Argentinian Championship [Archive]

Damian Baldi

23rd January 2020, 03:07

As with many other things of my country I have a love/hate relationship. In the case of rally, I was very very enthusiastic back in 2009 when I heard about some guys trying to develop a 4WD rally car kit. Almost ten years passed away, and then I reunited with those cars then called Maxi Rally. So in the last two months I been getting up to date reviewing years of competition, and found a lot of different news, new cars, cars born dead, new drivers, different escenaries etc etc etc.

To summarize the current state of the Rally Argentino, I could say that it's a category that visit 10 different scenarios throught the year in different provinces, and it's one of the most summoner events at each city. It's not just a race, it's a small revolution once a year for those who live in the deep of the country.

There are two main differences from each event, it's on the flat field or it's on the mountains. Then you have the road's differences. It's all gravel, but it changes from plain dust to mud with round rocks, from volcanic mud to sharp rock in middle of the snow, from a hill jump to a water ford, from a centenary british concret bridge to the flat field in middle of the palms in the heat of a red earth, from a countryman road, to a very poor village.

All this is part of Rally Argentino, with the good and bad things. It's what we have now, it isn't the best if you compare it with the rest of the world, but it's good, there is close competition at the end of every stage, and most important, makes people enjoy it.

Now I'm waiting for the Rally of Toledo, in the flat fields of Cordoba province, in febrery 28.

Damian Baldi

27th January 2020, 16:56

The new season is getting close and teams are working on, testing and getting part at some promotional events in our summer.

Fernando Scarlatta from Team Compañía General de Rally at the Villa Carlos Paz road show this weekend, driving a VW Gol MR Turbo.

https://i.postimg.cc/XZzrxs73/MRgol.jpg (https://postimg.cc/XZzrxs73)

I'm not sure if the link will appear as I'm new on the forum

(video)
https://www.facebook.com/RallyArgentino/videos/486226692304756/?t=1

Gastón Pasten is testing his new VW Polo MR Turbo ahead of the season. He moved from the RC Competición Audi A1 to this new Polo serviced by KS Rally Team

1917

Damian Baldi

28th January 2020, 16:52

CEO Rally Team from Concordia, Entre Ríos is working to finish in time a Toyota Yaris for Nadia Cutro, who is stepping up from the Junior to the Maxi Rally category. The work on the car started months ago but got halted, and now is starting again with the target to be part of the first event of the championship.

https://i.postimg.cc/qt5H3q0h/Toyota-Yaris-Maxi1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qt5H3q0h)

https://i.postimg.cc/wtvdMLKY/Toyota-Yaris-Maxi2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/wtvdMLKY)

steve.mandzij

28th January 2020, 16:59

Damian Baldi

28th January 2020, 17:52

Is Nadia Cutro any good? I saw here competing in Porsche Supercup(?) at the Autódromo and wasn't very impressed.

It was she at the porsche Supercup? Or it was Ianina Zanazzi? Zanazzi was 2018 champion in the Porsche cup.

About Cutro, she was 2017 champion of the Junior category. She was good both 2018 and 2019 but didn't got the championship. She's a good driver with a car ran by a family team. The car was made by his brother in law and codriver. I can't say if she would fight for the victory in the Maxi rally class. She must learn how to drive a MR car (she have experience with the Mistubish Evo), but her style is aggresive so maybe we could be surprised.

Damian Baldi

29th January 2020, 17:06

The Tango Rally Team faces the new season with four cars. Three of them for the current drivers of 2019, the champion Miguel Baldoni, the ex owner and current sport director Marcos Ligato, the ex tennis player David Nalbandian and the newcomer Juan Décima.

All cars will be Chevrolet, three Agile and an Onix (for Nalbandian).

The ugly Agile should be writen off, it's out of production since late 2016, BUT it's still a winner car.

https://i.postimg.cc/N93PHQ8h/Tango-Rally-Team2020.jpg (https://postimg.cc/N93PHQ8h)

Damian Baldi

30th January 2020, 22:01

Rodrigo "Coco" Zeballos and Luciano "Lucho" Allende team up for season 2020. Allende will still be Nicolas Diaz copilot on the CODASUR rallyes.

Zeballo's Peugeot 208 will be serviced and prepared by GP Racing Team of Gabriel Pozzo in Córdoba Argentina this year, instead doing it directly from the neighbourg country.

https://i.postimg.cc/9RV0WBNh/Zeballos-Allende.jpg (https://postimg.cc/9RV0WBNh)

Damian Baldi

12th February 2020, 23:18

Few news these days even with the beginning of the championship in two weeks. There are many other turismo cars categories starting their championship these days, and other already started.

Meanwhile Zeballos Peugeot 208 arrived from Uruguay to Córdoba, Argentina to their new home at the Gabriel Pozzo workshop.

Short video in midle of the workshop.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1227673379739705346

Damian Baldi

23rd February 2020, 14:04

This year is the 40th anniversary of Rally of Argentina, so there will be some news. It looks like Federico Villagra with codriver Virginia Klus will be part of the WRC class with a fourth Toyota. Virginia is usually the codriver of his father on a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX.

Here Villagra and Klus when they shared a Maxi Rally Ford Fiesta
https://i.postimg.cc/rdTcGLyT/Villagra-Klus.jpg (https://postimg.cc/rdTcGLyT)

Meanwhile just a week before the Toledo Rally, there was a road show with two Maxi Rally cars and Gabriel Pozzo (group-N 2001 champion) was there with a replica of his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI.

https://i.postimg.cc/3y3Xsdrc/Mitsubishi-EVO-VI.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3y3Xsdrc)

https://i.postimg.cc/t1D3ppYC/Mitsubishi-EVO-VI-Pozzo.jpg (https://postimg.cc/t1D3ppYC)

https://i.postimg.cc/HrXd7Lg3/Polo-Toledo.jpg (https://postimg.cc/HrXd7Lg3)

The entry list will be known this week.

Damian Baldi

23rd February 2020, 14:33

More news. Nicolas Díaz who left Rally Argentino championship to focus on CODASUR rally with his Maxi Rally Ford Fiesta, has being testing a Hyundai i20 R5 this week. On the tests Gabriel Pozzo drove the car too to get some info and experience.

Current Díaz's car is attended by Gabriel Pozzo Competición team, so maybe they have plans to run the R5. The question is where, in Chile, the CODASUR or here now that the R5 and R4 are allowed?

Nicolas Díaz
https://i.postimg.cc/w3Xc7Jf3/ERV5-FGUEAEFv-Yd.jpg (https://postimg.cc/w3Xc7Jf3)

Gabriel Pozzo
https://i.postimg.cc/Mvt7Yw8S/ERYps8-AXUAA-HSz.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Mvt7Yw8S)

With the hands in what it looks like a i20 differential
https://i.postimg.cc/cvHQ9zs8/ERYpr0n-XYAIsx-Xl.jpg (https://postimg.cc/cvHQ9zs8)

https://i.postimg.cc/pm6KgBTc/ERYpu-Hz-Ws-AEOSp-V.jpg (https://postimg.cc/pm6KgBTc)

Here is a video onboard of part of the test. There are not notes, it looks like is just a shakedown to know the car.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1231397761855127553

Damian Baldi

25th February 2020, 05:09

Finally the entry list (https://www.rallyargentino.com/documentos/Listado_de_inscriptos_rally_Toledo_2020.pdf) for the Rally of Toledo is out. It will be a race on the flat field, there was an idea to move one of the stages near the mountains but finally it will stay as it was last year. This gives more opportunities for those drivers from the east like Leandro Bonnin and Nadia Cutro from Entre Ríos province, and Rodrigo Zeballos from Uruguay whom are very fast in this kind of surface, as for some others that comes from the regional "Mar y Sierras" rally.

