up of the stories that are making the news in the WRC:

A round-up of the stories that are making the news in the WRC:
New Australian rally hub.
The organisers of Coates Hire Rally Australia have revealed a new location for the service park in host town Coffs Harbour and are planning changes to the head-to-head Super Special Stage.
When the WRC returns to New South Wales this September, the service park will be based at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium, a multisport facility,
three kilometres from the previous location in Brelsford Park.
The new home features more space for teams and easier access to the stages via the Pacific Highway for spectators and competitors. Meanwhile a ‘ very exciting new course’ is promised for the Super Special Stage in Coffs Harbour. The route will be announced as soon as planning and agreements are finalised.
Block’s back.
Gymkhana star Ken Block has confirmed that he will contest October’s Rally de Espana, the penultimate round of the 2014 WRC season.
The American, who won the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood – round two of the Rally America National Championship – at the weekend, will drive his Hoonigan Racing Division Fiesta RS alongside co-driver Alex Gelsomino.
Block’s sole WRC outing in 2014 is on an event he knows well. He finished ninth on his Spanish debut in 2010, but retired with mechanical damage there in 2011.
Block’s other stage rally appearances this year are the Rally America Suesquehannock Trail Performance Rally in May, and November’s Monza Rally Sprint in Italy, where his teammate will be Moto GP star Valentino Rossi.
Wales R5 drive on offer.
M-Sport is offering a range of incentives to entrants in this year’s British Rally Championship including top prize of a Ford Fiesta R5 for Wales Rally GB.
The bonus scheme is part of the FordFiesta SportTrophy, a category within the BRC that M-Sport is supporting for the ninth season.
Among the prizes on offer are spares vouchers to the highest placed Fiesta drivers on each of the eight events, and a test drive in M-Sport’s Ford Fiesta R5 for the Fiesta driver with the most points at the end of the season.
Should a Fiesta driver be crowned 2014 BRC champion, the Cumbrian firm, in association with the British Motor Sports Association, will offer a fully prepared Fiesta R5 for the season closing Wales Rally GB.

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