Early stages crucial says Skoda UK’s Wilks

Guy Wilks believes the opening loop of stages on Saturday, plus the first two stages on Sunday, will be key to success on this weekend’s Rally Argentina, round three of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Following tonight’s superspecial stage through the streets of Carlos Paz, the first gravel tests begin with a tough 75-kilometre loop of four stages on Saturday morning. Located near San Agustin, 100 kilometres south of the service park in Carlos Paz, Škoda Fabia driver Wilks believes these stages will identify potential winners, while the opening two stages on Sunday’s competition – which includes the famous Ascochinga-La Cumbre stage to the north, which, at 22.4 kilometres is the longest of the event – might well decide the outcome of the event.

While the recce was completed in dry conditions, midday temperatures of 35°C and high humidity are producing massive overnight thunderstorms. A forecast of more storms over the weekend could make this year’s Rally Argentina even more difficult.

“We’re very well prepared, but you never know the pace of an event until it starts – and judging a good pace on the opening loop of stages on Saturday will be critical,” said Wilks.

“With more overnight storms and the possibility of early morning low cloud and fog, the opening two stages on Sunday will be just as important. So much so, they might even decide the rally.”

Wilks will start Saturday’s stages third on the road. Nasser Al-Attiyah, in a similar Škoda, will lead the field away from service in Carlos Paz at 06:30hrs local time.