The entry list shows the first R5 car (Hyundai i20) competing for points in the Rally Argentino, it will be driven by chilean driver Martín Scuncio (team mate of Martín Suriani in Chile). There will be 20 Maxi Rally cars, 2 RC4N and on the FWD divisions 9 Junior cars and 10 RC5.

Martín Suriani won't be part of the race, he is studying these days, he have to leave to Mexico early next week and his car isn't ready. He could rent another car, but it looks like he is very busy. He said he will join with his Peugeot 208 at the next race and will take part of the rest of the championship.

Nadia Cutro haven't his new Toyota ready, instead she appears with a VW Gol Maxi.

https://i.postimg.cc/HcPDsjvR/Rally-Toledo-Entry-List.jpg (https://postimg.cc/HcPDsjvR)

https://i.postimg.cc/34wQT212/Rally-Toledo-Entry-List2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/34wQT212)

Map
https://i.postimg.cc/xkhcJjZJ/Rally-of-Toledo-2020.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xkhcJjZJ)

Co-driven

26th February 2020, 22:01

Fuchs back?

I wasn't expecting that, especially with the rumors that he will compete in RallyMobil with a R5 car.

Damian Baldi

27th February 2020, 00:26

Fuchs back?

I wasn't expecting that, especially with the rumors that he will compete in RallyMobil with a R5 car.

Toledo is a small rally, Fuchs have his Maxi Rally Ford Fiesta for rallycross here, so I think it was easy to do the cross. Rally and Rallycross uses the same cars and regulations for now (only uses different tires). Fuchs was last year rallycross champion.

1931

Damian Baldi

27th February 2020, 14:38

Nicolás Fuchs is confirmed, he will be codriven by Ricardo Dasso. The car is under the Compañía General de Rally program. I don't know if this is a one off or if he will be part of other events.

Entry List updated (https://www.rallyargentino.com/documentos/Listado_de_inscriptos_rally_Toledo_2020_cofirmado. pdf)

César Folledo is added with another VW Gol rising the count to four cars of this model.

Damian Baldi

27th February 2020, 23:25

Everything is ready for the first rally of 2020 and the 40th anniversary. Later today there will be an opening ceremony at the Berta's "fortress" with many retired drivers and codrivers, some local classic cars will be on display as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI of Grabriel Pozzo, the Lancia Integrale of the always remembered Jorge Recalde (shared by his foundation) and two Renault 18.

https://i.postimg.cc/bdsNXm6p/rallyhistoric.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bdsNXm6p)

Another news is the confirmation of the Maxi Rally Light class. Previously this class allowed the original Maxi Rally cars fitted with the 2.4 Honda atmospheric engine developed by Berta (the rest of the car is exactly as the MR Turbo). The new Light class, will include those cars and the new cars that are basically a derated MR Turbo, with the same turbo engine with a 32mm restrictor and an H pattern gearbox build locally to save costs, instead the secuencial 6 speed.

This new class has born with the idea to offer an intermediate step between the FWD classes and the MR Turbo cars, and as a replacement of the N4 cars that are basically extint. The "Senior" drivers will find in these cars a tool to keep driving at an accesible price.

This is the detail of the classes

• FIA R5
• RC2 - Maxi Rally Turbo - R4
• RC2 Copa Pirelli - Maxi Rally Turbo (32mm) / Maxi Rally Atmospheric
• RC2N (N4)
• RC3 – Junior
• RC5
• Copa Senior - Drivers older than 55 (all classes)

EDIT: Video of the atmosphere pre shakedown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2SOk7_8rAk

.

Damian Baldi

29th February 2020, 17:20

First loop of the day has ended. It was very closed on the lead positions until the last Special when some of the faster drivers had mechanical problems or got stuck in a sea of mud near the end of the last Special.

The start of the race last night in middle of the city was very difficult because visibility problems with dust in suspension. It was a bit unfair for some drivers.

Some drivers had his first contact their cars right on the shakedown, without any previous test, and that made them to be slow on the first loop. Scuncio with the Hyundai won the Special last night and the first stage today, but then it suffered problems with the anti lag system.

Results after the end of the first loop.

https://i.postimg.cc/p9SmYh4g/Toledo-Loop1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/p9SmYh4g)

All the stages results and live timing here
https://rallyargentino.com/tiempos2010/2020/carrera01/MENU.HTM

Short video of the shakedown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EVQhk2_nBg

Moment when the champion Baldoni loses the lead when hits a stone and damage a wheel and suspension.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1233802608357363717

Damian Baldi

1st March 2020, 15:46

First half of day two, Villagra gained some seconds on the lead to D'Agostini. Scuncio with the R5 is cutting the gap to the lead, but he lost too much time yesterday as many other drivers that usually fight for the lead (Ligato, Baldoni, Padilla).

Winners of each stage
https://i.postimg.cc/WFbgDgQg/Toledo-General2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/WFbgDgQg)

Stage 10 and general clasification
https://i.postimg.cc/c6zwHKTt/Toledo-Loop-2-1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/c6zwHKTt)

Video of summary day one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3HmooGo-2I

A video from a spectator shows all the cars passing at the same place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfjHwnBeqU

Damian Baldi

1st March 2020, 22:39

Εnd of "Rally de Toledo". Federico Villagra won by 10 seconds over Augusto D'Agostini after 1:17:09 hs of competition. The rally was very closed until midday saturday when some drivers had problems with their cars or suffered damage. D'Agostini was the leader at the end of P.E.5 but he lost a bit of time on the last two timed sectors. This battle made the compettion entertaining, but it could has been a lot better.

Good start of the season for Baratec Team with the VW Polo cars of D'Agostini and Padilla showing their speed and wining P.E. 5, 11 and 12. Padilla made a mistake on saturday that have left his car at the side of the road and left him very far from the leaders when he rejoined on sunday.

Unusual problems for all Chevrolet cars of the Tango Team. Ligato suffered with a misfire at low RPM all the weekend and a central differetial's problem after the end of the first loop on saturday than couldn't be solved until the end of the day.

Miguel Baldoni was leading the rally at P.E. 2 and 3 but then he strongly hit a stone getting damage on the right front suspension and axle. The car was repaired in few minutes but later suffered of engine high temp until the end of saturday. He was fast again on sunday and recovered until get the 3rd place overall.

David Nalbandian had a weekend to forget with several transmision problems.

Martín Scuncio with the Hyundai R5 won P.E. 1, 8, 10 and 13 when the car was in good shape, but he need to improve his driving with this car. He suffered a 1 minute penalty for jumping a chicane, however he already had a 50 seconds defficit from the lead after the problems of saturday. The MR cars were slower than him but less than expected. It will be different on the mountains.

Good performance from newcomers or those whom jumped into the Maxi Rally class. Zeballos did it well, now with his car stays in Argentina instead comming directly from Uruguay for every race. He lost time both times at the same P.E. Nadia Cutro received a borrowed VW Gol MR on friday, so she took first stages to learn the car and the class. At some videos could be seen that she was braking too early. She didn't finished the race, abbandoning it in mid sunday. Leandro Bonnin went up to 3rd place with his Citröen DS3 by the end of saturday but then he had problems with the brakes. Gastón Pasten with a VW Polo MR Light and Lucas Machado with a Peugeot 208 MR Light were sometimes as fast as the MR Turbo. The tall Federico Cadamuro making his come back to the National rally did it very well, but he said that he still feels he have more to give. Folledo made half of the rally with only RWD on this VW Gol MR. Menendez who overturned his car on friday shakedown, had a very good speed at some stages showing that the VW Gol stil have potential if it keeps updated.

It looks like lot of drivers and teams had works undone in the pre season. Let's see how they arrive to the next rally in april.

Clasificación Final Rally de Toledo 2020

1-Federico Villagra - Virginia Klus (Ford Fiesta - MR) 1:17:09.8
2-Augusto D´Agostini - Juan Pablo Carrera (VW Polo - MR) +10.0
3-Miguel Baldoni - Gustavo Franchello (Chevrolet Agile - MR) +1:21.8
4-Marcos Ligato - Rubén García (Chevrolet Agile - MR) +1:25.9
5-Rodrigo Zeballos - Luis Allende (Peugeot 208 - MR) +1:44.0
6-Martín Scuncio - Sebastián Vera (Hyundai i20 R5) +2:02.0

Podium
https://i.postimg.cc/MfZwW942/Podio-Toledo.jpg (https://postimg.cc/MfZwW942)

Video review of day 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLMIQxLMkgQ

EDIT: video link changed

Damian Baldi

10th March 2020, 15:33

Some different news.

- Next rally date and place is now known. It will take place at Tucuman "Tafí del Valle" on april 3 to 5.

- Martín Scuncio will be back with his Hyundai i20 R5. His idea is to do this race and the WRC race. Gabriel Pozzo from GP Motorsport is involved to run this project beside Point Cola Racing.

- Nadia Cutro's Toyota Yaris is taking form.

https://i.postimg.cc/CznTLRLW/Rally-Yaris1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/CznTLRLW)

https://i.postimg.cc/vDNwsrMr/Rally-Yaris2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/vDNwsrMr)

https://i.postimg.cc/5Y9Wxp63/Rally-Yaris3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/5Y9Wxp63)

Damian Baldi

30th March 2020, 20:21

This is a car I didn't knew. It's the Toyota Etios Maxi Rally of Federico Devoto, it have the atmospheric engine version. It was build in a hurry to replace a crashed car. For 2020 the car it's being converted to fit the turbo engine.

Birth of the car.

https://i.postimg.cc/2qHRXbLv/chassis.jpg (https://postimg.cc/2qHRXbLv) https://i.postimg.cc/YjXVKGRq/blaquito.jpg (https://postimg.cc/YjXVKGRq)

Ready to race

https://i.postimg.cc/Tp88SX1k/perfil.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Tp88SX1k) https://i.postimg.cc/qhzVfJ2F/pasada.jpg (https://postimg.cc/qhzVfJ2F)

https://i.postimg.cc/0MFgPTfy/Federico-Devoto-Etios-MR1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/0MFgPTfy) https://i.postimg.cc/MXf2dG6M/salto.jpg (https://postimg.cc/MXf2dG6M)

In the proccess of the convertion

https://i.postimg.cc/0rhxswW0/actual.jpg (https://postimg.cc/0rhxswW0)

a short video of a pass of the Etios from Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FedeDevotoRally/videos/463502547703812/?t=2

Damian Baldi

30th March 2020, 21:01

Some time ago I was talking about Nadia Cutro doing her first steps on a Maxi Rally, BUT I forgot his short time on the Fiat team back in 2012. All the adventure of Fiat with the Palio cars went bad, with lack of good results (I think they won a single rally thanks to Gabriel Pozzo) and the amount of accidents and destroyed cars. Maybe the shape of the body or the wheelbase resulted in an unbalanced car, and at the end the project went to a close. Some of the Palios still race on rallycross events or on the regional Rallies.

About Nadia Cutro with the Palio, she used to drive with his sister as codriver while learning how to drive the 4WD car. In middle of the season at the San Luis Rally, they got blind in middle of a jump and had a huge crash that ended with the Cutro sisters adventure on a Maxi Rally.

https://i.postimg.cc/CdY6hYnR/Cutro-SF.jpg (https://postimg.cc/CdY6hYnR)

https://i.postimg.cc/30KLnCQX/cutro-crash.jpg (https://postimg.cc/30KLnCQX)

https://i.postimg.cc/mtgX9wwR/Las-Cutro.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mtgX9wwR)

About Fiat, I hope they return soon as an official team with the new Argo.

Damian Baldi

5th June 2020, 02:37

Finally, a first view of the Toyota Yaris Maxi Rally of Nadia Cutro. It looks like they have put some effort on the aero.

Federico Villagra will restart the season with a Yaris too, but there isn't any images yet.

Video
https://www.facebook.com/RallyArgentino/videos/248012586527139/?t=0

Damian Baldi

12th October 2020, 19:48

Here everything is really quiet, this endless isolation is messing all and not helping at all to halt the virus.

Rally Argentino has create a protocol to make races possible, it was tested and now the authorities have to give green light. The idea is to make short rallies using short primes several times.

About cars, Nadia Cutro's Toyota Yaris Maxi Rally has been test three times, and she is adapting to the car.

Here is a video of the car in detail showed by his builder and codriver Luciano Bombaci.
https://youtu.be/fGSbdS7BEAE?t=323

Multiple champion Federico Villagra is moving to Toyota too, but there are not pictures of the car.

A new VW Polo R4 is on the build by RC Competición for Fernando Castellano, who moves from the Maxi Rally.

The Federico Devoto's Etios, was finally received the turbo engine. Here a short video of a start up.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1459325964277526

Hope to bring better news soon.

Damian Baldi

16th October 2020, 19:35

CARX restarts current season today with a double event with races saturday and sunday.

CARX cars are the same (Maxi Rally) that are used on Rally Argentino. The news is the Toyota Yaris of Federico Villagra. It looks different than the Yaris of Nadia Cutro that seem to have a more complex aerodynamic work.

https://i.postimg.cc/s1D24pgy/MR-Yaris1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/s1D24pgy)

https://i.postimg.cc/Wq3bpPHt/MR-Yaris2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Wq3bpPHt)

Damian Baldi

19th October 2020, 20:53

As Rally Argentino championship is still on a halt because COVID-19, some teams and drivers are moving to Rally Uruguay that restarted a month ago.

Rodrigo Zeballos from Uruguay that usually drives in Rally Argentino with a Peugeot 208 Maxi Rally was the first to sign for the previuos race in september. For the next race at Minas (23-25 october) Nicolas Díaz and Luciano Allende will be part of the race with their Ford Fiesta Maxi Rally.

Nadia Cutro have signed too, and will debut her Toyota Yaris on this race.

https://i.postimg.cc/njfFcgY8/nc1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/njfFcgY8)

https://i.postimg.cc/p9FVvRjY/nc2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/p9FVvRjY)

Those will be the only three Maxi Rally cars, the rest of the field are N4 and FWD cars.

Rally Uruguay page
https://www.cur.com.uy/

Damian Baldi

22nd October 2020, 18:06

The Proto cars are coming. As it happened with the Maxi Rally cars in the past, it looks like the Protos are the new option to replace old N4 cars.

The Maxi Rally cars improved and they went out of the original idea to save costs, creating a bigger gap to the FWR cars, with mayor costs than the original idea. This is not a problem of the car, it's a problem of the teams that didn't agree to use common parts as dampers and electronics.

There were lot of proposals to create a Maxi Rally "light" category to fill the gap between FWD cars and the Maxi Rally cars. Some of the options were to use a lower turbo pressure on the engine and a simplified H gearbox but it never materialized. Other option was to keep the old atmospheric engines but they need more maintenance than the turbo ones, so none of the options advanced.

Now as a result of many N4 cars stoped because lack of parts (specially the fuel tank), the idea of the Proto cars is growing with up to eight cars under building. Something similar is happening in Paraguay and maybe Uruguay will take the same route.

Here is the first example.

https://carburando.com/sites/default/files/whatsapp_image_2020-06-26_at_20.45.07.jpeg

German Schroeder explains (in spanish) the new VW Golf Proto based on EVO IX
https://youtu.be/2UhK3NSRP-A?t=41

Damian Baldi

23rd November 2020, 16:23

1994

Rally Argentino is back with a double event on the same weekend. With the restrictions because COVID-19 and to make it easy to maintain the roads free of public, the rally will be run in a small space using the same stages three times. Friday and saturday morning will be part of the event #2 of the championship and sunday will be the #3 event.

The event is part of the Federal Rally too, so both series will run together rising the amount of cars up to 125. There will be 30 Maxi Rally turbo cars, and some old Maxi Rally cars with atmospheric engine, plus a single R4. Some teams will be absent becuase some restrictions to move inside the country. Zeballos car is still at Uruguay after he become champions last weekend of the Uruguay championship. Some drivers are making a return after some years of inactivity, as ex soccer player Claudio “Piojo” Lopez and TC driver José Ciantini. Point Cola team won't be present neither with his R5 for Martin Scuncio.

Event details
https://rallyargentino.com/documentos/Recorrido_Rally_de_Balcarce_2020.pdf

Rally Federal inscriptions
https://download-files.wix.com/_api/download/file?downloadToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6Ikp XVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOmU2NjYzMGU3MTRmMDQ5MGFh ZWExZjE0OWIzYjY5ZTMyIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDplNjY2Mz BlNzE0ZjA0OTBhYWVhMWYxNDliM2I2OWUzMiIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1 cm46c2VydmljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl0sImlhdCI6MTYwNj E0NjcwMCwiZXhwIjoxNjA2MTgyNzEwLCJqdGkiOiI4MTk5ZjUy NjhlNmIiLCJwYXlsb2FkIjp7InBhdGgiOiIvdWdkLzUyOTI2ZF 81ZWMzY2JhODg1MTM0ZWI1ODJiZGUxNzNmNmQxZjk4Zi5wZGYi LCJhdHRhY2htZW50Ijp7ImZpbGVuYW1lIjoiTGlzdGFkbyBJbn NjcmlwdG9zIFJhbGx5IGRlIEJhbGNhcmNlIDIwMjAgLSBGZWRl cmFsLnBkZiJ9fX0.mLdO-UlHUgzKXcE2fv4BtMYt3f7niD0fBtBj3XxFvHg

Rally Argentino inscriptions
https://download-files.wix.com/_api/download/file?downloadToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6Ikp XVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOmU2NjYzMGU3MTRmMDQ5MGFh ZWExZjE0OWIzYjY5ZTMyIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDplNjY2Mz BlNzE0ZjA0OTBhYWVhMWYxNDliM2I2OWUzMiIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1 cm46c2VydmljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl0sImlhdCI6MTYwNj E0NjY5OSwiZXhwIjoxNjA2MTgyNzA5LCJqdGkiOiIyMzllMmM1 MzBkMTAiLCJwYXlsb2FkIjp7InBhdGgiOiIvdWdkLzUyOTI2ZF 80ZmRmZWY1Zjg0MmY0OTZmOTIzNjYzNmMwMTdhZmM3My5wZGYi LCJhdHRhY2htZW50Ijp7ImZpbGVuYW1lIjoiTGlzdGFkbyBJbn NjcmlwdG9zIFJhbGx5IGRlIEJhbGNhcmNlIDIwMjAgLSBBcmdl bnRpbm8ucGRmIn19fQ.po7k9Pp2b7-mFB2p3ULH9e8vLuEw9F0BM8G9aUSfL40

- Nicolas Diaz will be back to Rally Argentino after the cancellation of his plan to drive at the CODASUR rally, and after taking part and winning at Uruguay's rally of Minas.

short video from Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHdOhhUn9dP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

- Nadia Cutro will finally drive the new Toyota Yaris

https://i.postimg.cc/FYk0289M/Nadia-Cutro-Yaris.jpg (https://postimg.cc/FYk0289M)

- Alejandro Cancio who have a Skoda R5 in Chile, plans to move to Rally Argentino soon, but didn't make it in time for this race.

- Martin Suriani should debut at the Maxi Rally turbo class after winning the championship last year with an atmospheric MR, but the CGR team will be absent, so Martin seems to be part in the RC5 class.

- At the RC5 class, Juan Gonzalez will debut a Nissan Micra, making the first appeareance of this model on the country.

https://i.postimg.cc/vxMcS2Pd/micra.jpg (https://postimg.cc/vxMcS2Pd)

Damian Baldi

26th November 2020, 22:15

First day of action with the shakedown. Some cars have hit problems, as the Toyota Yaris of Federico Villagra, and some other didn't register a time.

Díaz and Baldoni got the exactly same time for the lead! After some confusion with the inscription list, Martin Scuncio was in with the R5.

Rally Balcarce - Shakedown times

https://i.postimg.cc/nMnCD5Fb/Shakedown-Balcarce.png (https://postimg.cc/nMnCD5Fb)

https://i.postimg.cc/WqnTvrXY/Cutro.jpg (https://postimg.cc/WqnTvrXY)

https://i.postimg.cc/BtGFJ0m2/Diaz.jpg (https://postimg.cc/BtGFJ0m2)

https://i.postimg.cc/k6W7TL8m/Machado.jpg (https://postimg.cc/k6W7TL8m)

https://i.postimg.cc/1gk9cy8B/Padilla.jpg (https://postimg.cc/1gk9cy8B)

https://i.postimg.cc/V5BC6Vhp/Scuncio.jpg (https://postimg.cc/V5BC6Vhp)

https://i.postimg.cc/zH586pSR/Villagra.jpg (https://postimg.cc/zH586pSR)

Shakedown Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkEIN6XyEfM

Tomorrow the real competition starts. It's great to have action again.

Damian Baldi

27th November 2020, 23:16

Heartbreaking finish with Martín Scuncio's R5 suffering a puncture on the last SS, loosing more than 40 seconds and loosing the lead in the hands of Nico Díaz with a Ford Fiesta MR.

With more than 120 cars transiting the same two SS three times, the surface becone really difficult with lot of rocks on the road.

https://i.postimg.cc/yJCGn7MY/General-S2.png (https://postimg.cc/yJCGn7MY)

- Great work of Javier Castro with the Toyota Etios R4 finishing 5th. Gastón Pasten was a surprise, puting his Polo from the Federal rally on 6th overall position.

- Gerónimo Padilla, who won the stage 2, had a crazy incident when the brake pedal become loose, making his VW Polo go straight into the grasslands.

- Miguel Baldoni, who was battling with Díaz for the RC2 lead, got a broken engine.

- Federico Villagra's new Yaris had a puncture and some other unknown problem that made him lost lot of time on the first stage.

- Nadia Cutro's Yaris had a good debut without any problme, taking firsts SS with care and then going faster, but still a bit far from the leaders.

Nicolas Díaz
https://i.postimg.cc/Mnk7c5Mg/diaz.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Mnk7c5Mg)

Nadia Cutro
https://i.postimg.cc/yDPHJfpN/128255418-3798856896827192-1945435616353907565-o.jpg (https://postimg.cc/yDPHJfpN)

Martín Scuncio
https://i.postimg.cc/RW9mZrR8/128267571-3798856346827247-5558177645005193570-o.jpg (https://postimg.cc/RW9mZrR8)

Gastón Masten
https://i.postimg.cc/8J3HZScz/En3-UYJCWMAESw-QU.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8J3HZScz)

Federico Villagra
https://i.postimg.cc/xcLYQjKM/128425708-3798856810160534-1254144184538889949-o.jpg (https://postimg.cc/xcLYQjKM)

Lucas Machado
https://i.postimg.cc/SjBqHYzm/128277759-3798857103493838-7065135780022867342-o.jpg (https://postimg.cc/SjBqHYzm)

Event #2 video resume
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhMZIotWeCo

Saturday and Sunday will be the Sesson #3 of the championship, using two new SS.

Damian Baldi

28th November 2020, 17:29

Today afternoon starts the event #3, a new race on the same weekend, using different SS than yesterday's race.

While the cars are being repair, the drivers writes the routebook. It has been raining a bit, but it seems that the two SS of today will be on dry conditions.

https://i.postimg.cc/HcFKsFgN/lluvia.png (https://postimg.cc/HcFKsFgN)

https://i.postimg.cc/Z972XCD4/repairs1.png (https://postimg.cc/Z972XCD4)

https://i.postimg.cc/18SkFxqh/repairs2.png (https://postimg.cc/18SkFxqh)

https://i.postimg.cc/XGrmW4TF/repairs3.png (https://postimg.cc/XGrmW4TF)

David Nalbandian's car need lot of work after suffer a roll. David admited he was out of practice after several months without driving his car.

Quick repairs done yesterday.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1332338236442685443

Few days ago, Martín Scuncio was testing at Córdoba, latest update parts for his Hyundai. Now the difference between the R5 and the Maxi Rally cars is bigger.

Here is a video of the test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VepTHuHXsQI

Right now, top ten drivers choose their start order.
https://i.postimg.cc/7JnZ33mq/orden-largada.png (https://postimg.cc/7JnZ33mq)

1º #39 SCUNCIO [Hyundai i20 R5]
2º #18 CASTRO [Toyota Etios R4]
3º #41 MACHADO [Peugeot 208 MR]
4º #1 BALDONI [Chevrolet Agile MR]
5º #2 LIGATO [Chevrolet Agile MR]
6º #5 VILLAGRA [Toyota Yaris MR]
7ª #3 DÍAZ [Ford Fiesta MR]
8º #6 PADILLA [VW Polo MR]
9º #27 CADAMURO [Ford Fiesta MR]
10º #4 D’AGOSTINI [VW Polo MR]

Damian Baldi

28th November 2020, 21:56

End of two SS of the day. These SS are very fast and almost flat roads, instead of the twisted road of yesterday. These conditions makes the difference between the Maxi Rally cars with the R4 with near 60HP less of power. It's the same for the Maxi Rally "light" cars, those that use a 32mm restrictor that race beside the old atmospheric engines in the "Copa PIRELLI RC2".

https://i.postimg.cc/W3QJ3Nyt/General-SS2.png

Scuncio lost some time on the SS2 because he has been opening a road with lot of sand. Baldoni lost a minute on SS1 when the engine went into emergency mode because high temp. On the shorter SS2 he was able to go full throttle but it will be a long minute difficult to recover.

At the front Díaz and Ligato put pressure on Scuncio, followed by other 8 cars in less than 30 seconds.

These fast roads has separated the men from the childs, and those with less experience on these fast cars have lost several seconds.

Arnold Triyudho Wardono

29th November 2020, 10:25

So Maxi Rally in general is faster than R4-kit..??

Sent from my Redmi 6 using Tapatalk

Damian Baldi

29th November 2020, 12:50

So Maxi Rally in general is faster than R4-kit..??

Sent from my Redmi 6 using Tapatalk

Yes the MR is faster in general. The R4 cars have a better chassis with a better suspension geometry and a transverse engine, but the MR with a more powerful engine makes the difference. In very twisted sectors cars should match.

The key is that the MR cars with the latest ECU settings are getting 310-320 HP, while the R4 have a 265 HP engine. There is a long time discussion about that between the teams.

Damian Baldi

30th November 2020, 02:51

Martín Scuncio gives Hyundai the first victory of a R5 car in Argentina. It wasn't as easy as it sounds, because the kind of roads played in favour of the Maxi Rally cars, with Ligato, Díaz, and Padilla changing the second position very close to Scuncio. Sometimes Villagra got into the fight after solve a turbo pressure pipe problem on saturday.

The third pass over SS PJE. LARROQUET – LOS CARDOS saw the times going down in a incredible way, with gains of 15 seconds. Finally Padilla won the fight against Ligato and Díaz but they finished separated by only 5 seconds after 44 minutes or race.

Times by SS, Class and General. It's interesting to compare R5, MR and R4.
https://rallyargentino.com/tiempos2010/2020/carrera03/MENU.HTM

Video clip of event #3 day1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3TcD-4n7ZU

Video clip of event #3 day2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM5WtsitSP8

Pictures
https://www.facebook.com/RallyArgentino/photos/pcb.3804580152921533/3804571872922361/

Gerónimo Padilla in action
https://i.postimg.cc/3Wr7zNX6/Geronimo-Padilla.jpg (https://postimg.cc/3Wr7zNX6)

Flying Scuncio
https://i.postimg.cc/ftzn4q9X/Scuncio-Flying.jpg (https://postimg.cc/ftzn4q9X)

Co-driven

30th November 2020, 16:12

Yes the MR is faster in general. The R4 cars have a better chassis with a better suspension geometry and a transverse engine, but the MR with a more powerful engine makes the difference. In very twisted sectors cars should match.

The key is that the MR cars with the latest ECU settings are getting 310-320 HP, while the R4 have a 265 HP engine. There is a long time discussion about that between the teams.

Sorry, but don't you think that the drivers should be taken into consideration?

With all due respect to Castro (R4 driver), but he isn't at the same level as Ligato, Díaz, Villagra...

Damian Baldi

30th November 2020, 17:39

Sorry, but don't you think that the drivers should be taken into consideration?

With all due respect to Castro (R4 driver), but he isn't at the same level as Ligato, Díaz, Villagra...

Yes, but Castro isn't so far. He is usually on the times of Arceluz or Cadamuro, +/- 10 seconds from the leaders. You could compare from last year times when Castro used to drive an Audi MR turbo.

As I said before, it depends a lot on the kind of rally. Last year at Neuquen Castro was really fast with the R4 at the SS1, mixed with Cancio, Villagra and Arceluz, at only 18 seconds from Sordo with the Hyundai R5. But at the others SS the difference was constantly bigger.

I think it's all about the kind of roads, here with mostly fast roads, the R4 isn't at the top times. We could compare it better in a few days when the rally of Córdoba. For sure at Europe is another story with lot of asfalt.

There will be a Polo R4 soon on the hands of Alvarez, but he isn't any fast.

Rally Power

30th November 2020, 19:34

That MR/R4 debate seems interesting. I never thought the power difference would be so big, but aren’t R4’s a bit lighter? On the other specs, besides the transmission aren't they quite similar? Btw, what's the price difference between a MR and a R4?

Damian Baldi

30th November 2020, 20:47

Castro talks in this interview about the process to work with Oreca to homologate the Toyota Etios. He make a comparison about R4 and Maxi Rally cars and talks about performance, power, cost, and the tarjet of the R4 cars.

Interview in spanish
https://www.revistascratch.com/internacionales/noticia/entrevista-a-javier-castro-el-resurgimiento-de-los-r4-y-su-futuro-en-sudamerica-51854

In this video, Diaz, Marchetto, Alvarez and Soria test the Castro's R4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-z2f1g-VWs

Damian Baldi

2nd December 2020, 15:32

R4 Polo for Alvarez on the making. Once RC Competición finish the structure under Oreca homologation, the car will be sent to VRS Team to be finished.

https://i.postimg.cc/c69C8vsV/1.jpg (https://postimg.cc/c69C8vsV)

https://i.postimg.cc/GH42Pbt9/2.jpg (https://postimg.cc/GH42Pbt9)

https://i.postimg.cc/mPMgqVQs/3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mPMgqVQs)

https://i.postimg.cc/dLg04gZ6/4.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dLg04gZ6)

Co-driven

2nd December 2020, 18:23

Another Toyota Etios?

pantealex

2nd December 2020, 18:42

is that R4 same as FIA Rally2+Kit ?

or some "local" R4 class

Damian Baldi

2nd December 2020, 19:40

Another Toyota Etios?

is that R4 same as FIA Rally2+Kit ?

or some "local" R4 class

It's a VW Polo, and it's under the R4 or Rally2 FIA rules. RC Competicion was one of the early builders of R4 cars.

These pictures are from july, so the car should be more advanced, but I doubt it will debut this year. Next and final event is in two weeks and Alvarez still have posibilities on the "Copa Pirelli" with his MR atmospheric.

Co-driven

2nd December 2020, 20:05

The R4 runs together in the same class as the Maxi Rally turbo? Or it's a separate class, along the R5?

Damian Baldi

2nd December 2020, 20:28

The R4 runs together in the same class as the Maxi Rally turbo? Or it's a separate class, along the R5?

The R4 cars runs together with the MR in the current RC2 class. There is only a Hyundai R5, so it runs alone in his class. I think the plan is to merge everything in the future, but they expect to have at least 5 R5 cars (something I doubt it will happen soon).

Into the RC2, there is a subclass that runs for the "Copa Pirelli". In this subclass runs the old Maxi Rally cars with atmospheric 2.4 litre engines, and Maxi Rally turbo with a 32mm restrictor (the main class have a 34 mm restrictor). The idea with this class is to allow the drivers to fight for a win and to promote their sponsors.

https://i.postimg.cc/Kc5mmMwp/RA-points.png

In this link you could see the current championship standing, it's a bit confusing.
https://rallyargentino.com/campeonato.php?anio=2020

Damian Baldi

2nd December 2020, 21:16

Continuing with the R4 analysys, here is a video of Castro and Sicolone with the Etios at San Luis Rally. There are more videos of the R4 and the Audi A1 MR on the channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjE91RaiI60

Is this SS2, they finished seventh overal, just ahead of Arceluz (he's with who I like to compare their performances). Castro finished 16 seconds from the lead.

San Luis 2019- SS2 results and general standings
https://i.postimg.cc/fkPTDG2Q/San-Luis-2019-SS2.png (https://postimg.cc/fkPTDG2Q)

Co-driven

12th December 2020, 22:16

Castro won the 4th round of Rally Argentino. I still think it's a bit of a surprise, but in the end he beat the likes of Villagra, Ligato, Diaz, besides Cancio and Scuncio with the R5. Most of them had problems, but it's still a great result.

Damian Baldi

15th December 2020, 17:15

Yes, Castro won the 4th event. The reliability of the car put him on top, however he was fast and close to the leaders all the time. The roads equalized the performance of the R4 and MR cars, as it was an event in the mountain.

Events #4 and #5 were a bit rare, with lot of cars with mechanical problems, and many cars absent (Baldoni, Arceluz, Bonnin, Zeballos, Folledo). Baldoni cancelled his participation because his codriver had a surgery the day before. Ligato suffered a fire on the engine that damaged the electrical system and had to abandon. Villagra has been fighting with his new car to make it ran properly. Villagra went out of the road (to avoid a big rock) and damaged the rear of the car, rejoining the race at the next stage. Ligato went out of the road too on event #5 and abandoned after being the winner of SS1.

With Baldoni, Ligato and Villagra out of the fight for the titlle, Díaz, D'agostini and Padilla had the possibility to become champions for the first time. Díaz and Padilla were fighting for the RC2 lead until Padilla lost four minutes to change a tire. Díaz had a puncture but was able to continue, losing a bit of time, leaving the lead to D'agostini.

On event #5 Díaz was the fastest at some SS, but then an antiroll bar got broken damaging a brake line. The brake line was fixed but they had to drive without the antiroll bar for two SS. It was all up and down for the championship contenders. Finally Díaz had a points lead difference to be carefull and make it to the end becoming the new champion. D'agostini won his first RC2 race.

On the general clasification, Alejandro Cancio was always on top with the R5, even as it was his first race with that car. Scuncio lost lot of time on the first stage.

It was a short and some kind of emergency championship, but it was a lot better than nothing. Let's hope for a normal next seasson. Cancio said that he was thinking about move his Skoda from Chile to Argentina for the next season, but everything is unknown now. I'm not sure, but I think the R5 class need five cars to be considered on the championship.

- Ford Fiesta white and green is Díaz
- VW Polo totally white is Padilla
- VW Polo black and yellow is D'agostini
- Toyota Etios R4, is the red one wih Puma advertising on the side
- Hyundai R5 with Manaos advertising on the side is Cancio
- white Chevrolet with Infinia advertising is Ligato
- white and red Toyota Yaris with Elaion on the side is Villagra

Some videos

by TonyCosta99
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4QBeC9RNVg

by Eduardo Loza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc48HTrNsz4

out of the road with lucky for Scuncio
https://fb.watch/2oFaZ5A1Is/

Scuncio onboard SS4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8n2Egyca20

Resume event #4 from Rally Argentino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktXaYYZts4s

Resume event #5 from Rally Argentino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ur7YcZSZ5o

Damian Baldi

2nd February 2021, 21:25

From 1 to 7. That's the number of R5 cars that will take part on the 2021 championship of Rally Argentino. Two teams from Chile expand their operations to race in Argentina and be sure to see some action as RallyMobil has been stop since 2019.

CB Tech by Skoda bought part of "Compañía General de Rally" team in Córdoba, and will have a base there. Alejandro Cancio who used to drive at RallyMobil will be one of the drivers. Jorge Martínez from Chile will be the second driver, and Juan Carlos Alonso (2019 ERC2 champion) will have the opportunity to race again as he wasn't able to do a final ERC appeareance to end his carrier.

Before join CB Tech, Juan Carlos Alonso bought a Ford Fiesta R5 Evo2 from Alberto Heller to drive it himself, but now that car will be available for rent.

Point Cola Team will do the same as CB Tech, installing part of the team at Córdoba with three Hyundai cars. One of the cars is for Martín Scuncio, but there are not information about the drivers of the other two cars (we will know next week).

This move of the teams from Chile to Argentina, solve the problem of the customs, as the cars will be here temporary.

Rally Argentino will start the championship next week at Cruz del Eje - Córdoba, with a double event on the same weekend. Same will be the situation at General Madariaga Rally in march, and then in april, Rally Argentina will be a single event of two days for Rally Argentino and CODASUR.

Co-driven

3rd February 2021, 15:05

CB Tech by Skoda bought part of "Compañía General de Rally" team in Córdoba, and will have a base there. Alejandro Cancio who used to drive at RallyMobil will be one of the drivers. Jorge Martínez from Chile will be the second driver, and Juan Carlos Alonso (2019 ERC2 champion) will have the opportunity to race again as he wasn't able to do a final ERC appeareance to end his carrier.

I didn't know this info that CB Tech bought a part of CGR. Isn't Germán Schroeder involved with their operation? He has (or had) his own team in the past, right?

Regarding the Hyundai, I heard that they would leave one of the three cars in Chile, so that Scuncion could compete on both Championships without problems.

I thought we would see some of the big names, like Villagra, Ligato or even Díaz compete with one of the R5...

Also, is Fernando Álvarez's R4 ready to compete?

Damian Baldi

3rd February 2021, 15:52

I didn't know this info that CB Tech bought a part of CGR. Isn't Germán Schroeder involved with their operation? He has (or had) his own team in the past, right?

Regarding the Hyundai, I heard that they would leave one of the three cars in Chile, so that Scuncion could compete on both Championships without problems.

I thought we would see some of the big names, like Villagra, Ligato or even Díaz compete with one of the R5...

Also, is Fernando Álvarez's R4 ready to compete?

Germán Schroeder will be involved with CB Tech.

It's true that a Hyundai will remains in Chile, but the team have the idea to buy a 4th car. It's unclear how that car will be used, because there are many things unknown at the moment.

I don't know about Diaz, Ligato or Baldoni joining PointCola team. I think Diaz is the most close to the team, and he did some tests in the past.

Villagra have a deal with Toyota, but somebody said this week, that he was asking for the Toyota R5 of Galindo in Paraguay to try to have it. It's just a rumor.

There weren't more news about the R4 of Alvarez. The last know was that RC Competición finished the basic and homologated part of the job and sent the car to Villagra's team to finish it. Alvarez codriver "Pupin" Monasterolo will join Alonso (as they used to run together at ERC) so Alvarez will need a new codriver.

There are news about Peugeot bringing several 208 Rally4 (as entire cars or kits). That news beside the allow of R4 and R5 cars make it clear that FIA's pressure made effect. I wrote here in the past that FIA didn't want more MR and local build cars, with the threat of take out the WRC date, and here we are, with R5 cars and without a date.

Local economic situation is worse every year (plus the pandemic), so I don't know how all this thing will end, because everybody was against the R5 cars last year because the cost. Many drivers are team owners and MR builders. They want to keep their business running of course but, as drivers they like the R5 cars.

Damian Baldi

3rd February 2021, 16:26

About R5, R4 cars versus MR I have mixed feelings.

Why to have R5 cars? It will bring junior drivers the possibility to expand to Europe? Maybe. Would they be able to pay for it? I don't think so (even the senior drivers can't afford it).

The R4 cars are another thing. These cars cover the exactly same place as the MR cars. Are the R4 better cars than the MR? I think yes from the learning and reability point of view. Are the R4 cars better for our rally teams? I don't think so, as only RC Competición is allowed to build them.

What's the good and bad things about MR cars? The good thing is that small teams build and maintain their own cars. The cars looks different even the same brand and model, and I like that. The bad thing is that the big teams keeps rising costs working on the ECU and bringing european engineers to develop the cars.

The MR cars don't drive as well as a R4 cars, but, that makes them nicer to watch, so, what's the point to replace MR cars with R4?

Maybe the best situation could be to convert MR cars to R4 standard, or agree to use a common ECU settings, but I don't think Oreca will allow third party teams to build R4 cars by themself.

If the R5 cars become affordable, MR and R4 cars will become second tier, and maybe then is when an agreetment about the ECU will occur.

We are here several years behind Europe, so maybe we should jump directly to R3 as a replace of MR and R4 cars, and keep the R5 cars as top tier. Difficult to say, there are more than 60 MR cars and only 2 R4 at the moment, I don't think MR cars will dissapear soon.

Mirek

3rd February 2021, 18:35

R4 (Rally2 Kit) can be built by every team. There is no restriction in place. They only need to do the paper work according to the guidlines to get the homologation - either national or even international.

Damian Baldi

6th February 2021, 05:02

The city of Ushuaia is strongly asking Rally Argentino to have his date back in 2021. Currently the championship have his calendar almost sorted up but there are two dates available.

Ushuaia is 3000 km from Buenos Aires, and near 4000km from Córdoba where most of the teams are placed. It would be a real challenge to have a race there in this year with all the economic problems and the pandemic, but they insist.

One of the problems would be the logistics. Rally Argenitno should have to set some kind of logistic to send all the cargo, cars and trucks of the teams by ship to Tierra del Fuego many days before the race (There is no railroads to the south that connect with the rest of the country, so it's ship, or truck). The personel would be free to take one of the comercial flyghts.

The other problem is that the goverment of Ushuaia want to have the race in july, that means that it will be plenty of snow and ice. Rally Argentino championship runs over gravel, in winter, summer, on sand, or over rocks, etc, but it's always gravel, so to race in winter at the end of the world mean that ice tires and rims must be adquiered just for one race.

Pirelli is the unique tire supplier so they should brings ice tires from Europe with the cost that that means. As Tierra del Fuego is like a free shop free of taxes, the optión could be to send the tires from Europe direct to Ushuaia to save all the taxes.

All these option are under analisys, and it would be defined because the pandemic situation, but beside that, the crazy idea to have this race is growing. This race was part of the championship between 1999 to 2001.

Two videos from the "Rally of end of the World" from 1999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfrY01CKSOc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGuG5UIvNGE

BTW a landing a Ushuaia airport (in summer).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPil-NAEgBw

Damian Baldi

8th February 2021, 20:44

Beside the new drivers joining the championship with R5 cars, it looks like there are no big changes on the Maxi Rally class.

David Nalbandian moves from Tango Rally Team, to Villagra's team, and will be driving a second Toyota Yaris instead his Chevrolet Onix. It looks like the Onix wont race again, as Ligato and Baldoni will keep driving the old Agile model for Tango Team.

The 2020 champions Nicolas Díaz (Argentina) and Rodriogo Zeballos (Uruguay) will have their cars again under Gabriel Pozzo Motorsport operations (Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 208 respectively).

2019 Maxi Rally light class champion Martín Suriani will finally debut his VW Gol Maxi Rally turbo, after a 2020 driving on the RC5 category.

Augusto D'Agostini will drive his VW Polo MRT under Barattec operations again.

I'm not sure, but it looks like the Maxi Rally CUP (with 32mm restrictor instead 34) will dissapear.

About the R4 cars, we will see now two different cars, as VW Polo R4 of Alvarez is ready and has been tested last weekend.

http://staticv2.revistascratch.com/images/imagenes/volkswagen-polo-r4-vrs-alvarez-castellano.jpg

https://admin.campeones.com.ar/storage/2021-02/20210209%20CONARPESA%20RALLY%20R4.jpg

Short video of the car on instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK-QGLJBZyi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Co-driven

8th February 2021, 21:55

Beside the new drivers joining the championship with R5 cars, it looks like there are no big changes on the Maxi Rally class.

David Nalbandian moves from Tango Rally Team, to Villagra's team, and will be driving a second Toyota Yaris instead his Chevrolet Onix. It looks like the Onix wont race again, as Ligato and Baldoni will keep driving the old Agile model for Tango Team.

The 2020 champions Nicolas Díaz (Argentina) and Rodriogo Zeballos (Uruguay) will have their cars again under Gabriel Pozzo Motorsport operations (Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 208 respectively).

2019 Maxi Rally light class champion Martín Suriani will finally debut his VW Gol Maxi Rally turbo, after a 2020 driving on the RC5 category.

Augusto D'Agostini will drive his VW Polo MRT under Barattec operations again.

I'm not sure, but it looks like the Maxi Rally CUP (with 32mm restrictor instead 34) will dissapear.

About the R4 cars, we will see now two different cars, as VW Polo R4 of Alvarez is ready and has been tested last weekend.

How come Nalbandian will drive in VRS??! Isn't he one of the owners of Tango Rally Team?

The Onix is not as good as the Agile?

What about that Skoda R5 that a driver from Ecuador bought and would be ran by Barattero?

Damian Baldi

8th February 2021, 22:12

How come Nalbandian will drive in VRS??! Isn't he one of the owners of Tango Rally Team?

Nalbandian sold his part of Tango Rally Team to Ligato many years ago. Then Ligato sold the team to Levy in 2018 when he become sick.I think Toyota wanted a big name on the team. However, Tango Rally Team have had so many mechanical problems since the owners change.

The Onix is not as good as the Agile?

The Onix have prove to be as good as the Agile, but Ligato prefers the Agile because he feels more comfortable driving it. Both cars have the same wheelbase. Baldoni doesn't have an option, because he rents the car, and it seems that the Agile was for rent, not the Onix. I think Tango Rally Team have three Onix. The one that Nalbandian uses at CARX, and two more for him for the rally. I don't know if he is the owner of those cars.

What about that Skoda R5 that a driver from Ecuador bought and would be ran by Barattero?

The driver is Dennis Romero, he used to drive a Ford Fiesta MRT, but I don't know anything about his new car. There is a Ford Fiesta R5 from Alonso for rent.

Damian Baldi

9th February 2021, 15:57

Three very interesting interviews (in spanish) with Federico Villagra talking about Toyota's plans, the R4 cars, and the current reality. Castro talks about the plans and difficulties of the R4 cars. Ligato talks about their future.

Villagra
http://motorboxradio.com.ar/2021/02/09/villagra-seguiremos-con-el-maxi-rally-pero-ahora-vamos-con-un-auto-mas-afianzado/

Castro
http://motorboxradio.com.ar/2021/02/08/entrevista-con-javier-castro-actualidad-y-futuro-de-los-r4-en-argentina-y-sudamerica/

Ligato
http://motorboxradio.com.ar/2021/02/09/entrevista-con-marcos-ligato-los-r5-y-su-familia-dos-pilares-que-definiran-su-futuro/

Another news is that from this year the Maxi Rally cars will use a 36mm restrictor instead 34. I really don't know where this people want to go. With the increase of power there will be more mechanical failures related with the transmision. If they want to try to match the R5 performance I think they are wrong.

Cruz del Eje Rally, inscription list, many drivers missing. Finally only four R5 cars. On the Maxi Rally list, no Renault Clio, no DS3, no Onix, only 1 Fiesta but four Toyotas.
https://rallyargentino.com/documentos/Listado_de_inscriptos_rally_de_cruz_del_eje_2021_o ficial.pdf

Today, season 2021 kicked off in a very modest ceremony at the Mario Kempes Stadium at Córdoba.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrqWqmHMRXU

https://i.postimg.cc/s1zf8x84/147504760-3995942810451932-3088801199056514616-n.jpg (https://postimg.cc/s1zf8x84)

https://i.postimg.cc/DmcfKF3k/148181738-3995942900451923-5729192612920000547-n.jpg (https://postimg.cc/DmcfKF3k)

https://i.postimg.cc/T5fscZtn/Et4-H-cw-XAAM7k-XS.jpg (https://postimg.cc/T5fscZtn)

https://i.postimg.cc/bSgBV35W/Et4p-Sl-VXUAs-Iyvv.jpg (https://postimg.cc/bSgBV35W)

https://i.postimg.cc/62dSn9f9/Hyundai.jpg (https://postimg.cc/62dSn9f9)

https://i.postimg.cc/FdPtFccM/EZD-Skoda.jpg (https://postimg.cc/FdPtFccM)

Video pre shakedown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeS0SXcv5w8

Shakedown video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Glvge3JKTU

Cancio with the Skoda was the fastest (but almost put the car upside down). Scuncio with the Hyundai didn't take part (I don't know why, maybe the team was delayed)

Damian Baldi

12th February 2021, 18:07

End of stage #1 EDITED TO UPDATE

The competition wasn't good for different reasons. First, many driver were in touch with their cars for the first time. Second the drivers had expect the road to degredate a lot more than finally happened, taking it too carefully.

Some Maxi Rally drivers suffered uncounted mechanical problems, low fuel press (Diaz at SS #2), high engine temperature (Ligato), brake pressure (Baldoni), engine (D'Agostini) etc etc.

R4 drivers didn't have any chance against the R5 cars. Alvarez is doing his first race with a new car and new codriver and taking it too easy. Castro had to stop to change a wheel.

Martin Scuncio in the lonely Hyundai had a big out and is out of the race.
Video of the crash
https://twitter.com/i/status/1360280807521325059
Onboard video
https://twitter.com/i/status/1360538591441653764

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuDN34-XIAkWUb4?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuDN348XEAURjs4?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuDN345WQAID7is?format=jpg&name=small

The best of the race at the moment, is the R5 fight between Martinez and Cancio. At the RC2B (Maxi Rally) the fight Ligato - Diaz is the only close one, with Pasten, Baldoni, Padilla and Zeballos not so far.

https://i.postimg.cc/FHXdfc4D/Baldoni-Agile.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xd0X52qm/Cancio-Skoda.jpg

Marcos Ligato, video onboard
https://twitter.com/i/status/1360302385369931778

Damian Baldi

13th February 2021, 04:04

End of Event #1

On the RC2A class (R5 and R4 cars) after the huge crash of Scuncio, it was a close fight between Cancio and Martinez with Alonso starting very slow and later taking rhythm after a year without driving. Later Mantinez had a puncture and lost three minutes, giving Cancio the victory, but not without drama, as Cancio's car spun on the wet road after the red board at the end of SS5 and the car ended up hanging on a big rock. They were able to put back the car on track with just 30 seconds left before taking a penalty. Both R4 cars sufered puntures loosing 6 minutes each. However the R4 cars showed a very good performance against the MR cars and without mechanical problems.

On the RC2B class (Maxi Rally and Maxi Rally with 32 mm restrictor) there was a good fight between Ligato and Diaz, but at the end of SS5 Ligato's car stoped giving Diaz a clear win. Lot of cars suffered mechanical problems, Villagra, Baldoni, D'Agostini, Nalbandian, Cutro and more. The cars with 32mm restrictor all ended the race with only Cutro ending his race at SS5.

The resurected RC2N class with four Mitsubishi cars saw Tomas Garcia Hamilton taking the win with an EVO IX, starting slowly after more of a year without driving, and improving while the race to take the lead over the old man Prevedello.

Video resume of event #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIks26Rp1D8