There are eight PCWRC events this season, but drivers can only score points on six of them. The turn-out for Argentina is good, with Greece and NZ, for the record, set to be the best (15 entries) and Monte Carlo and Cyprus the worst (6 and 9 entries respectively).
Junior WRC:
Argentina has been included in the Junior WRC schedule in order to retain the notion it is a 'world' series. Disappointingly though, only four drivers have actually opted to contest this event, with the
Suzuki Swift’s of Per-Gunnar Andersson and Guy Wilks likely to be battling for the victory, ahead of Jaan Molder’s Ford Fiesta and Patrick Sandell’s Renault Clio. One thing is for sure as long as these four can finish the worst placed driver will pick up at least 5 points towards the JWRC.
It is the most undersubscribed JWRC event of the year, the next lowest took place back in February, when 12 drivers took part in the Swedish Rally. The next event in Sardinia will be the one of the most subscribed however, with 18 of the possible 21 drivers in action.
Other significant entries:
Around 77 crews have entered the Rally Argentina, although there will only be 13 WRC cars. Kronos Racing will again enter an additional car for Junior World Rally champion
Daniel Sordo (
Citroen Xsara WRC), while the only other entrants at the wheel of a WRC car are Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus) and Gigi Galli (Pirelli-Bozian Peugeot 307).
Schedule:
The rally follows a similar format to 2005, visiting the three valleys of Cordoba province, each offering stages of differing character and landscape. However, the rally base has moved from the Pro-Racing motorsport complex near Villa Carlos Paz to Córdoba's Feriar exhibition halls. The Pro-Racing super special has been switched to Córdoba's soccer stadium, opposite Feriar, which will open the action on Thursday evening and bring it to a close on Sunday lunchtime. The first full day is the longest, covering 159.73km in the Punilla Valley, north of Carlos Paz. It includes two tests unused since 2003 and two more used in the opposite direction to 2005. The second day is a mix of the same tests and faster roads in the Calamuchita valley to the south. The final leg covers just 41.30km and initially heads south-west to the Traslasierra mountains for the rocky El Condor and Giulio Césare stages, two of the most famous and toughest in the championship, which peak at 2195 metres. Drivers face 22 stages covering 351.44km in a route of 1474.82km.
Hot tip:
Sebastien Loeb, Marcus Gronholm and
Petter Solberg all stand a good chance of victory, although Gronholm is probably the best placed of the three – but only just.
Last year:
Sebastien Loeb won the event in 2005 beating Marcus Gronholm, by just over 25 seconds. Petter Solberg completed the podium, with
Toni Gardemeister and Harri Rovanpera fourth and fifth respectively. There were two 'works' retirements – including Jani Paasonen and
Gigi Galli.
