Zoom Next stop, the 2009 Monte Carlo Rally

BFGoodrich has today confirmed that the BFGoodrich Drivers Team programme, which was organised for the first time this year, will be run again in 2009.

In 2008, the five BFGoodrich Drivers Team operations organised by the tyre brand – with logistical and technical input from Kronos Racing, plus support from the motor sport governing bodies and automobile clubs of the countries involved – all met with huge success, both in sporting terms and with spectators. BFGoodrich has consequently decided to repeat the operation in five of the countries that will host rounds of the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

The first outing for the BFGoodrich Drivers Team in 2009 will be the legendary Monte Carlo Rally (January 21-24).

The BFGoodrich Drivers Team offers talented drivers from the different countries involved a chance to showcase their skills in their home round of the IRC.

All competition licence holders are eligible to apply, irrespective of age or experience. The drivers chosen from the national shortlists by a panel of media representatives will be given a drive in a Kronos Racing-prepared car.

Frédéric Henry-Biabaud, BFGoodrich Competition Director
"The 2008 BFGoodrich Drivers Team operation was a resounding success in every one of the five countries it visited this year, namely Portugal, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Spain and Italy. We received more than 300 applications for the BFGoodrich Drivers Team ride on the IRC rounds of these five nations and, each time, the local media voted for the driver who they believed best represented their respective countries."

"Not only did the operation produce some outstanding results in sporting terms but it also turned out to be a formidable human adventure, enabling a number of drivers to show their ability, whereas many of them would never have emerged on the international rally scene had this programme not existed."

"The success of the scheme in 2008 has led us to repeat the programme in 2009. We will be introducing some new ideas and we hope that the operation will prove just as popular. We are delighted, too, to be getting the 2009 BFGoodrich Drivers Team calendar under way with the magical Monte Carlo Rally which is the opening round of next year's IRC. Nearly every rally driver must have dreamt of taking part in the legendary 'Monte' one day, and we are looking forward to a high number of applications..."

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