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| RallyeNewsletter 2009 Rally Argentina : WRC Round 5 of 12 : 24th - 26th April In this issue: 1. Event Preview 3. Other News 4. Team by Team Preview 5. Event statistics 6. Event Schedule 7. Championship Points 1. Event Preview This fifth round of the 12-event series is one of only two outside Europe. While the journey from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean is a long one, the ambience encountered in Cordoba province, where the rally is based, makes Rally Argentina a firm favourite with everyone involved. The event never fails to excite in a country where the tango ! mirrors the passion and excitement for life. It is surrounded by colour and the atmosphere crackles as more than a million fanatical Latin Americans flock into the vast pampas for a weekend-long fiesta. The scenery is stunning too, ranging from huge expanses of open plain north of the host town of Carlos Paz to the mountains further west where rocky ribbons of road wind through a dramatic moonlike landscape. 3. Other News " Rautenbach enters IRC Rallye Acores " VW confirms IRC programme with Maurin 4. Team by Team Preview BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team http://ford.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=2 Ford's Finns Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala believe the passion and enthusiasm of Argentina's rally fans can drive them on when this season's FIA World Championship ventures outside Europe for the first time next week. Rally Argentina (23 - 26 April) is one of the year's classic fixtures and both BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers consider the fans' fervour a match to that encountered in their native Finland. #3 : Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen: There is a little bit of everything. The roads are quite soft so although they cut up for the second pass, they aren't abrasive and there shouldn't be any problems with using soft compound tyres. It's autumn there so the weather could be warm and dry or cold and wet. We have to expect anything." #4 : Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila: "I have spoken with Malcolm Wilson (team director) and we're both comfortable that I drive for a finish in Argentina. I would be happy with fourth and if anything else comes along then that would be a bonus. It's important for me and the team that I drive steadily, take a solid result and rebuild my confidence. It's a fantastic rally and the passion of the fans is even greater than in Europe. The stages are a mix of different types of road. Generally they are fast, sandy and bumpy. But the El Condor and Mino Clavero stages are narrow and rocky and it's important to be very precise there," Citroen Total World Rally Team http://citroen.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=1 Not only is Rally Argentina a legendary round of the World Championship, but it has also tended to be happy hunting ground for Citroën. The Satory-based squad has won every edition since 2004, with Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena following up the success of Carlos Sainz and Marc Marti with a score of four consecutive victories. #1 : Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena: "In South America, we don't really have any other choice than to go for victory. Rally Argentina holds so many special memories for us, and that's not just because we have won the past four events. I really enjoy the stages and the spectators make the atmosphere unique. We know we can count on the same sort of welcome that we were given two weeks ago in Portugal, and it's always nice to see the passion of the peo! ple of the different countries we visit. There are spectators everywhere: at service, on the road sections and on the stages. You practically don't need a roadbook because the route is picked out for you by the crowds!" #2 : Daniel Sordo/Marc Marti: "I found the 2008 event to be very difficult. I hope the current fine weather in Villa Carlos Paz continues. Our objective will be the same as it has been on recent events, and that will be to score as many Manufacturers' points as we can for Citroën." Stobart Ford World Rally Team http://ford.