Česká radost – Martin Semerád zvítězil v Pirelli Stars

Teprve osmnáctiletý český automobilový závodník Martin Semerád zvítězil v evropském kole projektu Pirelli Stars Drivers – shoot out, který se v sobotu konal v rakouském Freistadtu. Společný projekt Mezinárodní automobilové federace FIA a společnosti Pirelli má za cíl vyhledávat mladé talenty mezi automobilovými závodníky a dát jim šanci naplno rozvinout a prokázat svůj talent.

Pro posádku Martin Semerád – Bohuslav Ceplecha byla překvapením již nominace, kdy je vybrala česká federace automobilového sportu, aby Českou republiku reprezentovali. Martin Semerád si nominaci zasloužil skvělými výsledky v posledních soutěžích Mistrovství České republiky ve Sprintrally, kde se s každým odjetým kilometrem zlepšoval.

Jeho soupeři se v Rakousku stali zástupci osmnácti zemí, mezi nimiž měla rozhodnout porota, kterou tvořili představitelé hlavního partnera akce společnosti Pirelli, zástupci Mezinárodní automobilové federace FIA, a excelentní soutěžní jezdci jako jsou exmistr světa Walter Röhrl, či Michelle Mouton.

Porota neměla rozhodování vůbec jednoduché. Mladíci z různých koutů Evropy prokazovali svoje jezdecké dovednosti na šotolinové i asfaltové trati a hodnotila se rovněž jejich schopnost komunikovat s médii v anglickém jazyce. Martinu Semerádovi se velmi povedla první jízdní část na nezpevněném povrchu, a na porotu kladně zapůsobilo jeho vystupovávání a jistý slovní projev.

Přes svoje mládí předváděl vyrovnaný výkon ve všech hodnocených kritériích a porota jej v sobotu večer vyhlásila společně s finským jezdcem jako vítěze evropského kola Pirelli Stars Drivers Shoot-out.

Martina Semeráda s Bohoušem Ceplechou tak čeká účast v týmu Pirelli Stars v šesti soutěžích Mistrovství světa, kterých by se měli zúčastnit s produkčním vozem, případně s vozem kategorie S 2000. „Když zaznělo, že zvítězilo Finsko a Česká republika, nemohl jsem tomu uvěřit. Bylo to naprosto nečekané a zapůsobilo to jako šok. Ještě po první části soutěže na šotolinovém povrchu jsem si docela věřil a doufal, že bychom mohli uspět, ale pak jsem na asfaltové části udělal několik chyb a přestal doufat v úspěch.

Je to jako sen a děkuji všem, kteří se na našem úspěchu podíleli,“ řekl ještě na podiu v rakouském Freistadtu juniorský zástupce České republiky v Mistrovství světa Martin Semerád.

Na vybrané soutěžní jezdce, mezi kterými je i český zástupce Martin Semerád, tak čeká účast na soutěžích Mistrovství světa v Portugalsku, Itálii, Řecku, Finsku, Španělsku a Velké Británii.

PR

Surprise at Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out Europe in Freistadt

Czech Martin Semerád, only 18 years old, convinces jury of his talent
Jarkko Nikara from Finland also will take part in six WRC-runs next year
10.000 spectators followed the spectacular event in Freistadt on both days

Today, Saturday, at 20.20 the wide world of the World Rally Championship opened up for two young rally cracks. For at that time the juryDenn zu diesem Zeitpunkt verkündete die Jury – consisting of rally legends Walter Röhrl (Germany) and Michel Mouton (France) as Expert Driver, furthermore Mario Isola (Italy) for Pirelli, David Evans (Great Britain) for PR/Media, Joao Passos (Portugal) as organiser of a WRC-run and Kevin Morris (England) as Team Manager – announced the two winners of the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out Europe: the big, only 18 years old talent Martin Semerád (co-driver: Bohuslav Ceplecha) from the Czech Republic and 22-year-young Jarkko Nikara (co-driver: Jarkko Kalliolepo) from Finland.
The two rookies are now offered the big opportunity to compete in six WRC-runs (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Finland, Spain and Great Britain) next year in a group-N or Super 2000 car by Pirelli and FIA.

Yesterday the focus of the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out Europe had mainly been on the interviews of the competitors by the jury and the presentation of the teams in the evening in the exhibition hall in Freistadt. On Saturday, however, the heart of rallying came into play – the special stages. Here the rookies were able to prove their driving skills as well as their willingness to take risks even though the achieved times only played one of several parts in the assessment of the jury. And about 10.000 spectators were enthused by spectacular drifts and excellent rally-action on the overall six special stages (3 x Kerschbaum/gravel and 3 x Trölsberg/tarmac).

