RallyRACC 2011: The wise decision of mixing asphalt and gravel to be innovative

(28/10/2011)

The 47 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España 2011, fulfilled the expectations only too well and it has been, for another year, a great organizational, sporting and excitement success. Sporting incentive for all participating drivers and teams and show for all those who follow the race: two concepts that the RACC tries to match in the Spanish round of the world championship.

The headline introducing the RallyRACC in 2010 referred to its organizational innovation and to it sporting thrill, two features which were far exceeded, and the heading 365 days later, which was again more than accomplished, was "different and decisive". Different because of its outstanding contribution to the itinerary and decisive because of its strategic position in a WRC that is more exciting than ever.

Organization and sports are always united in a top level world championship sports event like the RallyRACC. Fine-tuned organization to allow sports to achieve its greatest splendour and top level competition to allow the organization to deploy the necessary ingredients to have a race that matches up to a World Championship event.

The FIA and all those involved in the World Rally Championship, fans and spectators, who have followed the race on site or through the different channels that allowed for a remote follow-up, have confirmed with their inputs that the new stage started in 2010 by the Spanish rally managed to climb even one step higher in 2011.

The mixed layout of the first day, combining asphalt and gravel, exceeded the difficulty of the previous year with the inclusion of a long and complicated new gravel stage (Pesells), keeping the fabulous mixed stage from 2010 (Terra Alta) and the changed Les Garrigues stage that became a high-level technical stage with its second passage run at night, thus turning the first day into a cocktail that put everyone to the test.  The dust created by the vehicles provided for an additional - not planned - difficulty, due to the dry ground and the absence of wind.

The two other asphalt days did also play an outstanding role, especially Saturday, with the El Priorat stage, the longest asphalt stage of the championship. Sunday became important too, as the rain showed up towards the end.  There has been a bit of everything at the 2011 RallyRACC, and turned out to be the most varied race of recent seasons.

Seven years in a row being staged completely in Costa Daurada, Tarragona, having as clearly defined nerve centre the city of Salou and the PortAventura theme park, have provided the RallyRACC with a special personality. It offers the well-known high quality asphalt, an opening day full of innovation, spectacular sections and boosts this type of competition back to the top level of motor sports with the Rally de España.

Technical details of the 47 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España 2011

• Salou and PortAventura (Costa Daurada), 20 to 23 October 2011

• 12th and penultimate scoring round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship
• 8th and last scoring round of the 2011 FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship
• 6th and penultimate scoring round of the 2011 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship

• Participants. Entrants: 62, from 31 countries; started: 58; classified: 44

• WRC winner: Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroën DS3 WRC/Citroën Total WRT)
• Super 2000 WRC winner: Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Skoda Fabia S2000)
• Production WRC winner: Patrik Flodin/Göran Bergsten (Subaru Impreza WRX-STi)

• Official Sponsors: Salou, Patronat de Turisme de la Costa Daurada, PortAventura, movistar, Agència Catalana de Turisme

• Official Partners: Cambra Oficial de Comerç, Indústria i Navegació de Tarragona, Europcar, Seat (official vehicle), Cava Mestres (official cava)

• Official Media Partners: Auto Sport Hebdo, Sport, El Periódico, Catalunya Ràdio

• FIA World Rally Championship International Partners: Abu Dhabi, Delphi, Edox, FxPro, Michelin, Nokia

• Organiser: RACC

• Next edition: 48th, from 1 to 4 November 2012