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First passage on the new special stage for everyone, being the novelty of the 2023 course: a very technical stage which includes a downhill stretch on concrete where, for safety reasons, the competitors are slowed down with a virtual chicane.
What is the virtual chicane: very simple to explain: the competitors will arrive at speed on a 220-metre stretch, marked by approach signs and on-board tracking. Within this stretch the competitors will have to slow down until they reach 50 km/h, at which time the on-board tracking will give them the ok and they will be able to accelerate again normally. On paper it's simple, it's just a hard brake until the onboard tracker tells them they've reached the correct speed. The important thing is to do all this within the 220m zone, otherwise you will pay a penalty.
We report Yoann Bonato's statement on the previous test which perfectly explains this new type of chicane (already in use for years in international rallies in various countries):
"Now I'm waiting for the virtual chicane. It will be the first time I brake in a special stage without going into a bend"