The performances of all drivers didn’t make it an easy job for the jury to chose two winners but since a decision had to be made one finally agreed upon Martin Semerád and Jarkko Nikara. A decision that took the young talents from the Czech Republic and Finland to seventh rally-heaven.

Jarkko Nikara: “It was very important to me to present myself well here. But right now I am overwhelmed, spellbound and very, very happy. This was my dream. I still can hardly believe that I will be competing in six WRC-runs next year. And I can promise one thing: I will come back here to Freistadt for the Jänner-Rally.”
Martin Semerád: “This is unbelievable. It is the best day of my life. Now I know that dreams can come true. I know that next year will surely be very hard – the most important thing will be to gain new experience and learn a lot. And I also will definitely return for the Jänner-Rallye.”
Walter Röhrl justifies the decision: “There was no argument about Jarkko as far as driving was concerned. With the subsequent drivers it was a close decision, meaning the ones from the Czech Republic, Italy and Ireland. We finally agreed upon the youngest driver, 18-year-old Martin Semerád. It was a decision everybody could live with. For the special-stage-times were not the only decisive factor.”
Peter Tyson, Head of Marketing at Pirelli, also praised the winners: “We are very happy with this choice. These are two very young drivers who now get the opportunity to present themselves to millions of spectators in the World Championship. Such a project has never before existed within the World Championship. It brings fresh blood to the WRC.”
Hans-Christoph Mehmel, Chairman of the FIA Rally Council, confirmed the close decision: “The two winners are worthy victors but almost any of these 18 hopeful teams would have deserved this honour. Our jury didn’t go easy on themselves and debated until the very last moment. Concerning international rallying the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out is an important aspect – not only now but also for the future.”

Photos of the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out and further information can be found at:
http://www.rallye-stardriver.eu/

PR:event Press Team
Armin Holenia +43 664 201 27 00
Andreas Walk +43 699 170 30 110
Martin Meyer +43 699 170 30 114

Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out Europe in Freistadt ready to go
 
18 teams have arrived in Freistadt and taken up reconaissance
An expert jury, lead by Walter Röhrl and Michele Mouton, will chose the winners
 
 
After the withdrawal of France, 18 teams from 18 different countries will now take part in the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out Europe in Freistadt. At the bottom of this release you will find the final entry list after the administrative checks.
 
This evening, Friday, the teams will be presented seperately to the audience and the jury following the opening ceremony in the exhibition hall of Freistad. For this the Rallyeclub Mühlviertel as host for FIA and Pirelli has come up with something special. As each car enters the hall the respective national anthem will be played followed by a short version of a typical piece of music of this country. Furthermore, the drivers will personally draw their starting numbers for tomorrow, when six special stages in Kerschbaum (gravel) and Trölsberg (tarmac) will be completed.
 
Following this there will be short interviews with the drivers which will also be closely observed by the jury. The members of this jury are Walter Röhrl (Germany) and Michel Mouton (France) as Expert Driver, furthermore Mario Isola (Italy) for Pirelli, David Evans (Great Britain) for PR/Media, Joao Passos (Portugal) as organiser of a WRC-run and Kevin Morris (England) as Team Manager.
 
A further highlight of today will be the concluding “Rally Talk Show of the Generations” where Walter Röhrl, Michele Mouton, Manfred Stohl and Raimund Baumschlager will also answer questions from the audience.
 
Tomorrow, Saturday, proceedings will already start at 08.30, followed by the three special stages in Kerschbaum (from 08.53 on). Subsequently the drivers will enter the regrouping in Freistadt from 11.09 on. In the afternoon the three stages in Trölsberg will commence at 14.07.
                                                                                                                    
From 17.45 until 19.00 the concluding interviews will take place in the exhibition hall before the jury will announce the two winners of the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out Europe from 20.00 on.
 
Further information on the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out can also be found at:
http://www.rallye-stardriver.eu/
 
 
PR:event Press Team
Armin Holenia   +43 664 201 27 00
Andreas Walk   +43 699 170 30 110
Martin Meyer   +43 699 170 30 114

Overview of countries and drivers of the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot Out
 
 Austria  Franz Wittmann
 Belgium   Thierry Neuville
 Bulgaria  Todor Slavov
 Codasur Zone  Victor Galeano Tomboly
 Czech Republic  Martin Semerad
 Finland  Jarkko Nikara
 Germany  Hermann Gassner
 Greece  Lefteris Sotirhos
 Ireland  Keith Cronin
 Italy  Simone Campedelli
 Nacam Zone  Benito Guerra
 Norway  Sveinung Bieltvedt
 Poland  Radoslaw Typa
 Portugal  Antonio Rodrigues
 Spain  Lemes Yeray
 Sweden  Joakim Nyman
 Turkey  Emre Yurdakul
 United Kingdom  Adam Gould

