Argentina. What an amazing place, incredible people & culture and inspiring ever-changing scenery!
The Rally is held in the tourist town of Villa Carlos Paz which is about 50km west of Cordoba, Argentina’s largest city outside of Buenos Aires. Rally Argentina is well known for jumps, water splashes, rough rocky stages and people, and SO many spectators!
The Rally itself begins just 10min out of Carlos Paz for the Qualifying/Shakedown, which is the first chance to see the competitors in action. The stage was a short but sharp 6km stage with jumps, water, and you guessed it, people. There is only one qualifying run, which determines the starting positions for Heat 1.
Heat 1 begins with a spectacular purpose-built Super Special Stage – 2 cars on course at the same time trying to be the fastest. After their single run of two laps each, Sebastien Ogier was on top over Mads Ostberg by just 3 sec with Andreas Mikkelsen in 3rd. Heat 1 would continue on Friday morning.
Friday Heat 1 began with bang for Mads Ostberg and Ott Tanak. Competitors had commented that the first stage (Santa Catalina) was the worst stage on the championship for its rough, rocky surface. Both drivers hit the same deep rut which catapulted them through the air causing suspension dramas, however Tanak’s car also rolled! The damage caused put them out for the day and into Rally 2 competition, where they can fight for stages but not for points.
Mikko Hirvonnen was also out for the day with a huge incident where a missed pace note resulted in a collision with a brick wall.
Danni Sordo in the i20 was also forced out with turbo issues.
At the end of heat 1, Latvala lead Ogier with Kris Meeke in 3rd.
Heat 2 saw no dramas for the day with Latvala still leading Ogier and Meeke still in 3rd even after a close call on the last stage of the day.
The final day of the rally and Heat 3 would see competitors traverse the famous stages of Mina Clavero and El Condor, probably the most well-known stages in the championship. The beginning of both stages resemble the moon, only covered with people. The weather hit hard all day with constant rain and heavy fog.
After two passes of each including the Power Stage the results where finalised and Latvala had taken his first win in Argentina and the first time anyone but Sebastien Loeb had won the event for 9 years! Sebastien Ogier was in 2nd and Kris Meeke kept his cool for a great 3rd place.
After Round 5 of the Championship the top five positions are as follows:
1. Sebastien Ogier 112
2. Jari-Matti Latvala 88
3. Andreas Mikkelsen 48
4. Mads Ostberg 48
5. Mikko Hirvonen 40
Round 6 of the Championship will be in Italy, Rally Sardinia and I will be there to cover the action.