Vital Stats
Name Markko Märtin
Date of birth November 10, 1975
Birthplace / Hometown : Tartu
First World Rally 1997
Markko Märtin is truly a rising star in the world of rally racing. His intelligence and discipline make him a formidable threat.
Competitors have to deal with a man who not only has ambitions to be the best but also truly loves to drive. Markko has been driving cars since he was a little boy, at ages when most of us were on bikes with training wheels. Granted, not many of us had fathers who were well known rally racers. Racing and cars were always around Markko when he was small and as he grew older he became more and more impatient to begin a racing career of his own. Everything had to be put on hold until he turned 18 and was legally allowed to drive the cars. Markko was not to be deterred and the during the time leading up to his birthday he secured a car to drive, a Lada Samara he bought from his uncle, and almost immediately after his birthday he was in the rally business. Markko was a natural and quickly completed a stellar season and made a name for himself in the Estonian rally circuit.
After an impressive start to his career, Markko began to acquire sponsors and attention from the world rally circuit. In 2000 Markko started his partnership with his current co-driver Michael “Beef” Park. Together these two completed nine world rallies and won an international championship at Azores. Soon after, Markko and Michael were ushered into the Subaru team where they continued to perform very well. This season Markko is the team leader at Ford Rally Sport and his comfort in his new Ford Focus is resulting in an increased amount of confidence in Markko and fear in his opponents!
A test of Markko’s discipline and faith in his team came 2003’s Acropolis Rally. This rally is touted to be one of the toughest of the year and is complicated by car smashing gravel and grueling temperatures. Markko was making it look easy when the hood of his car opened during a stage and glued itself to his windshield. Markko completed the stage driving blind with only the precise pace notes of co-driver Michael Park to guide him. Markko did not even think of braking even though the conditions in the car were sweltering due to a blocked air vent. Any driver who can confidently drive flat out with his eyes closed is a force to be reckoned with (although, he should always have Beef along while attempting that feat.) Markko went onto conquer the rally, driving beautifully throughout and remaining humble and calm even as it became apparent that his first WRC win had finally come to fruition. Markko and Beef are a team to keep an eye on and as the season continues we expect marvelous results from the pair.
Outside of the car Markko is described as being quiet and hard to get to know but very charming. He has a dry wit and a quiet manner that is often overcome by an enormous grin. He uses mountain biking as a way to relax and train for races and also enjoys playing basketball in his few free moments of time. Most racers spend a lot of time either in the car (as much as 16 hours day) or traveling to and from races. It doesn’t leave a lot of free time for relaxing or even adjusting to time changes and new sleep schedules but Markko overcomes it enough to perform at his best in races. People who have met Markko say that even though he is a dedicated driver he realizes that there is life outside of the WRC.
2004
Date.............................................. Rally ......................Winner
du 23 janvier au 25 janvier Rallye de Monte-Carlo S. LOEB
du 6 février au 8 février Rallye de Suède S. LOEB
du 12 mars au 14 mars Rallye du Mexique MARKKO. MÄRTIN
du 16 avril au 18 avril Rallye de Nouvelle-Zélande P. SOLBERG
du 14 mai au 16 mai Rallye de Chypre S. LOEB
du 4 juin au 6 juin Rallye de l'Acropole P. SOLBERG
du 25 juin au 27 juin Rallye de Turquie S. LOEB
du 16 juillet au 18 juillet Rallye d'Argentine
du 6 août au 8 août Rallye de Finlande
du 20 août au 22 août Rallye d'Allemagne
du 3 septembre au 5 septembre Rallye du Japon
du 17 septembre au 19 septembre Rallye de Grande-Bretagne
du 1 octobre au 3 octobre Rallye d'Italie
du 15 octobre au 17 octobre Tour de Corse
du 29 octobre au 31 octobre Rallye de Catalogne
du 12 novembre au 14 novembre Rallye d'Australie
Rallye d'Argentine Markko Märtin et Michael Park vont bien
ATS, le 17 juillet 2004 à 14:30
L'Estonien Markko Märtin, victime d'un terrible accident vendredi lors de la première journée du rallye d'Argentine, huitième épreuve du Championnat du monde, se portait bien, même s'il avouait quelques courbatures, samedi matin à Villa Carlos Paz.
Hospitalisés la veille après une série de tonneaux à près de 180 km/h, transformant la Ford en un amas de ferraille, Märtin et son copilote britannique Michael Park avaient préféré quitter l'hôpital vendredi soir, malgré les recommandations des médecins qui voulaient les garder en observation, et rentré coucher à l'hôtel.
Samedi matin, Märtin prenait donc son petit déjeuner en compagnie de Park et de Malcolm Wilson, directeur de l'écurie Ford. Souriant, l'Estonien racontait dans le menu détail les tests visuels passés à l'hôpital, avant de confier qu'il ne souffrait que d'une douleur au cou.
Mârtin et Park ont ensuite quitté l'hôtel pour retourner à l'hôpital où ils devaient subir de nouveaux examens avant de prendre l'avion.
Sinul veab järgmine kord
RUSUHUNNIK : Kõik, mis Markko Märtini Fordist järele on jäänud. Piloot lahkub õnneks omal jalal.
Markko Märtin tegi Argentiina ralli viiendal katsel 200kilomeetrise tunnikiirusega kihutades ränga avarii. Ford rullus mitu korda üle katuse ja muutus rusuhunnikuks. Märtin ja kaardilugeja Michael Park pääsesid tõsisemate vigastusteta, kuid toimetati haiglasse uuringutele.
Jaan Martinson
Kui SL Õhtuleht viis tundi pärast avarii toimumist Argentiinasse Fordi pressiesindajale Malcolm Wilfordile helistas, teatas too, et Märtin, kes avariipaigalt omal jalal lahkus, viibib ikka Cordoba haiglas uuringutel ja pole teada, millal tohtrid tal lahkuda lubavad.
Viienda katse lõpus, pika, ligi kilomeetrise sirge lõpus, kus auto kihutas kuuenda käiguga ja kiirus küündis pea maksimumini, tõusis Märtini Ford madalalt trampliinilt õhku, rullus teab mitu korda üle katuse ja peatus tee ääres. Õigemini oli peatunud rusuhunnikut raske autoks pidada.
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