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We take a look at this years unbelievable Rally Japan. Just when you thought Marcus Gronholm had handed Sebastien Loeb a third-straight series title, Loeb crashed. The attrition rate was high, giving some of the series less visible competitors the chance to shine.

Mikko Hirvonen and Dani Sordo finished 1-2 for Ford and Citroen, while Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson put in a great finish for Stobart, just ahead of Luis Perez Companc and Federico Villagra in the Munchis cars.




Photos courtesy of Rally Japan.

Music this week from:

Lukas - Feels Like Home. Lukas have spent the last year at various locations along the coast of NSW crafting songs with honest lyrics, strong, soaring melodies and killer hooks. Their brand-new EP, 'You and Me', launches on November 3, and will be available from their web site.


Two Loons For Tea - Monkey. Two Loons for Tea is a Seattle-based dream-pop super-group reminiscent of Zero 7 or Portishead. As a live group, "Two Loons for Tea could open for [anyone from] Tricky to Willie Nelson and chances are they'd win over either audience" (Lollipop Magazine).

Two Loons For Tea is available through Sarathan Records, or Amazon.com.


Javelinas - Seven Sisters. With a sound as vast at the Midwestern rust belt, Chicago’s Javelinas have crafted a traditionally familiar sound all their own. The new album 'Seven Sisters' (Kentland Records), follows up their 2005 debut 'Dirtbath', taps into the psyche and history of Midwestern hard-living truths.

You can purchase 'Seven Sisters' from CD Baby.


Background music: Cargo Cult - 'Fifth' and 'Helium' (courtesy of Magnatune). Incidental music by Derek K. Miller.

If you like the song, email the artist and let them know. Or, better still, buy a CD!

Technorati Tags: Rally Japan, Marcus Gronholm, Mikko Hirvonnen, Petter Solberg, Chris Atkinson, Sebastien Loeb, Francois Duval, Dani Sordo, Henning Solberg, ARC, Australian Rally Championship, V8 Supercars, V8SC

Labels: Rally, WRC

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With a week off before Rally Japan, I thought now would be great time to catch up with Chris Atkinson. While the Subaru team will carry the weight of local expectation, Rally Japan is an event where Chris has had a fair degree of success.

I caught up with him on Friday night, just as he and the rest of the Subaru World Rally Team were about to fly out of London for Hokkaido.

Photo courtesy of the Subaru World Rally Team.


Technorati Tags: Rally Japan, Subaru World Rally Team, Chris Atkinson, ARC, Australian Rally Championship, V8 Supercars, V8SC

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The fourth-last rally of the WRC year, and Sebastien Loeb bags another one. But Marcus Gronholm wasn't letting the Frenchman out of his sight, and hung on for an important 2nd-place, Dani Sordo unable to challenge Gronholm.

The championship could be decided by the performances of the Sordo and Hirvonnen, and whether they can 'steal' points from either Gronholm or Loeb.

And 'Welcome to the WRC' Suzuki. The little white SX4 had a solid first outing; not too many problems and posting times near the top-10 all event. There's a really short video the Nicolas Bernardi in the SX4 up at YouTube.





Photos courtesy of Rally Shots and Suzuki.

Music this week from:

Kick in the Can - Dan. Originally formed by Gregoire Nachbauer and Edouard Schmitt, the bands rhythm section was added in the form of Vincent Atlan and Thomas Flieg. The boys reside in Paris, and although they don't have a CD available at the moment, you can hear more of their tracks at their MySpace page. (Thanks to the PMN for providing the track).


Nightshift - All Night Through. Gaël Benjamin & Jérôme Beuret share a common love of that 70's west coast American sound, and inspired by the Eagles, Steely Dan and Gerry Rafferty, they formed NightShift. Nightshift's debut album, 'Full Moon' is now available through Somekind Records, or iTunes.


Stephane Pompougnac - This is the real Stephane Pompougnac, seen as an 'urban neo-aristocrat' in Italy, as a 'French signature DJ' in England, as Hotel Costes’ little prince turned 'Baroque Olympus' in Germany, and hailed worldwide as the icon of New French Sophistication.

You can purchase Stephane's music from Amazon.com and the iTunes Music Store, and this track comes courtesy of Pschent Music.


Background music: Cargo Cult - 'Fifth' and 'Helium' (courtesy of Magnatune). Incidental music by Derek K. Miller.

If you like the song, email the artist and let them know. Or, better still, buy a CD!

Technorati Tags: Rally France, Tour de Corse, Marcus Gronholm, Mikko Hirvonnen, Petter Solberg, Chris Atkinson, Sebastien Loeb, Francois Duval, Dani Sordo, Henning Solberg, ARC, Australian Rally Championship, V8 Supercars, V8SC

Labels: Rally, WRC

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Sebastien Loeb was expected to do well here, and he didn't disappoint. But, if not for the leg one rain, Marcus Gronholm would have posed more of a threat, and with Dani Sordo claimed second place on the podium, Gronholm's series lead is now reduced down to six points.

To see Chris Atkinson's two-wheel antics in Spain, have a look at the first couple of minutes of YouTube.




Photos courtesy of Miquel Rovira.

Plus we'll talk about the Bathurst 1000, and various bits of rally news.


Music this week from:

The Pepper Pots - You Love Her. The Pepper Pots formed in 2002 with the aim of bringing back the sound and style of the Jamaican bands of the 60s. Their 2nd CD, 'Shake It!' was released this year; a disc for dancing, listening to and going back to the era when ska, rocksteady, early reggae or soul were the pop music of the moment. Purchase their CDs from their web site, and you can hear more of their tunes on their MySpace page.


Will Deynes - Superwonderful. "Often compared to bands like Dashboard Confessional, Snow Patrol and Jimmy Eat World, Wil's debut EP 'Stay' is a mixture of up-tempo commercial pop, that runs from laidback to hard-driving—and everything in between."

You can purchase Wil's debut CD from CD Baby.


Mubashir Noor - In Transit. The ex-'Corduroy' frontman is the first Pakistani musician we've had on the show. This track, 'In Transit', has been providing him with plenty of attention, and he's been nominated international category of the Toronto' Exclusive Magazine' Music Awards, which will be announced in a couple of weeks time.

Check out more of his music at MySpace.


Background music: Cargo Cult - 'Fifth' and 'Helium' (courtesy of Magnatune). Incidental music by Derek K. Miller.


If you like the song, email the artist and let them know. Or, better still, buy a CD!


Technorati Tags: Rally Spain, Marcus Gronholm, Mikko Hirvonnen, Petter Solberg, Chris Atkinson, Sebastien Loeb, Francois Duval, Dani Sordo, Henning Solberg, ARC, Australian Rally Championship, V8 Supercars, V8SC

Labels: Rally, WRC