28/05/2009
The RallyRACC 2009 is taking shape

• 11th and penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship
• From 1 to 4 October with headquarters in Salou-PortAventura

With the publication of the first document, the Rally Guide 1, the 45th edition of the RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España, has officially started, offering all those interested the necessary information to prepare the Spanish round of the 2009 World Rally Championship, including the rally itinerary and maps.

RACC Motor Sport, the sport division of the Real Automóvil Club de Catalunya, has drawn a race layout which is identical to that of the previous year, with the same special stages and Service Park. However, the rally headquarters, the media centre and the different administrative services of the rally will be located in a different building, though only a few metres from the previous, since the RallyRACC will be inaugurating the new ‘PortAventura Convention Centre’, a large, modern and flexible building which will offer space enough for the services around the race.

In 2009, the RallyRACC will be staged from October 1st to 4th and it will be the 11th and penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship, as well as the 8th and last of the Junior-WRC. The entry period for the Spanish round of the WRC will open on July 6th and will be closing on August 25th. However, non-priority drivers submitting their entries from July 6th to 22nd will enjoy a significant discount on the entry fee, like all participants with a Spanish license.

18 special stages and 353.6 timed kilometres
Although the route of the RallyRACC 2009 does not have any changes to be highlighted with regard to the previous year, we should not forget that it is a difficult and fast layout on good surface in which the slightest mishap may turn out to be decisive.  After the morning shakedown on Friday October 1st (the same layout as in 2009, between Riudecanyes and Vilanova d’Escornalbou) the race will officially start with the already classic ceremonial start at 08.00 p.m. on the podium located on the Salou Promenade.

With the daily start and finish at the PortAventura Service Park, the first race day will start at 08.00 a.m. and finish about ten hours later after 6 special stages (3 stages run twice) with a total of 131.76 km. The second day, Saturday October 3rd, and again between 08.00 a.m. and 06.00 p.m. another 6 stages (3 covered twice) will be raced on 128 timed km.  The last day, Sunday 4th, further three special stages will be covered twice, on a total of 93.8 km. The start of this final race day will be given in PortAventura at 07.15 a.m. and the finish will be in Salou from 03.07 p.m. with the winners driving onto the podium.

www.rallyracc.com, the Spanish booster station of the rally world championship
Since 2007, www.rallyracc.com offers detailed information on the FIA World Rally Championship and especially on the RallyRACC. This website is updated daily and fans are able to find news and pictures of each of the scoring rounds as well as all documents published in connection with the Spanish round of the WRC.