Mix
Adolf Hänni new passenger for Pekka Päivärinta
“I am happy about this new combination. Adolf Hänni is such a reliable passenger like a clockwork from Switzerland”, says Sidecar World Champion Pekka Päivärinta.
His former passenger and Superside World Champion 2008 Timo Karttiala ended his career because of job reasons.
Adolf Hänni is a sidecar “pioneer”: Since 1983 Hänni is part of the sidecar World Championship circus. He is 4-times Vice-World Champion, German Champion, he drove with Steve Webster, Klaus Klaffenböck, Mike Roscher and Markus Schlosser, for example.
In 2009, Hänni will ride the Superside World Series together with Päivärinta and the national German IDM Series together with former IDM-Champion Markus Schlosser.
Päivärinta is eager to defend his title. “I am proud that Pekka puts so much faith in me to win races with me”, says Hänni, “I will try to do my very best. My dream is to win the World Championship title.”
As soon as the snow melts in Finland, Hänni will fly to Scandinavia to practice together with his new partner.
Päivärinta will take part in the Finnish national races together with Topi Tala.
Tala is a newcomer on the asphalt but has a long sidecar moto-cross and ice-racing experience. Päivärinta and Tala already practiced together in 2007.
February 2009
Reeves opens World Championship season with third
Reeves brother re-unite for World Championship assault (6. May 2009)
Tim Reeves will be joined by younger brother Tristan for his assault on the 2009 World Sidecar Championship as he attempts to regain the crown he won three years in succession from 2005-07. The Kent driver was due to be partnered by regular passenger Patrick Farrance but work commitments mean the 24-year old is unable to fulfill his duties for the full season and will instead concentrate on the smaller F2 outfit and, in particular, the forthcoming Isle of Man TT races.
The Reeves siblings, however, have an extremely successful past having won the World Championship twice, in 2005 and 2006, as well as the British Championship and are expected to again be challenging for honours this season. Tim recently completed successful shakedown tests with his all-new F1 outfit at both Mallory Park and Cadwell Park and is eagerly looking forward to the opening round of the World Championship this weekend.
Speaking ahead of the event Tim said:
"I'm delighted to have Tristan back with me for the World Championship and I've no doubts we'll be able to resume our winning partnership. He hasn't been in the chair with me for a couple of seasons but we know how the other works inside out so I'm sure we'll be back up to full speed almost immediately and we're heading to Germany in confident mood and keen to take the first steps in bringing the World title back to England. It's obviously a shame that Patrick won't be with me for the full season but he'll be focusing his efforts on the F2 outfit instead where we hope to claim our first TT win in just a few weeks time."
Round 1 of the World F1 Sidecar Championship takes place this weekend at Schleiz, Germany with an 11-lap sprint race on Saturday and a 28-lap feature race on Sunday.
Phil Wain
Freelance PR
