Isolde wishes a Merry Christmas

19th December 2006

FULDA Challenge, Toyota Yaris Cup and classic car rallies: Isolde Holderied looks back on a year full of exciting and high-quality races and events. The former Rally World Champion reviews her personal motor sports year 2006 and announces first details regarding her activities in the upcoming season.

For Isolde, the year began with a spectacular event, the FULDA Challenge in the eternal ice of the Canadian Yukon Territory. "Temperatures surrounding minus 40 degrees Celsius are nothing unusual at this Arctic multi-sports challenge," says Isolde. For the sixth time, athletes from the spheres of racing, winter and extreme sports, as well as celebrities competed in events taking the contestants to their limits. Together with Hans-Joachim Stuck, Isolde prepared the competitors for the extreme conditions with a special driver training programme. "Once more, the FULDA Challenge was a very special event this year," Isolde confirms. "Tyres and cars were put to the most extreme test. Those were completely new experiences." Isolde will also attend next year's FULDA Challenge. On January 25 th, she will board a plane to travel to Canada once more.

In her function as brand ambassador for Toyota, Isolde took care of the gifted young drivers entering the Toyota Yaris Cup. Prior to the start of the season on 23 rd April, she conducted a seminar to prepare the youngsters for the long season. During the course of seven race weekends, 30 drivers then determined the best among their midst. "Christiaan Frankenhout was in a league of his own this year, and he is a worthy champion," Isolde analysed. "Once more, all participants in 2006 provided exciting and fair racing. This competition proves that you don't need a massive single-seater car to present great sport. It was a good season."

In June and July, Isolde finally entered the race action herself and attended the “Sechsämterland Rallye” as well as the “Silvretta Classic Rallye” as co-driver at the side of Toyota Press Director Dieter Hartmann. During both of these classic car rallies, the pairing relied on the performance of the Toyota 2000 GT. "It is a fantastic feeling to drive through beautiful landscapes in this classic car, particularly in a competitive situation," commented Isolde. On behalf of Toyota, she also visited the F1 Grands Prix at the Nürburgring and in Hockenheim, as well as the Formula One test drives in Silverstone.

"I'm excited to see what 2007 will have to offer," Isolde exclaimed. "Until then, I would like to wish my fans, friends and partners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

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