SS 11/SS 14 – El Montmell Special stage guide

24,14 km (asphalt)

Saturday, 15 October 2016 • First car due: 11:03h and 16:11h

General description

El Montmell is another special stage that is recovered after a few years of absence. It is a special with good asphalt but very narrow, combining fast and slow sections, with the highlight of having a few “cuts” at very high speed.

The stage could be divided into three well differentiated sections. It starts in Vilarodona, with a very fast section. In fact, there will be a chicane before entering the village of Can Ferrer de la Cogullada to reduce the speed of the incoming race cars. After the village, the route becomes twistier continuing on the TV-2443 until reaching the area of Aiguaviva. This section ends, at high speed, in the intersection of Pla de Manlleu. The third and last part of the stage continues on TP-2442, finishing with a dizzy descent filled with bends until the finish, which is known as Les Ventoses, near Sant Jaume dels Domenys.

Spectator Area ZP-1

It is a quite fast section right after the start of the special. There is a great view of the first section, with long linked bends. The access is from the village of Vila-rodona, aprox. 2 km away from the special, where the access for the public is cut in the village itself. Safe area on the raised edges of the crop fields that build a natural grandstand providing for excellent visibility.

Access: Take exit 11 of the AP-2 highway and continue to Vila-rodona. The start of the stage is aprox. 2 km from the village.

Parking: Only in Vila-rodona.

Spectator Area ZP-2

This is one of the largest spectator areas of the rally and very safe as well. There are two interesting points to be reached from the same access. The first point is the most twisted area of the first section of the stage. There is a lot of space available, as there is a natural grandstand. The second point is quite near, first there is the chicane at the intersection of the road to Rodonyà (between TV-2444 and TV-2443), which reduced the speed of the cars entering the village of Can Ferrer. Limited space for spectators. Safe area in raised parts and areas in which the cars do not pass at high speed.

Access: It is the same access for both interesting points. Coming from the AP-2 highway take exit 11 and continue on C-51 to Rodonyà. At kp 19.7 take TV-2444 heading for Can Ferrer de la Cogullada that will take you directly to the stage. For the first interesting point park your car on the access road, always leaving one free lane in order not to block the access and continue walking along the gravel path that starts at kp 3.350. 400 metres later you will reach the natural grandstand.

To get to the second point you have to follow the same road, which is why it important not to block the way. This second point of interest is the chicane. Since you will have to cross the stage to get to the viewing point, you have to arrive early enough to be able to move safely and look for a safe place.

Parking: Very limited on the access road TV-2444, always trying not to block the access.

Spectator Area ZP-3

This spectator area has also several interesting locations. The most popular and impressive is the braking point at the intersection of TV-2443 and TP-2442. But before the intersection there is a very fast section with some “cuts” at very high speed which led to the decision to set-up a chicane to reduce the race pace and increase safety.

Access 1: This first access takes you to the fastest section of the area. It is an asphalted road coming from La Juncosa del Montmell. To get to the village follow TV-2401 from either C-51 after Rodonyà or from La Bisbal del Penedès (exit 12 of AP-7).

Access 2: With this second access you get to the intersection. To get there, follow T-244 from Pla de Manlleu. This road can only be taken from Torrelles de Foix (BV-2122) and Pontons (TV-2441) from the east side or from Santes Creus (Aiguamurcia, TV-2441) from the west.

Parking: Limited, on the access roads. Always park leaving one free lane.