Round five of the FIA World Rally Championship - Philips LED Rally Argentina - is renowned for its amazing landscapes, passionate and enthusiastic fans that enjoy a week-long rally fiesta in the three valleys surrounding the city of Córdoba.
The organiser has also taken advantage of a public holiday on Wednesday 1 May to enable the fans to watch free practice and qualifying, as well as the super special stage later that afternoon, meaning that the event finishes one day earlier, on Saturday 4 May. The competition will however be as tough as ever, with a string of long demanding stages, including two runs through the 51.88 kilometre Ascochinga-Agua de Oro stage.
Citroën’s semi-retired Sébastien Loeb will also be making a return to the Championship for Rally Argentina and, with seven consecutive South American victories to his name, the Frenchman is sure to set the stages alight as he fights for a second win this year.
CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012
This year’s Rally Argentina features just seven special stages, each run twice. Three stages - Ascochinga-Agua de Oro, El Cóndor-Copina and the super special stage - run identically to last year, while Santa Catalina-La Pampa and Mina Clavero-Giulio Césare have length changes. The two remaining stages - Santa Rosa-Villa del Dique and Amboy-Yacanto - are classed as new, the first the result of combining two stages run in 2011 and the second covers 30 kilometres of new road.
— Round: 5/13
— Base and service park: Villa Carlos Paz
— Surface: Gravel
— Weather: Variable conditions, risk of heavy rain and fog at altitude. Sub-zero temperatures possible in the morning, reaching 20°C in the day.
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 7.49am/6.38pm
— Local time: GMT-3
— Currency: Local currency is the Argentinean Peso (EUR 1 = ARS 6.73).
— Website: www.rallyargentina.com
— Technical information: Spare parts (transmission, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with the Sweden and Mexico rallies.
— Tyres: 28 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres to be chosen from 28 soft compound and 16 hard compound tyres.
— Reconnaissance: Monday 29 April, from 8am to 6.30pm and Tuesday 30 April, from 8am to 6pm.
— Free practice and qualifying stage: Wednesday 1 May, from 8am on the Villa García/Cabalango stage (4.59km) located 14.48km from the service park.
— Route: 14 special stages (7 different stages). 407.64km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,576.23km.
WEDNESDAY 1 MAY
8.00am: Free practice
10.58m: Qualifying stage (4.59km)
1.00pm: Selection of starting positions (Service Park)
1.30pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)
3.35pm: Start
4.00pm: SSS1 – Super Special Stage (6.04km)
4.20pm: Parc ferme
THURSDAY 2 MAY
7.00am: Service A (15 min)
9.08am: SS2 – Santa Catalina/La Pampa 1 (27.09km)
9.51am: SS3 – Citroën Ascochinga/Agua de Oro 1 (51.88km)
12.18pm: Service B (30 min)
2.41pm: SS4 – Santa Catalina/La Pampa 2 (27.09km)
3.25pm: SS5 – Citroën Ascochinga/Agua de Oro 2 (51.88km)
5.39pm: Flexi Service C (45 min)
FRIDAY 3 MAY
6.25am: Service D (15 min)
8.33am: SS6 – Santa Rosa/Villa del Dique 1 (40.69km)
9.41am: SS7 – Amboy/Yacanto 1 (39.16km)
12.36pm: Service E (30 min)
2.59pm: SS8 – Santa Rosa/Villa del Dique 2 (40.69km)
4.07pm: SS9 – Amboy/Yacanto 2 (39.16km)
7.05pm: SSS10 – Super Special Stage (6.04km)
7.28pm: Flexi Service F (45 min)
SATURDAY 4 MAY
7.00am: Service G (15 min)
9.08am: SS11 – Mina Clavero/Giulio Cesare 1 (22.64km)
9.56am: SS12 – El Condor/Copina 1 (16.32km)
11.39am: SS13 – Mina Clavero/Giulio Cesare 2 (22.64km)
12.57pm: SS14 – El Condor/Copina 2 (16.32km)
2.00pm: Service H (10 min)
2.40pm: Podium (Villa Carlos Paz)
3.30pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)