Knaf Talent First Team Holland again in J-WRC 28.01.2009: Next week Thursday (29 January) will again see the KNAF Talent First Team Holland at the start of the Junior World Rally Championship during the opening round in Ireland. The team will again consist of the young Dutch drivers Hans Weijs junior (22) and Ke

•    KNAF Talent First Team Holland: J-WRC continuation at highest level…
•    Hans Weijs jr.: with Citroën C2 Super1600 chasing the J-WRC title…
•    Kevin Abbring: building on experience in second J-WRC season…

Next week Thursday (29 January) will again see the KNAF Talent First Team Holland at the start of the Junior World Rally Championship during the opening round in Ireland. The team will again consist of the young Dutch drivers Hans Weijs junior (22) and Kevin Abbring (20), who will defend the ‘orange’ team colours on behalf of the Dutch ASN. 

Although at first sight it looks there are no changes compared to last year, this certainly is not the case. Hans Weijs junior traded in his Citroën C2 R2 Max for a competitive C2 Super1600 – a similar car that won the J-WRC title last year in the capable hands of Sébastien Ogier.

Until now 9 teams have entered the J-WRC. Because each entrant can only score points in 6 out of eight events and one has to decide on which events one will enter the entry date for the championship only closes just before the Rally of Portugal. The KNAF Talent First Team Holland will not start in Argentina and Cyprus.


Hans Weijs junior: “Only last week we decided to go ahead with buying a Super1600! I’m very pleased, because to go for the title you need a Super1600. Although the costs are much higher and we are still looking for additional sponsorship, we decided to go for it,” says Hans Weijs just before packing the truck to leave for Ireland.

And Hans not only has a new car; he also got a new co-driver: Bjorn Degandt, last year co-driving teammate Kevin Abbring in three J-WRC rounds, will now team up with Hans Weijs for his title race in his Citroën C2 Super1600. The 34-year old Belgian won various titles – three in the Belgian Citroën Cup. “I’m very happy to be back in the Dutch team; it is  a very professional and friendly team, and very determined too,” says Degandt.

Kevin Abbring:
Kevin Abbring will also (again) have a Belgian co-driver in the hot seat of his Renault Clio RS: Erwin Mombaerts; this season the 45-year old and very experienced Belgian will be able to read the pace notes for Kevin Abbring in all 6 events. In the mean time Kevin’s team prepared his rally car for a new J-WRC season.

Kevin Abbring says: “Last November I participated in the Rallye du Var, but unfortunately had to retire early in the rally (broken water hose). But now we are ready for a new season and I’m really looking forward to use my experience of last season to even score more points this year!” During the season there will be some new specs for the Clio (engine, gear box, rear axle), which will make the Renault even quicker and more competitive.

Calendar J-WRC 2009 – KNAF Talent First Team Holland

29 January – 1 February    Rally Ireland
2 – 5 April             Rally Portugal
21 – 24 May         Rally Italy
25 – 28 June         Rally Poland
30 July – 2 August        Rally Finland
1 – 4 October         Rally Spain

Past J-WRC Champions
2001: Sébastien Loeb (F), Citroën; 2002: Daniel Sola (E), Citroën; 2003: Brice Tirabassi (F), Renault; 2004: PG Andersson (S), Suzuki; 2005: Dani Sordo (E), Citroën; 2006: Patrick Sandell (S), Renault; 2007: PG Andersson (S), Suzuki; 2008: Sébastien Ogier (F), Citroën.
 


- Willy Weyens, also photos