RallyScotland winner to defend titleposted in RSCOT03 | 02 | 2011

RALLYSCOTLAND WINNER and reigning Intercontinental Rally Challenge champ Juho Hanninen is poised to defend his title, despite contesting the new S2000 World Rally Championship.

Skoda's original plans for Hanninen (pictured in RallyScotland) was to enter him solely in the opening round of the IRC in Monte Carlo, and the team's home event — Rally Zlin — in August. It was always intended his main focus would be the S-WRC programme with Red Bull Skoda.

But following Hanninen's dominant performance in Monte, where only a poor tyre choice in the sudden snow dropped him from a significant lead to sixth, Skoda team manager Pavel Hortek reckons the Finn can now expect an expanded IRC programme.

Hanninen's IRC title hopes are boosted by drivers only counting their best seven scores from the 12-round season plus — more importantly — bonus points on offer in the final two rounds in Scotland and Cyprus. All this means a partial programme could still give Hanninen a shot at retaining his title.

"We were very pleased with what Juho did in Monte Carlo," said Hortek. "His schedule is not confirmed and we cannot say officially, but definitely he will do Barum and I would imagine the rest of the season will be Cyprus, Scotland and some other rallies on asphalt."

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Jim McGill