29/09/2007
RACC Motor Sport, a consolidated organisation; large human force

The RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España has become an example to follow on merit as regards the demanding and difficult task of organising a round of the world championship. Year after year, RACC Motor Sport, lead by Aman Barfull, Clerk of the Course and at the same time Director of the Sporting Area of the RACC, carries out a task based on daily work, on the perfect coordination of all people, and above all on a total involvement of the complete human capital. A RallyRACC starts on the day after the end of the previous edition.

This working philosophy has taken the RallyRACC to be awarded twice (1996 and 1997) by the WRTA (World Rally Teams Association) as the best race of the championship, and as the best event of the World Championship by the WRPA (World Rally Press Association in 1997. In 2007 the RallyRACC will be 17 years on top level after becoming a scoring round of the World Championship in 1991. A good bunch of years which have consolidated the Spanish race as one of the most demanding car races in a calendar which is becoming harder and harder for the events to stay for a long term given the strong competition among countries willing to enter.

The relationship of the largest Automobile Club in Spain with the international automobile federation, the FIA, has a long history. Contacts, joint work, common aims and the future of the WRC are constant efforts made by the Sporting area of the Club. In addition to organisational tasks, the RACC does also support young drivers in their aim to find a place in the WRC, like for example Dani Sordo and Xevi Pons, and before them Dani Solà, among others.

.International prestige
Always in the vanguard of the latest innovations and thanks to a constant interest in improving at all levels, RACC Motor Sport is one of the entities with the larges prestige as regards the organisation of activities related to motor sports. The passion for this sport has not only made them decide to take over the organisation of the RallyRACC. Their compromise goes far beyond, being involved in the Spanish F1 Grand Prix and the Catalunya MotoGP Grand Prix, held at the Circuit de Catalunya. The efficiency of the RACC has also been tested by the  FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobilisme) when it was time to make changes in the regulations of the World Rally Championship, thus becoming the best test centre given the professionalism and the compromise of their officials.

Large human force

With the cooperation of close to 4,000 people, the 2007 Rally de España will be deploying a large human force to achieve a normal development of the rally with the largest possible control. The huge staff from race officials, police forces, roadside and service park personnel, safety car drivers, medical and ambulance staff, fire brigade, tow-trucks, safety communications to computer specialists will all be coordinated from the Race Direction.

The different racing clubs, who usually organise the races of the Catalan championship will also be actively participating in the event, taking over the tasks of controlling stage safety and spectator areas, the general control of the service park and regrouping areas, the safety radio along the stages, intermediate timings and refuellings.

As regards helicopters, the RallyRACC is one of the events with the largest air traffic, forcing the organization to set-up a rigorous plan to control all aircrafts. Helicopters having planned to fly over the area of the RallyRACC will have to submit an authorisation request in order to be included in the air structure of the race, with a reserved air space during the stages and an exclusive communication frequency, all of it coordinated by an air controller. All aircrafts will have an allocated number and all flights will be controlled by Iñaki Rul.lan, who will also carry out a briefing for all helicopter pilots on October 4th at the Hotel PortAventura.

Spectators have to collaborate for safety

The success of a rally always depends largely on safety. The compromise of RACC Motor Sport in this aspect is total, putting into practice all necessary measures to let drivers and spectators enjoy the race without added risks. However, the collaboration of spectators is largely needed: locating in high spots, not accessing the areas which are marked with red tape, leaving the run-off areas free and not occupying the off-road areas in bends are the main rules to be remembered and respected by spectators, in addition to always listening to the indications of the organisers.

The FIA demands from every organiser a detailed safety plan to guarantee the good working of the race. As regards spectators, this plan includes special areas in each special stage from which spectators can watch the race with the highest possible safety. Environmental friendliness and the prohibition to light fires are once again two of the main aims of the organisation, counting on a large cleaning force for the special stages. Furthermore, the RallyRACC will be counting for the third year in a row on the "Eye in the Sky", a helicopter that will allow the Race Direction to follow each of the images needed to control safety on stage live through a screen.