Valeriy Gorban

Gorban made a strong start to his World Rally Championship career when he finished third in Group N in 14th overall on Rally Poland in 2009. He impressed during his maiden season in the PWRC in 2011 by scoring points on all six events he contested and claiming seventh in the final classification. However, what was all the more remarkable about Gorban's performance last year was that he combined driving with his role as team principal of the Mentos Ascania Racing squad.

His success continued into 2012. With a victory in Greece and a brace of third-place finishes in Argentina and Sardinia, Gorban ended 2012 third in the PWRC standings. For this season, Gorban will be competing in WRC 2; his strong performance in the PWRC augurs well for success in the new category. A double Ukrainian rally champion, Gorban includes astrophysics and boxing among his hobbies.