Kumho blooms in Holland

Erik Wevers and Jalmar van Weeren fought their Kumho-shod Ford Focus WRC to a famous victory in last weekend’s (September 19/20) Hellendoorn Rally – by far the biggest such event in Holland, which attracts in excess of 80,000 spectators. Two other Kumho equipped runners finished in the top 10.

Wevers is en route to making the event his own, being one of only two drivers to win it four times and one of only three to achieve back to back victories – so far he has topped the rostrum in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2009. This year’s success was no walk in the tulip fields, however, and from the outset battle raged between Wevers, 2007 Dutch champion Mark van Eldik and the 2004 Hellendoorn victor Pieter Tsjoen.

Wevers’ position started to look vulnerable during the second leg, when he lost some 30 seconds due to a hydraulic problem with the clutch. However, with the leaking hose sorted, Tsjoen forced to retire and van Eldik suffering mechanical maladies, the Wevers/van Weeren team eventually ran out victors by just under 2 minutes, clinching the Euro Rally Challenge in the process.

With the Skoda Fabia WRC of Gert Huzink/Aaldert Aaltink finishing 5th and the Subaru Impreza WRC of John Temmink/Henk-Jan Elbert coming home 9th, the result was another very impressive showing for Kumho-supported cars.

Said Kumho’s European Motorsport Manager Steve Thompson, “Our 2009 rally results have been most encouraging and this ranks among the best so far; the positive publicity from which should not be underestimated. Indeed, Kumho’s related exposure actually began before the event, when Wevers and Huzink participated in a rally display in central Rotterdam. This attracted huge crowds, was aired lived on Dutch TV and featured the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, enjoying a ride in Wevers’ Kumho-equipped Ford Focus WRC.”

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