2008 Argentinean Rally Championship Round 1

[ZequeArgentina]

For those interested in:
First round of Argentinean championship is being held thsi weekend in Mina Clavero Cordoba (some of the roads of the WRC round done here are used).

It is limited to group N machinery, with mainly Mitsubishis and some SUBARUS (INCLUDING 5 NEW n14).
There is also a promotional Subaru class (with N3 Imprezza 2.0 without turbo, but 4wd)
Championship is very competitive, usuall with up to 10 cars in 10 seconds for each stage, but with Villagara and Ligato usually being the winners.

championship website: http://www.rallyargentino.com (only in spanish)
Live times for this rally:
http://www.rallyargentino.com/2008/carrera01/MENU.HTM

[ZequeArgentina]

I someone interested in having some info on this championship?
If that is the case I will post them here, but will nt do it if nobody shows interest.

[Wim_Impreza]

Yes, I am very interested. As an European, it is very difficult to find good info in English about your competitive national championship.

[ZequeArgentina]

OK, I will keep you informed about thi championship.

[Wim_Impreza]

Do you know which drivers do the full championship?

Can you give also the calendar 2008? Thank you.

[cp_vera]

Wim_Impreza:
Unfortunately all the sites with the news about the Rally Argentino are in Spanish.
But if you can use the Google Translator or any similar soft, you will have the information that you want.
Here I give you some links:

Drivers: During all the Championship are the same numbers:
http://www.rallyargentino.com/2008/c...01/INSCRIP.HTM

Calendar (Calendario in Spanish):
http://www.rallyargentino.com/2008/c...01/INSCRIP.HTM

Results (Resultados in Spanish):
http://www.rallyargentino.com/resultados2008.php

Images (Fotos in Spanish):
http://www.rallyargentino.com/imagenes2008.php

And here, another site, with information about the Regional Championships:
http://www.rallynoticias.com/demo/index.php

In the left column, you have news of this Championships:
FRAD 11: The Patagonian Championship
Rally Provincial Cordobes: The Cordoba (place of the Argentinian Rally) Championship.
Rally Federal: The Provincia (State) de Buenos Aires Championship, and
Rally de San Luis: The same state Championship.

If you want images of this Championships, go to "Galería de Imágenes", in the same left column.

Greeting from the south of the world!

Carlos

[Wim_Impreza]

Thank you very much, Carlos. Great work and welcome on the forum.

[Wim_Impreza]

Is there more news about the National Rally Championship in Argentina? Please tell me.

[LP]

any additional info on those naturally aspirated 2.0l Impreza's, specs and photos maybe?

[ZequeArgentina]

Here is an update of this weekend Round (4th):

brief of anew round of the Argentinean Championship:

Rally of San Luis had two main news in its entry list:
1- Villagra (current Champion, and winner of all rounds this year so far) was not to take part due o recce in Italy for the WRC round (he is taking part with he Munchi´s Team)
2- Gabriel Pozzo was making a surprising return o the Championship with one of the new Imprezza N14

Also a technical new issue:
Kumho tires are now mandatory in the N4 (I am not sure about other series, but I think later this year). For the first 3 rallies Silverstone (the ones mandatory last year) were also admitted.

There are 3 big teams in national rally:

VRS Mitsubishi (Villagra´s team)
1- Villagra absent this round)
2- Bernardi
3- Beltran
4- Marchetto

Tango Rally Team, Mitsubishi (Ligato and Nalbandian Team)
1- Ligato
2- Cancio
3- Madero
4- Goldenherstch

Barattero, Subaru (Official Partner Team of Subaru STI for group N developer)
1- Sanchez
2- Menzi
3- N.Raies (nephew of the good Gabriel Raies, and the disastrous Juan Pablo Raies)
4- Martinez
5- Dominguez (not inthis round)
5- Pozzo (up to now, only in this round but hopefully for the resto of the year)

For times see: http://www.rallyargentino.com/2008/carrera03/MENU.HTM

First special showed first big shot:
Ligato (main candidate with Villagra out) blew a tire a lost some minutes, which was repeated in two more occasions, leaving Ligato well down in the classification.
First leader, and for all day one was Bernardi, with Cancio and Madero closely following them, and Pozzo just there showing improvement in the still new N14.

Madero also suffered a puncture late in day one, with end of the day showing:
1-Bernardi, Mitsu (VRS)
2- Cancio, Mitsu (Tango) + 4,6s
3- Pozzo, Imprezza (Barattero) + 26 s
4- Marchetto, Mitsu (VRA) + 29,9 s
5- Raies, Imprezza (Barattero) + 55,4
6- Sanchez, Imprezza (Barattero) +1m 07,3s
7- Martinez, Imprezza (Barattero) +1m 14,4s
8- Beltran, Mitsu (VRS) + 1m 18,4s

13- Madero, Mitsu (Tango) +3m 03,5s

16- Ligato, Mitsu (Tango) + 4m 39,7s



Day 2:
First special, Bernardi broke steering and was out of the rally, Cancio had a puncture loosing some 40 seconds, and Pozzo took the lad, not leaving it till end of the Rally.
Ligato retook speed and was second fastest in the day, but not getting into the points.

Final positions were:

1- Pozzo, Imprezza (Barattero)
2- Cancio, Mitsu (Tango) + 6,5s
3- Marchetto, Mitsu (VRA) + 32,2 s
4- Raies, Imprezza (Barattero) + 48,9s
5- Sanchez, Imprezza (Barattero) +1m 00,5s
6- Martinez, Imprezza (Barattero) +3m 08,9s
7- Carlomagno, Mitsu + 3m 18,6s
8- Madero, Mitsu (Tango) +3m 24s

9- Ligato, Mitsu (Tango) + 4m 15,7s

The imprezzas N14 showed a new and great reliability, with all cars without technical problems (only some punctures) and with a small increase in performance (still a little slower than top Lancers, but really close).

Ligato lost a "golden opportunity" to reduce Villagra advantage in the Championship, and positions are now as follows:
Driver---------CAR---------TEAM-----------Pts
Villagra--------Mitsubishi---VRS-------------39
Bernardi-------Mitsubishi---VRS-------------32
Marchetto-----Mitsubishi---VRS-------------19
Pozzo---------Subaru------Barattero--------18
Beltran--------Mitsubishi---VRS-------------16
Madero--------Mitsubishi---Tango-----------15
Sanchez-------Subaru------Barattero -------14
Cancio--------Mitsubishi----Tango----------13
N. Raies-------Subaru------Barattero--------8
Ligato---------Mitsubishi---Tango-----------8


Villagra´s VRS keeps its excellent performance of speed and consistency (Championship posistions show it)
Hope someone reads this!!