After the twists and turns of Corsica, the WRC moves on to its second successive asphalt event in Spain.
The 40th Rally Catalunya, based in the seaside town of Lloret de Mar, is the fifteenth and penultimate round of the year and the final European event on the calendar – with Rally Australia taking the place of Wales Rally GB as the season finale.
Spain will also host the final round of the 2004 Junior World Rally Championship, where one of four drivers will secure the title.
Lloret de Mar will host the ceremonial start on Thursday 21 October before the event proper gets underway on Friday morning, with the first stage taking place at 0906hrs.
Among the 20 stages are two runs through the famous St Julia stage on Saturday, before the winner is decided on Sunday in a ceremonial finish back in Lloret de Mar at 1500hrs.
Special notes:
Rally Catalunya is the final asphalt event of the season, and the second successive rally to be held in the Mediterranean.
Unlike the Corsican event that precedes it, the Spanish event is held on fast flowing roads, where is it not uncommon to see drivers cutting corners to maximise their speed and lower their stage time – whether they get it right or not depends on how good the pace notes are that they work from. It also makes it slightly more difficult for drivers running lower down the order, who also have to contend with the mud and debris pulled onto the road by the cars in front.
The autumn date also makes for unpredictable weather, meaning that tyre choice and accurate forecasting is crucial as getting it wrong can seriously affect a drivers chances of success.
The Spanish are passionate about their rallying, and this season maybe more so than normal, as the 2004 Rally Catalunya will be the last time ‘King' Carlos Sainz competes in front of his adoring fans before retiring at the end of the year.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
Second place in France was good enough for
Sebastien Loeb to clinch his first WRC title, and he heads into the final two rounds of the year with an unassailable 30 point advantage. Behind him Petter Solberg sits second, but faces a battle with
Markko Martin and Carlos Sainz for the runners up spot. With Sainz third in Corsica,
Citroen also clinched the constructors' title. Ford have a 19 point cushion over
Subaru in second spot.
News from the Manufacturers' teams:
555 Subaru World Rally Team:
[
Petter Solberg, car #1 and
Mikko Hirvonen, car #2.]
Last season, Petter Solberg finished fifth in Spain en route to the World Title, but already this season he knows he can't defend his crown. Instead ‘Hollywood' will have to settle for second, but to do that he first has to fend off the challenge of Carlos Sainz and Markko Martin – the Estonian being the man Solberg feels is the one to beat after his win in Corsica.