DRIVER PORTRAITS
 
 
AUSTRIA
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Franz WITTMANN Bernhard ETTEL
Date of Birth 27.10.1983 05.11.1974
Nationality Austria Austria
Residence Ramsau Vienna

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2006 Triestingtalrallye 1. overall place
  2007 Jänner Rallye 3. overall place; Bosch Rallye 1. overall place
  2008 Jänner Rallye 2. overall place; Pirelli Rallye Lavanttal 2. overall place; Bosch Rallye 3. overall place; BP Ultimate Rallye 3. overall place

 
 
 
 
BELGIUM
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Thierry NEUVILLE Achim MARATTE
Date of Birth 06.06.1988 03.08.1981
Nationality Belgium Belgium
Residence Sankt-Vith Bullingen

 
Car: Ford Fiesta ST
 
Career Highlights: 2007 Luxemburg Rally: 2nd overall and 1st in class
Rally of Crete: 9th overall and 3rd in class
Ford R.A.C.B. Rally Contest: winner
  2008 Rallye de Wallonie: 1st in Ford Fiesta Trophy (winner)
Currently 3rd in standings

BULGARIA
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Todor SLAVOV Filipov DOBROMIR
Date of Birth 22.01.1984 31.07.1971
Nationality Bulgaria Bulgaria
Residence Varna Varna

 
Car: Renault Clio R3
 
Career Highlights: 2005 Debut (National Champioship) and first win in class N2; finishing 2nd in class overall
  2006 3 wins in class N3 (National Championship); finishing 2nd in class overall
  2007 National Championship: 8 wins in class N4
3rd in East European Championship
  2008 National Championship: 4 wins in class N4

 
 
 
 
CODASUR ZONE
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Victor Manuel
GALEANO TOMBOLY Ruben Francisco
GARCIA RODRIGUEZ
Date of Birth 22.02.1984 11.11.1981
Nationality Paraguay Paraguay
Residence Asuncion Asuncion

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2003 National Rally Sub-Champion / Group N4
  2005 National Rally and National Super Prime Champion
  2006 National Super Prime Champion
  2007 CODASUR Champion; National Rally Champion and National Super Prime Champion Group N4

CZECH REPUBLIC
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Martin SEMERAD Bohuslav CEPLECHA
Date of Birth 24.05.1990 06.05.1977
Nationality Czech Republic Czech Republic
Residence Prague Prague

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2007 2. overall place Czech Rallye Junior Championship
  2008 2. overall place Czech Rallye Junior Championship

 
 
 
 
FINLAND
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Jarkko NIKARA Jarkko KALLIDEPO
Date of Birth 28.04.1986 22.07.1972
Nationality Finland Finland
Residence Saarijärvi Kangasala

 
Car: Ford Fiesta ST
 
Career Highlights: 2005 Winner of A-juniors in F-Cup
  2006 Finnish Junior Rally Champion
  2007 2nd of group N in Finnish Rally Championship

GERMANY
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Hermann GASSNER Kathi WÜSTENHAGEN
Date of Birth 21.11.1988 07.06.1983
Nationality Germany Germany
Residence Surheim Am Mellensee

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2007 1st overall Suzuki Rally Cup
  2008 1st Gr. N4 ADAC Deutschland Rallye (WRC)
2nd Mitropa Cup
4th overall ADAC Saarland Rallye (DRM)

 
 
 
GREECE
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Lefteris SOTIRHOS Nick ZAKHAIOS
Date of Birth 15.09.1983 02.02.1980
Nationality Greece Greece
Residence Athens Athens

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2006 Winner Rally Championship-Asphalt up to A6-class; 2nd Rally Championship up to 1600cc
  2007 Winner Rally Championship-Asphalt up to A6-class; 2nd Rally Championship on asphalt
  2008 (so far:) 1st Rally Championship Asphalt; 2nd Rally Championship

IRELAND
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Keith CRONIN Greg SHINNORS
Date of Birth 18.07.1986 23.08.1976
Nationality Ireland Ireland
Residence Bentry/West Cork Bruff/Limerick

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2005 2nd overall & class winner Cork ‘20’ National Rally; Class winner Galway Summer Rally
  2006 2nd overall & group N winner Killarney Forestry rally; 4th overall & group N winner Birr Forestry Rally; Class winner Killarney international Rally (206)
  2008 5th overall & group N winner & 1st Evo challenge driver Manx ‘International’ Rally; 2nd overall & group N winner Limerick Forestry Rally (Irish National Championship); Most number of fastest times in Evo Challenge UK ’08 to date

