Dirty dozen selected for 2014 Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy
World Rally Championship took off to a great start this year and after two events in Monte Carlo and Sweden we are looking forward to Mexico. Then, after Mexico, it’s time for Portugal and the start of a brand new series within the Championship. Described as a truly affordable and well designed competition, Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy packs plenty of punch (dat phrase), is affordable and offers some very tempting rewards. Not surprisingly, M-Sport and DMACK received huge number of applications, yet they were only able to accomodate 12 of them. Selection ensued and in that selection twelve names were picked out for this years edition of this trophy.
Entry list is very serious indeed, also very international, global even. Really, if WRC action is just not thrilling enough for you, Fiesta Trophy promises a lot of excitement this year – identical cars, eager competitors and full length WRC events.
Official M-Sport announcement follows below.
TWELVE OF THE BEST FOR DRIVE DMACK FIESTA TROPHY
Twelve competitors from 11 countries will battle it out over the five-event Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy to win a prize drive in the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship.
After receiving 24 registrations from across the globe, the organiser’s final selection is set to give the series a healthy mix of raw talent, close competition and a real world-wide feel.
The list sees drivers from across Europe, the Middle East, Russia and North America. The high caliber of talent is outlined with competitors like Yeray Lemes, Jose Suarez and Sander Parn, who finished second, third and fourth on last year’s FIA Junior World Rally Championship. They are joined by French ace Quentin Gilbert, the UK’s Tom Cave, who stunned with fastest WRC 2 times on Wales Rally GB, and Finn Max Vatanen – son of the legendary 1981 world rally champion Ari Vatanen.
The oversubscribed contest has been pitched as a cost-effective entry level to world rallying and gives crews the opportunity to battle it out on both gravel and asphalt rounds using identical M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta R2s on DMACK tyres.
The winner will come away with a remarkable full seven-round WRC 2 campaign using’s M-Sport popular Ford Fiesta R5 in the Drive DMACK World Rally Team.
The trophy will get underway with Rally Portugal on 4-6 April.
The confirmed drivers are:
Nicolas Amiouni, 24, Lebanon
Tom Cave, 22, UK
Ghislain De Mevius, 25, Belgium
Quentin Gilbert, 24, France
Szymon Kornicki, 31, Poland
Yeray Lemes, 26, Canary Islands
Sander Parn, 21, Estonia
Allan Popov, 27, Russia
Nils Solans, 21, Spain
Jose Suarez, 23, Spain
Leo Urlichich, 28, Canada
Max Vatanen, 23, Finland
Dick Cormack, DMACK managing director, said:
“The Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy is set to be an exciting series and the huge prize on offer is sure to bring some close competition over the season. The list of drivers we’ve got is impressive and shows the true global attraction that the initiative has had. It’s encouraging that DMACK can help so many talented drivers get proper WRC experience.”
Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport managing director, said:
“It is fantastic to see such a talented line-up for the first Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy and I am delighted that we can reveal the final 12. Of course it is a real shame that we cannot accommodate all 24 applicants. The level of interest was extremely high and far surpassed all of our expectations. That said, I am confident that we have devised the best possible championship and that a very exciting competition lays ahead.”
Tom Cave said:
“I am incredibly excited by the prospect of contesting the 2014 Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy. When it was announced, it was clear that this was the prime option for us this year. The series looks to be a superb concept – each rally runs over the full three days so we don’t lose any of the experience that the final day offers.”
Quentin Gilbert said:
“We chose the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy as the cost is low and it means we can do a championship which has a very exciting prize. The mix of events is really good with fast gravel, rough gravel and asphalt rallies so it really is a good decision and one which I’m really looking forward to.”
Max Vatanen said:
“This is the best option for a young driver like me to get real WRC experience and progress my career. The competition will be intense but we will have the opportunity to impress people and aim for the fantastic prize drive. Comparing the cost to take part and the prize on offer it’s definitely the best option.”
Leo Urlichich said (to Tech House & Speed):
“We will be taking on the world in the front wheel drive Ford Fiesta R2s. The title sponsor of the Trophy is DMACK Tyres; M-Sport (UK) is going to take care of the cars. The competition is very strong and experienced. We are being realistic about our chances – I have no WRC or front wheel drive experience. So it’s going to be all about getting experience, making good pacenotes for the future and HAVING A BLAST!”
