By alley - Apr 15, 2016, 10:01 AM ET

WRC - 2016 Rally Argentina - Preview

Sport news

The fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders back to the Americas but this time to the south for Rally Argentina (21-24 April). This is one of the most diverse events on the calendar with its mix of soft sandy roads that can become heavily rutted, and contrasting narrow and rocky tracks. Numerous river crossings and changing elevations add to the challenge, as do the weather conditions that can vary from stage to stage. At this time of year, dense fog high up in the mountains is a strong possibility.

Nowhere else do the World Rally Championship contenders receive such a warm and passionate welcome from motorsport fanatics at they do in Argentina. They turn out in their tens of thousands, camping along the route and creating a carnival atmosphere with their tents, campervans and traditional barbeques. This, along with stunning scenery, make Rally Argentina another distinctive event on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.

This year’s YPF Rally Argentina route mixes old and new with just three of the 10 individual stages identical to those run in 2015 (SS5/9, SS10/13 and SS16/18). Thursday the event kicks off with an all-new street stage in Cordoba City, while Friday heads south for more familiar stages, albeit not used most recently. Saturday takes the contenders into the Punilla Valley; the Villa Bustos-Tanti stage was run in 2015 but the other two included in the day’s itinerary are a mix of sections from previous years. Sunday in the lunar-like landscape of Traslasierra is all too familiar with the running of the classic Mina Clavero-Giulio Césare and El Condor-Copina stages, the second run over Condor closing the event as the Power Stage.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,333.26 km
364.68 km (27.35%)
18

MEDIA ACCREDITATIONThe Accreditation Centre is located in the Auditorium of Hotel Portal del Lago, Gob. Ortiz y Herrera, 5152 Villa Carlos Paz. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 19 April
Wednesday 20 April
Thursday 21 April
Friday 22 April

14:00 – 20:00 hrs
08:00 – 20:00 hrs
08:00 – 20:00 hrs
08:00 - 12:00 hrs

RALLY ARGENTINA TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 20 AprilMandatory media safety briefing, photographers' room

Thursday 21 April
Shakedown (P1 drivers)
Shakedown (P1, P2, P3 drivers)
Shakedown (non-priority drivers)
'Meet the Crews', WRC Stage, Service Park
FIA Press Conference, Press Room
Start of Section 1, Villa Carlos Paz

Friday 22 AprilFirst car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone
'Meet the Crews', WRC Stage, Service Park

Saturday 23 April
First car arrives for regroup, service and Media Zone
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone
'Meet the Crews', WRC Stage, Service Park

Sunday 24 AprilFirst car arrives for final service and Media Zone
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony
FIA Press Conference, Press Room

16:00 hrs

08:00-09:30 hrs
09:30-11:30 hrs
11:30-13:30 hrs
12:30 hrs
13:30 hrs
16:00 hrs

12:32 hrs
19:34 hrs
During the 45' service

12:29 hrs
17:38 hrs
During the 45' service

13:29 hrs
14:40 hrs
15:30 hrs

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 21 April

Nicolas Fuchs, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Ott Tänak, DMACK World Rally Team
Dani Sordo, Hyundai Motorsport
Mads Østberg, M-Sport World Rally Team
Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Motorsport
Marcos Ligato

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

MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLY ARGENTINA

Volkswagen Motorsport

Hyundai Motorsport

M-Sport World Rally Team

Volkswagen Motorsport II

DMACK World Rally Team

Hyundai Motorsport N

Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (#1)
Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila #(2)

Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (#3)
Dani Sordo / Marc Martí (#4)

Mads Østberg / Ola Fløene (#5)
Eric Camilli / Benjamin Veillas (#6)

Andreas Mikkelsen / Anders Jaeger (#9)

Ott Tänak / Raigo Mõlder (#12)

Hayden Paddon / John Kennard (#20)

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 in the service park at the earliest opportunity during the 45' 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-2016/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-2016/stage-chart-2

World Rally ChampionshipRally ArgentinaWRC

SEASON 2016SportRallies1SportWorld Rally ChampionshipRalliesWRCSEASON 2016Rally Argentina01Friday, April 15, 2016 - 12:25pmFriday, April 15, 2016 - 12:25pm

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