THE LINE

November 16, 2011

(Ford)

The Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN)/Miikka Anttila Ford Fiesta RS WRC goes flying on Day Three of the 2011 Wales Rally GB. With newly crowned champion Sebastien Loeb (that makes it eight straight) crashed out of the event, Jari-Matti Latvala cruised to victory in the rally on Sunday. It was the Ford driver’s first win of 2011. Latvala started 6.1 seconds ahead of Loeb on Sunday and finished three minutes, 42 seconds ahead of teammate Mads Ostberg of Norway. It was Ford’s third win of the season. “It’s a great feeling because it’s been very stressful and frustrating since my last win (in Finland last season),” Latvala said. “It’s a great way to finish the 2011 season. We now need to push for the world title with Ford next year.”

(Ford)
Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila celebrate their win in the 2011 Wales Rally GB.

(Photo © 2011, autostock, USA - Brian Czobat)

Kasey Kahne (No. 4 Red Bull Racing Toyota) ended an 81-race winless streak with his victory in the Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, but Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Aflac Ford) finished second and Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet) was third setting up a showdown for next weekend’s season finale in Homestead. Edwards leads Stewart by 3 points. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a dead heat going in there,” said Stewart in a joint press conference with Edwards. “I want to go to Homestead tomorrow and start. I want tomorrow to be Friday. I’m pumped up, I’m excited about it and ready to go.” “This is going to be a battle. I truly believe it’s going to be a good race,” Edwards said. “That place is magical for us. I really enjoy going there. I hope it comes down to the fastest guy winning the race.” We shall see.

  Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Racing Team. Johnson's title hopes officially ran out of room in Phoenix, but what an incredible run it has been for the entire Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 team. Congratulations to all for your consistency, excellence and dedication over the entire length of the streak. And we agree with Tony Stewart, Johnson's run was probably a once in a lifetime event, likely never to be repeated.

(BMW Motorsport)
Jörg Müller and Augusto Farfus (No. 55 BMW M3 GT) started from pole and won the GTE class at the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in a six-hour race in Zhuhai, China. Their BMW Motorsport teammates, Andy Priaulx and Uwe Alzen finished second in the GTE class in their No. 56 team car to deliver a one-two for BMW Motorsport and BMW Team Schnitzer, who was responsible for running the two BMW M3 GT cars in Zhuhai. BMW finished second in the GTE Manufacturers’ Championship, ending the 2011 ILMC season in second place behind Ferrari by 19 points. BMW Motorsport also finished runner-up in the team competition to Ferrari.

 The FIA World Endurance Championship. The brainiacs in France decide to add a race to their 2012 schedule in Bahrain on the exact same weekend as Petit Le Mans. Huh? After all the time, money, and effort Don Panoz has contributed to the sport of road racing in this country over the last decade, that's the kind of treatment he gets? Unbelievable and unconscionable. We hope the ALMS comes up with something interesting to counteract this move.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's that time of year again and John Thawley has made his annual visit to the "Redneck Regatta" aka the Naples Swamp Buggy races. Enjoy the scenery! - PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Michelin's racing website - "Michelin Alley" - and get in on all of the behind-the-scenes buzz. Go here. - PMD

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