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The Jänner Rallye 2012 is ready for the Elite
Time flies and because that's in the nature of things the January Rallye 2012 also approaches steadily. For the first time, the first act of the Austrian Rallye State Championship taking place January 5-7, 2012 in Freistadt , also counts towards the European Championship and the Czech Championship. Accordingly great is the optimism of the organizer, the RC Mühlviertel, concerning the field of entrants.
Ferdinand Staber, chief of organization, keenly watches the list of registrations and, with its steady increase , his confidence to meet the high expectations of such a big motor sports event grows accordingly. And here - just in time - the current list of the OSK (Supreme National Sports Commission) shows as priority drivers Beppo Harrach, Raimund Baumschlager, Manfred Stohl, Patrick Winter, Mario Saibel, Gerwald Grössing, Hannes Danzinger, Hermann Neubauer and Michael Böhm. Beside these rallye stars and various other enthusiasts of the native rallye community, Staber is also counting on the international "drift elite" to fight some thrilling duels for European Championship points on the, in all probability, snow-covered roads around Freistadt.
Beppo Harrach (photo: Roman Kašpárek)Staber says: "The list of racing drivers we have invited to register in accodance with the rules for the January Rallye 2012 reads like a 'Who-is-Who' of the European rallye scene." It includes well-known January Rallye experts from Czech Republic like Vaclav Pech, Pavel Valousek or Roman Kresta as well as the congenial Škoda Fabia S2000 trio consisting of the current SWRC-champion Juho Hänninen from Finland or Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen and Jan Kopecky from Czech Republic.
European champion Luca Rossetti also has received mail in Italy from the Province of Upper Austria, as has European Championship second-placed Luca Betti. As the winners of the European Rallye Cup (East), Dimitar Iliev, Petar Gyoshev and Krum Donchev are expected to represent Bulgaria. The Slovenian champion Rok Turk, Italian Giovanni Vergnano and Bulgarian Slavor Todok, all from the international 2WD camp, are also expected.
Who in fact finally will be at the starting grid of the January Rallye 2012 can only be known after the registration deadline on December 11. One or another early Christmas present is likely to be pre-programmed for the RC Mühlviertel.
Apropos Christmas present: The Rallye Pass for the January Rallye is really the ideal gift for every motor sports fan. For 25 Euros one has free access everywhere and can win great prizes. To order, please visit the homepage at www.jaennerrallye.at.