 
 
 
ITALY
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Simone CAMPEDELLI Danilo FAPPANI
Date of Birth 26.07.1986 23.04.1969
Nationality Italy Italy
Residence Savignano sul Rubicone Salò

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2006 4th - Cyprus Rally P-WRC
  2007 Italian Gravel Champion 2007; Winner MotorShow Event 2007 WRC – Memorial Bettega; 4th- Rally Ireland P-WRC
  2008 7th- Rally Turkey P-WRC, 8th- Rally Finland P-WRC

NACAM ZONE
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Benito GUERRA Enrique VELASCO
Date of Birth 25.03.1985 17.10.1978
Nationality Mexico Spain
Residence Mexico City El Entrego

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2006 Mexican National Rally Champion
  2007 Mexican National Rally Champion; 1st place (group N) WRC-run in Mexico
  2008 14th overall WRC

 
 
 
NORWAY
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Sveinung BIELTVEDT Roger EILERTSEN
Date of Birth 08.04.1985 11.01.1983
Nationality Norway Norway
Residence Ski/Oslo Enebakk/Oslo

 
Car: Subaru Impreza N11
 
Career Highlights: 2006 Norwegian National Rally Champion; Winner of National Ford Fiesta Cup
  2007 Norwegian National Rally Champion; Winner of National Ford Fiesta Cup
  2008 Winner of National Subaru Cup; Currently 2nd place in Norwegian Rally Championship

POLAND
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Radoslaw TYPA Jaroslaw BARAN
Date of Birth 18.06.1983 24.12.1967
Nationality Poland Poland
Residence Orneta Krakow

 
Car: Citroen C2R2
 
Career Highlights: 2003 Talent of the year
  2005 1. overall place Rally Baltyk
  2006 2. place Peugeot 206 Rally Cup
  2007 1. place FWD cars Race of Champions Rally Barborka Warsaw, 2. place class A-6
  2008 3. place class Citroen R2B Teams Challenge; 3. place class A-6

 
 
 
PORTUGAL
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Antonio RODRIGUES Jorge CARVALHO
Date of Birth 24.10.1982 15.07.1983
Nationality Portugal Portugal
Residence Murca Ribeirao

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2006 2nd place at the Peugeot 206 Trophy in Portugal

SPAIN
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Lemes YERAY Oriol JULIÀ
Date of Birth 20.08.1987 10.02.1973
Nationality Spain Spain
Residence Las Palmas/Gran Canaria Matadepera

 
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
 
Career Highlights: 2006 2nd overall Spanish Rally Championship – Junior
  2007 1st overall Spanish Rally Championship – Junior
  2008 1st IRC group N Rally Vinho de Madeira

 
 
 
SWEDEN
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Joakim NYMAN Bo HOLMSTRAND
Date of Birth 20.12.1983 04.10.1977
Nationality Sweden Sweden
Residence Ostersund Herrljunga

 
Car: Ford Fiesta
                                                                                                   
Career Highlights: 2006 1. place Ford Fiesta Challenge Sweden; 1. place Snapphanerally (gravel) Swedish Championship
  2007 2. place Ford Fiesta Challenge Sweden; 1. place Rally Vannes (snow/ice) Swedish Championship
  2008 1. place Pirelli International Rally – BRC – fastest 2WD; 2. place Rally Larvik/Norway (gravel); 1. place Rally Hedemarken/Norway - fastest 2WD

TURKEY
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Emre YURDAKUL Can ERKAL
Date of Birth 04.08.1982 13.05.1983
Nationality Turkey Turkey
Residence Istanbul Ankara

 
Car: Ford Fiesta ST
                                                                                                   
Career Highlights: 2004 1st overall Istanbul Rally Championship class A
  2005 2nd overall Turkish Rally Championship class N3
  2007 Turkish Rally Championship 2nd overall and 1st group A; 3rd class N3 Rally Finland
  2008 Rally of Turkey: 2nd FSTI and class N3; Rally Finland: 1st FSTI and class N3; Rally Germany: 1st FSTI and 2nd class N3

 
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM
 
  Driver Co-Driver
Name Adam GOULD Sebastian MARSHALL
Date of Birth 06.05.1987 29.05.1988
Nationality United Kingdom United Kingdom
Residence Cumbria/Gloucestershire Eastburn/West Yorkshire

 
Car: Renault Clio Ragnotti
                                                                                                   
Career Highlights: 2006 8th overall Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK (winning “most improved driver”-award)
  2007 Winner of the FST International Shootout
  2008 British Rally Championship: 10th overall and 1st two-wheel-drive car at the Jim Clark International Rally

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