Rally Fans! Who Wants to go to Mexico!?!

[WagonMonster]

As you may already know, or not....

There is a major FIA Rally in Mexico that has a good chance of being a WRC Event soon! Last year's event was won by Harri Rovanpera!

It's the Corona Rally of Mexico!

This is probably the closest thing to a true WRC Event that you're going to find anywhere near the USA.

Flights are CHEAP from the USA and once you're there it's even cheaper! I'm about 80% sure I'm going.

Anyone else interested?


Oh, and here's a blurb from the Rally Mexico Website

Corona Rally México, a candidate for the FIA World Rally Championship, takes place on 13-16 March 2003 in León, in the State of Guanajuato. For the past five years, organisers of the most prestigious rallies in México have joined forces to create the best event in North America and now, with the full support of local and national government, the nation is totally focused on becoming a world-class rallying venue.

The event has already been observed by the sport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Automobile (FIA) in 2001 and 2002, and the organisation once again plans to exceed expectations during the running of the 2003 Corona Rally México as it vies for inclusion in the sport’s premier series, the FIA World Rally Championship.

León, 300 kilometres to the north of México City, is the fifth biggest city in the country, the largest city in the State of Guanajuato and boasts a population of 50 million within a 400 kilometre radius. It will again host Corona Rally México, however this year Rally Headquarters has moved to the Poliforum Expo Center, providing a central base for all sporting and non-sporting activities. This newly-completed ‘Rally Campus’ facility, comparable to the Jyvaskyla Paviljonki used during Rally Finland, has the capacity to host a single service park for all three days of competition, scrutineering, parc ferme, the start, finish and public rally show, providing impressive facilities and a great spectacle for the teams, media and spectators alike.

The start of Corona Rally Mexico will take place in the captivating city of Guanajuato, capital of the State, considered by many to be the most beautiful colonial city in the Americas and also a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. The city owes its fame to rich veins of silver and gold discovered by the Spanish many years ago, and the extensive underground tunnels and walkways make it strikingly unique.

After the ceremonial start on the evening of Thursday 13 March, the event will be fought out over 25 loose surface special stages and 384.42 competitive kilometres in a total distance of 1,009.68 kilometres. The route takes competitors over some of the best gravel roads México has to offer and the variety of stages, combining wide, fast and flowing with narrow and twisty sections climb their way to 2,500 metres, providing an excellent challenge and breathtaking views.

In addition to the new facilities at the Poliforum Expo Center, fresh initiatives for the 17th anniversary of the event include two new stages, both of which are run twice during legs two and three. The inclusion of these stages guarantees a compact route that never moves further than 70 kilometres from León and its 1.2 million inhabitants.

México is one of the largest emerging economies in Latin America and has attracted the attention of major motor manufacturers due to a sales growth of 56% over the last five years. No fewer than 15 of the world’s leading car-makers are represented, with DaimlerChrysler following suit with the Mitsubishi brand in January 2003. It is hoped that this commercial importance to manufacturers, combined with the unique terrain, will assist México in its bid for inclusion in the World Rally Championship.

The 2003 Corona Rally México will qualify for points in the Mexican Rally Championship (CNRM), Championship of North America Rallies (CNAR) and NACAM Rally Championship.

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[CoiloverKid]

rovanpera ran this, and he whooped all the slow mexican cars...a great event i hear! cant wait!!

[Thug]

Yeah Im pretty sure it was Rovanpera who won this last year, not Delecour.

[Idjiit]

I would love to go. While my fiancee and I were in Mexico a couple years ago, we heard the rally come through town (not sure if it was a promotional thing or what) while we were staying in Oaxaca. We were in the middle of a siesta when we heard what we thought were gunshots... Couldn't figure out what it was. We headed down to the main square, and there was a bunch of Rally Cars, including the first Mitsubishi Evo I ever saw... I was totally beside myself.

I've talked to my fiancee about trying to catch the Rally down there, and she's all for it. It's just a question of money at this point.

[WagonMonster]

Oops, I meant Rovanpera and typed Delecour.

But anyway, it's CHEAP!

It's only $350 r/t from San Francisco to Mexico City and I can't imagine it would be much more from anywhere else.

And once you get to Mexico, it's DIRT CHEAP, remember, this isn't in some overpriced tourist town.

[Thug]

Id love to go, Im just not sure if I can swing the time off from work. Plus Im so close to Charlevoix and Quebec that I can drive to them.

[Jaxx]

som one find a tour opperator and setup a package ... could be fun and cost effective

[WagonMonster]

boink

[Rally1]

i was hoping I could drive, but my Mecxico geography is a little off:



$500 to fly to Leon according to expedia.com (from LAX)

[WagonMonster]

Originally posted by Rally1


$500 to fly to Leon according to expedia.com (from LAX)

Go to http://www.mexicana.com and click on the "Mex-E-Savers Fares" link

From LAX:

Mexico D.F. - $262 +tax
Leon - $269 +tax
Guadalajara - $321 +tax

[Roo]

Originally posted by Rally1
i was hoping I could drive, but my Mecxico geography is a little off:

$500 to fly to Leon according to expedia.com (from LAX)

Just power up that laptop/w your GPS attached, and you'll find your way. Just remember to downshift when you see my little Forester coming up behind you!!

I'd love to caravan down there. Let's see if I can get the time off to do so.

-Roo

Sneakiest Forester in NASIOC

[Idjiit]

Needless to say, double check to make sure your auto-insurance covers you while you're in Mexico...

[WagonMonster]

Originally posted by Idjiit
Needless to say, double check to make sure your auto-insurance covers you while you're in Mexico...

Also note that they don't sell Subarus in Mexico, so if yours happens to break down, you're SOL.

It's much safer to fly and rent a car there.

[Rally1]

bump

who's in?

[DJ 9iron]

if it was march 2-8 i would be there as its my spring break.