Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo announced that the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race will have its seconds stopover in Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala in December this year. The Kochi of the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race will come after a run from Cape Town, South Africa.

Press Release
Kochi in India to host Volvo Ocean Race for first time

Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala, is confirmed as the host of the second stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in December 2008. The Indian stopover will come at the end of the second leg of the race from Cape Town, South Africa. Kochi will be the first of three new ports in Asia.

At the Abad Plaza in Kochi today, the stopover port agreement was signed by Andy Hindley, Race Director for the Volvo Ocean Race; Mr. N. Ramachandran, Chairman, Kochi Port Trust and Mr. KG Mohanlal, Managing Director, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.

Also present at the press conference were Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the Hon. Minister for Home, Vigilance and Tourism and Dr. Venu, Secretary of Kerala Tourism.

The Kochi Port Trust, which will be responsible for organising the stopover, with the full backing of the Kerala Tourism Department, welcomed the signing of the port agreement today and is confident that the stopover will give Kochi great exposure.

“India has never hosted such a prestigious sailing event and we are very excited that Kochi has been chosen,” said Mr. Ramachandran.

The booming shipping port on the Malabar Coast is now one of India’s foremost tourist destinations and the race stopover is sure to bring thousands of additional visitors to both Kochi and the State of Kerala. The Kerala State Tourism Department envisages the event will bring significant visibility as well as economic benefit to the region.

“Kerala Tourism sees this as an opportunity to project Kochi as an exciting destination, and we will be happy to extend all support to the Kochi Port Trust to bring the event to the State,” Dr Venu commented.

The Yachting Association of India (YAI), an active advocate of the race coming to India, sees the hosting of a stopover as an important boost to India’s ongoing campaign to establish itself as a venue for hosting major sporting events following its successful bid to stage the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

“Hosting one of the world’s top three sailing events will obviously boost any future bid to host major sailing as well as other sports events in India,” said Commander Ajay Narang, Honorary Joint Secretary-General, YAI. “It will also be a tremendous fillip for local sailing,” he added.

It is the first time that India is hosting such a prestigious sailing event and Kochi will be the
only port of call in India. The seven yachts participating in the race will arrive in Kochi in December 2008 and will stay for 10 days, before starting leg three to Sentosa Island in Singapore. A race village covering 2.5 acres of land will be set up near the BTP berth at Willingdon Island.

Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race commented: “It has always been part of our vision to take the race to different and wider audiences and we are delighted that Kochi has become part of that vision. India not only presents huge opportunities for the development of the event, but this coupled with the daunting challenges the competitors will face when racing their grand prix yachts in unfamiliar waters, will make the visit to India even more exciting for everyone involved. India has hundreds of millions of enthusiastic sports fans and we know they will enjoy this challenging race, with its passion, teamwork, adventure and excitement.”

The 2008-09 event will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on 4 October 2008, it will for the first time, take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 39,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier yacht race for professional racing crews.

2008 Dakar Rally Cancelation

Due to the growing threat of terrorist acts against the participants, The Dakar Rally organizers have decided to cancel the 2008 Dakar Rally.

Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December, The 2008 Dakar Rally got canceled. The threat is generated by a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb. There have also been direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organizations.

Press Release
A.S.O. cancels the 2008 edition of the Dakar rally
After different exchanges with the French government - in particular the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - , and based on their firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally, scheduled from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal’s capital.

Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organizations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O.

A.S.O.’s first responsibility is to guarantee the safety of all: that of the populations in the countries visited, of the amateur and professional competitors, of the technical assistance personnel, of the journalists, partners and rally collaborators. A.S.O. therefore reaffirms that the choice of security is not, has never been and will never be a subject of compromise at the heart of the Dakar rally.

A.S.O. condemns the terrorist menace that annihilates a year of hard work, engagement and passion for all the participants and the different actors of the world’s biggest off-road rally. Aware of the huge frustration, especially in Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, and beyond the general disappointment and the huge economical consequences in terms of direct and indirect repercussions for the countries visited, A.S.O. will continue to defend the major values of great sporting events and will carry on its engagement for a durable development through the Actions Dakar, started 5 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa with SOS Sahel International.

