RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada, Rally de España is the penultimate round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship and is the only event on the calendar that is a true mixed surface rally. Once again based in the coastal resort of Salou, the opening two days on Friday and Saturday will run exclusively on asphalt, and while Sunday is designated as gravel, stage 12/15 (Terra Alta) is a mix of both surfaces. Due to the change in surface, Saturday’s final service has been extended to give teams the opportunity to change the cars from Tarmac to gravel specification.
Following its successful introduction last year, the ceremonial start will again take place in Barcelona, immediately preceding the opening three stages. Stage 8 on Saturday will run as the Power Stage and the top three fastest drivers must be in the final classification to retain these additional Championship points.
All support championship contenders will be in Spain and while some WRC titles have already been provisionally clinched, the battle for the Manufacturers’ Championship continues between Volkswagen and Citroën, and FIA WRC 2 Championship leader, Robert Kubica, will be looking to secure a top result on his last nominated round. His Championship rival, Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, will be competing in a World Rally Car in Spain, and Kubica could settle the title ahead of the final round in Wales with second position.
CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012
The 2013 Rally de España route will be largely familiar to the crews with nearly all the stages identical to ones run over the past five years.
RALLY DATA
— Round: 12/13
— Base and service park: Portaventura – Salou
— Surface: Gravel and tarmac
— Weather: Mediterranean climate, with average temperatures varying between 10°C and 20°C. Autumn is reasonably mild, but conditions can change quickly.
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 8.18am/7.00pm
— Local time: GMT+2
— Currency: Local currency is the Euro.
— Website: www.rallyracc.com
— Technical information: Spare parts (gearbox, differentials, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are not shared with other rallies.
— Tyres: 18 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres to be chosen from 18 hard compound and 12 soft compound tyres for the shakedown and the first two legs, and then 10 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres to be chosen from 10 hard compound and 8 soft compound tyres for the third leg.
— Reconnaissance: Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 October, from 8am to 7pm.
— Shakedown: Thursday, 24 October from 1pm on a 2.25 km-long stage at Salou (2.6 km from the service park).
— Route: 15 special stages (9 different stages). 355.92km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,033.56km.
THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER
1.00pm: Shakedown
7.30pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference
FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER
12.00pm: Start (Portaventura)
6.00pm: Ceremonial start (Barcelona Cathedral)
8.03pm: SS1 – Querol (21.26km)
8.44pm: SS2 – El Montmell (24.14km)
10.45pm: SS3 – Riudecanyes 1 (16.35km)
11.22pm: Flexi Service A (45 min)
SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER
8.15am: Service B (15 min)
9.05am: SS4 – Riudecanyes 2 (16.35km)
10.05am: SS5 – El Priorat 1 (42.04km)
11.46am: SS6 – Colldejou 1 (26.48km)
1.08pm: Service C (30 min)
2.33pm: SS7 – El Priorat 2 (42.04km)
4.14pm: SS8 – Colldejou 2 – Power Stage (26.48km)
5.37pm: SS9 – Salou (2.24km)
5.52pm: Flexi Service D (75 min)
SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER
6.00am: Service E (15 min)
7.33am: SS10 – Gandesa 1 (7.00km)
7.58am: SS11 – Pesells 1 (26.59km)
9.04am: SS12 – Terra Alta 1 (35.68km)
11.09am: Service F (30 min)
12.57pm: SS13 – Gandesa 2 (7.00km)
1.22pm: SS14 – Pesells 2 (26.59km)
2.28pm: SS15 – Terra Alta 2 (35.68km)
4.16pm: Service G (10 min)
5.00pm: Podium
6.00pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference