New Superspecial for Argentina

The organisers of Rally Argentina, round four of the 2008 World Rally Championship, have been forced to relocate the event’s Superspecial stage after administrative problems delayed building work on their preferred site.

Following an ambitious scheme in 2007 involving two identical Superspecials in Buenos Aires and Cordoba, organisers planned a simpler arrangement in 2008, with just one stage located in an area called Camping General San Martin, not far from the service area in Villa Carlos Paz. But problems getting the necessary authorisation to start building work at the San Martin site put the project in jeopardy, and four weeks before the rally’s 27 March start date the decision was taken to move it elsewhere.

A statement from the organisers read: “The time required to authorise the construction works of the circuit in Camping General San Martin are not compatible with the necessary time to adjust the circuit to the requirements of an international event of this magnitude. That include specific measures regarding the safety of the public and the competitors, apart from national and international TV broadcast requirements and essential infrastructure works, among others.”

The stage will instead be run at the football stadium in Cordoba. But because other sporting activities are taking place there the same weekend, the figure of eight circuit will be constructed outside the stadium on the surrounding football fields, rather than inside. The sporting concept of the Superspecial stage will, however, remain unchanged. As planned, the first two days of the event, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March, will end with cars tackling the stage one at a time. While on Sunday, the rally’s closing stage will be tackled by two cars starting simultaneously.