The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar. To offer, for 2009 a new adventure to all the off-road rally passionate is a challenge that A.S.O. will take on in the months to come, faithful to its engagement and its passion for sports.

Ford Mustang FR500S

Ford Mustang FR500S has been launched by Ford as its first race car intended for sale towards racers through Ford Racing dealers and built on a production line. The Ford Mustang FR500S is also available for sale through the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog. The Ford Mustang FR500S will meet the track for the first time next year in the Mustang racing series, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires.

The Ford Mustang FR500S is fuel-injected V8 production engine that develops 325 hp, and powered by a 4.6 liter 3-valve.

Press Release:
FORD RACING’S ALL-NEW MUSTANG FR500S, BUILT ON THE PRODUCTION LINE AND READY TO RACE IN 2008

- The Ford Mustang FR500S is the first race car Ford Motor Company has built at a vehicle production facility intended for sale to racers through Ford Racing dealers.
- The Ford Mustang FR500S joins other Mustang race cars available for sale through the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog.
- This new spec racer will hit the track in 2008 in the all-new Mustang racing series,
the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires.
- Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup kicks-off the weekend of May 2-4 at Road Atlanta.

Building on the rich and successful racing history of Ford’s iconic muscle car, Ford Racing Performance Group is providing customers an affordable way to race with the introduction of the all-new 2008 Mustang FR500S.

The limited-edition FORD MUSTANG FR500S is the first race car in Ford Motor Company’s history to be built at a production facility and then made available for racers to purchase through the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog and at authorized Ford dealers.

“There aren’t very many manufacturers that can say they build race cars right off of the production line, and we are very proud of this achievement,” said Dan Davis, director, Ford Racing Technology.

“This new car gives customers and racers a chance to get into a high-performing vehicle that is durable, reliable and competitive,” he said.

The FORD MUSTANG FR500S is the heart of the new Mustang spec series, the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, which will make its debut on the weekend of May 2-4 at Road Atlanta. The series continues to work on a finalized scheduled but has confirmed race dates at Mosport International Raceway, the Burke Lakefront Airport course in Cleveland, New Jersey Motorsports Park and Miller Motorsports Park.

The 325-hp Ford Mustang FR500S was co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) in Tooele, Utah, and is based on the Mustang GT used by the track’s high-performance driving school. Powered by a 4.6-liter 3-valve, fuel-injected V-8 production engine and featuring a Ford Racing cold-air intake, the FORD MUSTANG FR500S includes a 6-speed transmission with an upgraded clutch and Ford Racing short-throw shifter. The Ford Mustang FR500S features the same braking used on the Mustang FR500C, along with unique two-way adjustable front dampers with coil springs and an adjustable anti-roll bar in both the front and rear suspension.

“The new Ford Mustang FR500S is the result of Ford Racing working with Miller Motorsports Park, the Auto Alliance International production facility and everyone with Team Mustang to produce an affordable race car that is durable and lives up to the powerful reputation of the Mustang,” said Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Group. “We were able to use production racing parts out of our own catalog to ensure this car handles and performs with the power and aggressiveness the Mustang is known for.” With the addition of the Ford Mustang FR500S to its current stable of Mustang race cars, Ford Racing now provides customers a racing ladder – all within one manufacturer – to climb up through the ranks of professional racing. The Ford Racing ladder begins with the Ford Racing High Performance Driving School at Miller Motorsports Park featuring specially prepared school Mustangs.

The next step on the ladder is the Ford Mustang FR500S, which is delivered as a race-ready vehicle, complete with a racing seat and safety harnesses, and provides competitors with a base to hone their driving skills and an exciting year-long schedule to race against other semi-pro drivers.

Moving further up the ladder puts racers behind the wheel of the Mustang FR500C, which competes in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series, and the FR500GT4, which competes in the GT4 European Cup Championship. Both Mustangs are proven winners with each car having won championships in its first year of competition.

At the top of the ladder sits the FR500GT3, which is the ultimate race-bred Mustang. The FR500GT3 competed in select FIA GT3 European Championship races in 2007 and will be campaigned full-time in 2008.