Argentina is a real old-school World Rally Championship rally. But it’s also way more than just a rally; it’s a national event, steeped in history, with all the South American passion you could ever wish for.
With its high-speed stages set in majestic backdrops, Argentina has served up some memorable images for us at McKlein. Here’s a gallery featuring some of these moments, captured by the team. Colin McMaster talks you through them.
Timo Mäkinen & Jean Todt – Peugeot 504 V6 Coupe, 1980
Back in the day, shortcuts were not uncommon in long-distance rallying. Reinhard Klein explains this photo: “I was standing on the opposite hill when Timo Makinen with co-driver Jean Todt did recce a shortcut avoiding the hairpins. I went there and they used it on the event.” [photo: Reinhard Klein]
Ari Vatanen & Terry Harryman – Peugeot 205 T16, 1985
The aftermath of Ari Vatanen’s high-speed 1985 crash. Mercifully, both he and Terry Harryman survived and were later able to resume their rallying careers. [Photo: Gerhard Wagner]
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya – Subaru Impreza 555, 1994
Argentina possesses some of the most beautiful scenery in the whole WRC. Run in winter, the 1994 rally offered gorgeous low-light opportunities for stunning images. [photo: Reinhard Klein]
Colin McRae & Derek Ringer – Subaru Impreza 555, 1996
My first taste of Rally Argentina came in 1996. I’d never seen so many watersplashes on a single rally before. This one was very close to the big football stadium in Cordoba, something I’d seen as a boy on TV, during the 1978 football World Cup. [photo: Colin McMaster]
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills – Ford Focus WRC, 2000
The watersplash on the Santa Rosa de Calamuchita stage is a popular location for all. In 2000, a lip formed on the exit. It became more-and-more pronounced on the second run, waiting to catch out anyone daring enough to go flat-out. Cue Petter Solberg. [photo: Colin McMaster]
Alister McRae & David Senior – Hyundai Accent WRC2, 2001
Argentinians love an ‘asada’ [barbecue]. Carelessly this one, in the stage car park, triggered a huge fire just before the stage was run. There was further drama when the fire truck responding to this incident rolled onto both works Skodas, which were parked-up waiting to go into the service area near the stage. [photo: Reinhard Klein]
Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen – Subaru Impreza S10 WRC, 2004
This is the final section of the climb from Mina Clavero to Giulio Cesare. In 2004, McKlein took our friend [and ace photographer] Jakob Ebrey to the rally. Later over dinner, he told of his visit to this stage: “I’ve been to the Moon today.” [photo: Jakob Ebrey]
Carlos Sainz & Marc Marti – Citroën Xsara WRC, 2004
Fenet Branca, rally cars and some passion. This is Rally Argentina 2004, scene of the great Carlos Sainz’s last WRC win. [photo: Colin McMaster]
Gigi Galli & Giovanni Bernacchini – Ford Focus RS WRC, 2008
The Amboy stage in Argentina is one of the fastest in the whole championship. Throw in one of the most flamboyant drivers ever and the ingredients are all there for some dramatic action. [photo: Tony Welam]
Thierry Neuville & Nicolas Gilsoul – Hyundai i20 WRC, 2015
Arguably the greatest stage in the WRC: El Cóndor. It’s renowned for stunning scenery and the masses of passionate fans, many of whom camp out for several days to see the spectacle here on Sunday. In 2015, Thierry Neuville crashed when El Cóndor was run as the powerstage. [photo: Reinhard Klein]
