By alley - Oct 19, 2015, 8:31 AM ET

2015 Rally de Espana - Preview

Sport news

The FIA World Rally Championship contenders head to Spain for the penultimate round of the series, the only mixed surface event of the season. Based in the coastal resort of Salou, south of Barcelona, Rally de España is contested over gravel and asphalt, the first full day on Friday being mainly on the loose while Saturday and Sunday take place on fast and flowing Tarmac roads after a 75-minute service on Friday night to switch the specification of the cars. The curtain-raising stage in the Montjuïc area of Barcelona kicks off the action on Thursday evening.

While the main WRC titles have provisionally been sealed, crews in the support championships have just two events remaining as they fight for each of the coveted titles. In the FIA WRC 2 Championship, leader Nasser Al-Attiyah returns after sitting out Rallye de France and if he wins in Spain, the title is his. Both he and nearest challenger Esapekka Lappi will therefore be vying for maximum points, both now contesting their last points-scoring round. In contrast, four of their nearest rivals potentially have two points-scoring events remaining. Four crews in the FIA WRC 3 Championship also remain in the fight for honours, all four having contested five of potentially seven available rounds. Quentin Gilbert heads the challenge, the Frenchman having provisionally sealed the FIA Junior WRC Championship on home ground in France two weeks ago.

Two stages will be broadcast live, the opening super special stage in Barcelona and the closing Power Stage, SS23, on Sunday.

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,276.83 km
331.25 km (25.94%)
23

MEDIA ACCREDITATIONThe Accreditation Centre is located at the PortAventura Resort – Convention Centre, Av. Alcalde Pere Molas Km 2 - 43480 Vilaseca – Salou. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 20 October
Wednesday 21 October
Thursday 22 October
Friday 23 October

14:00 – 20:00 hrs
08:00 – 20:00 hrs
07:00 – 20:00 hrs
07:00 – 14:00 hrs

Accreditation may be collected in Barcelona on Thursday 22 October only. Please contact the National Press Officer for details.

Wednesday 21 OctoberMandatory rally by rally photographers briefing,
photographers' room
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Salou

Thursday 22 October
Shakedown (P1 and P2 drivers)
Shakedown (P3 and DMack Fiesta drivers)
Meet the Crews, WRC Stage, Service Park, Salou
Rally Start, Salou
Promotional activities, Barcelona
SS1, Barcelona

Friday 23 OctoberFirst car arrives for regroup, Media Zone and
tyre fitting zone, Ascó
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Salou
End of day ‘Meet the Crews’, WRC Stage,
Service Park, Salou

Saturday 24 October
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone, Salou
First car arrives for regroup, Salou
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Salou
End of day 'Meet the Crews', WRC Stage,
Service Park, Salou

Sunday 25 OctoberFirst car arrives for regroup and Media Zone, Móra d’Ebre
First car arrives for regroup, Mont-roig del Camp
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Salou
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Salou
FIA Press Conference, Press Room, Salou

17:30 hrs

19:30 hrs

08:00-09:30 hrs
09:45-12:00 hrs
10:00-hrs
13:00 hrs
From 16:00 hrs
18:08 hrs

13:09 hrs

18:33 hrs
During the 75' service

12:18 hrs
16:57 hrs
17:35 hrs
During the 45' service

09:22 hrs
11:16 hrs
13:18 hrs
From 14:30 hrs
15:30 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Wednesday 21 October

Simone Tempestini, FIA Junior/WRC 3 Championship
Terry Folb, FIA Junior/WRC 3 Championship
Andrea Crugnola, FIA WRC 3 Championship
Jari Ketomaa, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Nil Solans, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Nasser Al-Attiyah, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Mads Østberg, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Dani Sordo, Hyundai Motorsport
Elfyn Evans, M-Sport World Rally Team
Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Motorsport II
Robert Kubica

Winning FIA Junior/WRC 3 Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place on the WRC Stage at the earliest opportunity during the final service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2015/standings

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2015/stage-chart-10

World Rally ChampionshipRally de EspanaWRC

SEASON 2015SportRalliesSportWorld Rally ChampionshipRalliesWRCSEASON 2015Rally de Espana01Monday, October 19, 2015 - 2:14pmMonday, October 19, 2015 - 2:14pm

Read full article on Press Room FIA