Subaru explains the itineraryThe vast, rolling expanses of the Pampas, an abundance of water splashes and wildly unpredictable weather all mean one thing – the Subaru World Rally Team is heading to Argentina for round six of the World Rally Championship!
The rally
is based close to the sprawling city of Cordoba, which nestles in the foothills of the Sierra Chicas mountain range, about 700km north-west of Buenos Aires. It is one of the hardest events to prepare for: the 22 special stages feature some dramatic changes in altitude and include some narrow, loose gravel tests high in the mountains combined with flat-out harder-packed sprints in the valleys.
Conditions can vary dramatically from stage to stage. It is autumn in South America, and that could mean the drivers have to contend with rain, wind and fog as they charge through the mountain passes. As with Rally Mexico in March, the high altitude of some tests means the air is thinner, and that can starve the rally car engines of power.
Many of the special stages will be familiar to the crews, because they have been included in the event in previous years. The tests run through Cordoba's three valleys: Punilla, Calamuchita and Traslasierra.
One major change, however, is the inclusion of a Superspecial inside the imposing River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, an event that will mark the start of the rally on Thursday 3 May. Up to 55,000 passionate rally fans are expected to create a festival atmosphere inside the legendary football venue, which is known by locals as 'The Monumental.'
On Friday the crews will head out into the countryside to contest seven gravel stages before the day ends with a Superspecial in Cordoba football stadium.
There are nine more tests on Saturday, and then three more on Sunday before the competitive action ends with another Superspecial in Cordoba Stadium at 1305hrs (local time).
The total distance to be covered during the event is 1383.14km, which includes 346.55km of competitive stages and 1036.59km of liaison.
Suburau World Rally Team
