WRC Academy: The class of 2011. Part three
Twenty drivers have registered for the inaugural FIA WRC Academy so far with more expected to follow prior to the 31 March deadline.
Wrc.com will be publishing profiles of all drivers and co-drivers taking part in the all-new training category during the next few days. Here is part three of the class of 2011.
Miguel Baldoni
Nationality: Argentinian
Date of birth: 13 October 1987
Co-driver: Fernando Mussano
Baldoni already has a proven track record in the WRC after scooping a podium finish in the Production Car World Rally Championship section of Rally Mexico in 2010, his first start at world level. The former karter will make the journey from Argentina to each round of the WRC Academy. Away from the rigours of competition, Baldoni enjoys football and quadbiking.
Craig Breen
Nationality: Irish
Date of birth: 2 February 1990
Co-driver: Gareth Roberts
With eight starts at world level under his belt prior to the opening WRC Academy event, Breen is one of its most experienced drivers. His expanding CV includes a trio of Fiesta SportTrophy titles and several prestigious scholarships. He spent 2010 driving a four-wheel-drive Fiesta Super 2000 but returns to two-wheel-drive competition in 2011 after being selected as one of six Pirelli Star Drivers in the WRC Academy.
Andrea Crugnola
Nationality: Italian
Date of birth: 25 September 1989
Co-driver: Roberto Mometti
With experience - and a successful CV - from Italy’s competitive one-make rally championship arena to fall back on, Crugnola has what it takes to shine in the inaugural WRC Academy. One of the six Pirelli Star Drivers for 2011, Crugnola impressed in last season’s Clio R3 European Trophy as well as the Italian Clio series.
Miko-Ove Niinemae
Nationality: Estonian
Date of birth: 31 March 1993
Co-driver: Timo Kasesalu
Despite his tender age, Niinemae has been rallying since 2004 following one year spent racing karts. Prior to the start of the 2011 season, the Estonian ranked his victory in Class A6 of the 2010 Saaremaa Rally in his homeland as his greatest achievement. Petter Solberg is Niinemae’s rallying hero due to his refusal to give up following the withdrawal of the factory Subaru team at the end of the 2008 season.
Christian Riedemann
Nationality: German
Date of birth: 27 August 1987
Co-driver: Michael Wenzel
Riedemann might be starting the WRC Academy with a new co-driver but at least he has knowledge of selected WRC events and his Ford Fiesta R2 to count on following a season spent in the Fiesta SportTrophy International in 2010. When he’s not competing Riedemann, who was inspired to take up rallying by Walter Rohrl, is a volunteer firefighter in addition to training to be a mechanic.
Credit: World Rally Championship (www.wrc.com)
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