Catalunya Rally to Be Ran on Mixed Surface

This year's Catalunya Rally will be ran on a mixed surface, following a late decision taken by the event organizers. Aiming to provide the fans with a little more show during the 3 days of rallying – given that the event has had a sole winner in the person of Sebastien Loeb since 2005 onwards – the organizers decided to add some gravel stages in the first day of running.

According to a statement released by the Spanish organizers, one test will be ran completely on gravel, while two stages will feature a mixed gravel and asphalt surface, all on Friday.

To be more specific, the 35km stage of 'Terra Alta' – the first one on schedule – will initially be ran on gravel, continue on asphalt, then switch back to gravel and finally end on asphalt. The second mixed stage will be the 18km running of Les Garrigues, which will start and end on gravel, but will have an asphalt section in the middle. Finally, the 15km stage of La Ribera d’Ebre will be ran completely on gravel.

“We are and we want to continue being an asphalt rally, but we have included a mixed day. This new rally concept benefits the show, both for spectators and for the media,” said RallyRACC Clerk of the Course Aman Barfull, according to WRC official site.

“The Cyprus Rally in 2009 was the first to introduce an asphalt day in a gravel rally. We are doing the contrary, i.e. including gravel stages in an asphalt rally. In Cyprus all cars were fitted with gravel suspensions and wheels throughout the race, while at the RallyRACC these elements will have to be changed at the end of the first day,” argued Barfull.

Following the first day of running, which will feature an overall 73 percent rallying on asphalt roads, the teams will have to readjust their cars for asphalt stages, as the next couple of days – Saturday and Sunday – will be ran completely on asphalt.

The Spanish event will count as the penultimate round of the 2010 World Rally Championship, and is scheduled between October 22 and 24.