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=2 Stobart VK M-Sport Ford drivers Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg are bound for South America as round five of the FIA World Rally Championship moves away from Europe for the first time this season and picks up in the sierras of central Argentina. ! #5: Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin: "This is the first rally that Scott and I have done together as a team before so it'll be really good from that point of view. I've competed on this rally four times and there are a good percentage of stages that are the same as in the past so I have good experience to bring to it. I would be great if we could start the same way that we did in Portugal but I'm hoping that we don't end up the same way. Saturday will be a crucial day in terms of the overall result, it's a long day with some difficult stages and the altitude will also play a part. El Condor, which is the highest stage, is on Saturday and that is always a real challenge." #6 : Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud: "I'm really looking forward to Argentina and it's an event I always enjoy. We have always set good times here in the past and usually I find it easier to get a go! od feeling with the car. We have concentrated hard on reviewing our settings from last year as I want to be able to have a good feeling with the car right from the start of the rally and be able to push hard from the very first stage. This will be an important rally and I need a top-five result to help maintain my position in the drivers' championship." Citroen Junior Team http://citroen.rallye-info.com/teams.asp?sid=1 The line-up of Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt and Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia will defend the honours of the Citroën Junior Team on the Rally Argentina, at the wheel of their familiar Citroën C4 WRCs. This first rally of the season held outside of Europe is set to be a real endurance test for the entire team. The World Rally Championship now crosses the Atlantic for the only South American round of the 2009 calendar. The Citroën crews will be greeted with a warm welcome like no other when they make the trip to Rally Argentina, based close to Cordoba. #8: Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt: There really is a unique atmosphere on the Rally Argentina. Even in the rain, there were so many spectators there. They light barbecues and really enjoy themselves following the rally for the whole day. It's a great event, but I'm just hoping that it doesn't rain again this year! " #7: Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia: " The stages are really good and extremely varied. This is the sort of rally where accurate pace notes will be absolutely vital. The fact that I am nominated for points will not change my approach at all though. My objective will be to get to the finish without making mistakes in order to show that I can be consistent. " 5. ! Event Statistics " Rally Argentina (April 23-26), round 5 of 12 Surface: gravel Host town: Villa Carlos Paz " Practical information: Rally HQ and the Media Centre are based in the Hotel Portal del Lago in Villa Carlos Technical matters: The Citroën C4 WRCs will have the engines which were used in Portugal and which will go Tyres: each crew will have 36 Pirelli Scorpion tyres for the event. Competitors may carry two spares, but the Recce: Tuesday April 21 (7.30am to 7.00pm) and Wednesday April 22 (7.30am to 7.00pm). The maximum Shakedown: Thursday April 23 (8.00am to 12 noon) near Carlos Paz-Cabalango. The 6.23km stage is Press conference: Thursday April 23 (1.30pm), Media Centre. Start ceremony: Thursday April 23 (from 7.05pm), at the start of SS1 at Cordoba Stadium. Route length: 1,533.65km, including 331.80km divided into 23 stages (13 different). 6. Event Schedule Thursday 23 April: Day 1 Carlos Paz - Carlos Paz Start Carlos Paz 18.30 SS1 Estadio Cordoba I 2.40km 19.05 Finish Carlos Paz 19.45 Friday 24 April: Day 1 (continued) Carlos Paz - Carlos Paz Serv A Carlos Paz (15 mins) 06.07 SS2 La Cumbre - Agua de Oro I 14.94km 07.45 SS3 Ascochinga - La Cumbre I 22.38km 08.41 SS4 Capilla del Monte - San Marcos I 22.95km 09.44 SS5 San Marcos - Charbonier I 9.61km 10.16 Serv B Carlos Paz (30 mins) 12.17 SS6 Ascochinga - La Cumbre II ! 22.38km 14.26 SS7 Capilla del Monte - San Marcos I I 22.95km 15.29 SS8 San Marcos - Charbonier II 9.61km 16.01 SS9 La Cumbre - Agua de Oro II 14.94km 17.04 Serv C Carlos Paz (45 mins) 19.04 Finish Carlos Paz 19.49 Total 142.16km Saturday 25 April: Day 2 Carlos Paz - Carlos Paz Serv D Carlos Paz (15 mins) &! nbsp; 07.00 SS10 El Mirador - San Lorenzo I 20.81km 09.38 SS11 Mina Clavero - Giulio Cesare I 22.79km 10.12 SS12 El Condor - Copina I 16.29km 11.00 SS13 Icho Cruz - Carlos Paz I 9.73km 11.46 Serv E Carlos Paz (30 mins) 12.30 SS14 El Mirador - San Lorenzo II 20.81km 15.23 SS15 Mina Clavero - Giulio Cesare II 22.79km 15.57 SS16 El Condor - Copina II 16.29km 16.45 SS17 Icho Cruz - Carlos Paz II 9.73km 17.31 SS18 Estadio Cordoba II 2.40km 19.05 Serv F Carlos Paz (45 mins) &n! bsp; 19.45 Finish Carlos Paz 20.30 Total 141.64km Sunday 26 April: Day 3 Carlos Paz - Carlos Paz Serv G Carlos Paz (15 mins) &nb! sp; 07.30 SS19 Villa Giardino - La Falda 15.78km 08.48 SS20 Valler Hermoso - Casa Grande 10.95km 09.20 SS21 Cosquin - Tanti 11.27km 10.03 SS22 Tanti Nuevo - Villa Garcia 7.60km 10.26 SS23 Estadio Cordoba III 2.40km 12.05 Serv H Carlos Paz (10 mins) 13.03 Finish Carlos Paz 13.30 Total 48.00km Rally total 331.80km |