2013. március 30., szombat

KP51 RWN

KP51 RWN's story is a bit interesting and in the end, sad. She was part of the trio prepared prior to the 2002 season (KP51 RWL, RWO, RWN), and she held the record for the best finish an Evo WRC ever had: on the 2002 Rally Sweden, together with Alister McRae, ended the event in 5th place.
Rocketing to his kind's best WRC finish ever, 2002 Sweden (motorsport.com)
Her next round was the Cyprus Rally, the third hardest-hitting event on the 2002 WRC calendar behind the Safari and the Acropolis. The rally didn't go as well as her debut, first McRae rolled, and than the drive broke in the transmission, forcing the crew to retire.
Prior to the crash, 2002 Cyprus (motorsport.com)
Speaking of the Acropolis, she made the short trip there to be Alister's car again. And once more, unfortunately, the crew didn't see the finish ramp, this time due to an accident.
Already sporting some battle bruises, 2002 Greece (motorsport.com)
If you're already parading in the Mediterranean, why not take a short trip down to Australia for the penultimate round of the 2002 season, and with the bonus of getting converted to Step2 spec? Paasonen substitued for the injured McRae, but was really off the pace, and later rolled too, so the 9th place was even good looking at all this...
They hoped for a food result, but -again- it wasn't to be (motorsport.com)
As 2002 turned into 2003, she was used only once more as a works car, at the 2003 Rallye New Zealand, with up-and-coming young star Kristian Sohlberg. Sadly, they had to retire after they spent too much time repairing the car.
On her last works event, 2003 New Zealand (kristiansohlberg.com)
Whereabouts
We had to wait for her return until 2005, when she was used in the Finnish championship with Kristian Sohlberg, and ran by Ralliart Finland/Race Rent Europe. She had mainly podium places, but was heavily crashed on the SM Valvoline Ralli. There's no info if she was repaired or not, but hasn't been seen since that.
Probably SM Waltikka Ralli 2005
SM OK-Auto Rally 2005
Track record
Starts: 10
Wins: 0
Podiums: 3 (2005 SM Perunkaralli, SM OK-Auto Ralli & SM Uusikaupunki Ralli)
Retirements: 4 (2002 Rally Cyprus & Acropolis Rally, 2003 Rally New Zealand, 2005 SM Valvoline Ralli)

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