IRC Sliven Rally preview

OVERVIEW

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge completes its four-event tour of Eastern Europe with its first visit to Bulgaria for the Mabanol Sliven Rally from 28-30 September.

Using all-asphalt stages in mountains around Sliven, 300 kilometres east of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, the event is a mainstay of the Bulgarian national championship and part of the FIA European Rally Cups.

Traditionally attracting thousands of fans, day one of this year’s rally features nine stages over a competitive distance of 131.93 kilometres and is a made up of a superspecial stage around Sliven’s Hadji Dimitar Stadium on Friday night plus four repeated stages in mountains overlooking the city on Saturday.

Day two consists of four standalone tests over 65.39 kilometres of competitive running with the finish scheduled for 14:00hrs on Sunday.

KEY FEATURES

The Mabanol Sliven Rally represents an intriguing prospect for IRC regulars and newcomers to the all-action series alike. With the bulk of the stages based in mountainous areas, altitudes range from 250 metres to 1100 metres above sea level with some runs featuring an altitude variation of 600 metres. Two legendary downhill tests, Bulgarka and Stara Reka, are back on the itinerary for the first time in 20 years. The challenge facing the crews is increased due to the changing grip levels they will encounter on the asphalt roads.

FIVE FACTS

— The history of the Sliven Rally dates back to 1976. Two of the Bulgaria’s most successful drivers, Krum Donchev and Dimitar Iliev, are multiple winners.
— Sliven is credited as the starting point of industrial development in Bulgaria with the country’s first factory built in the city in 1834.
— Located 130 kilometres from the Turkish border, it’s no surprise that several crews from Turkey are contesting the Sliven Rally, including Yağiz Avci, who won the last IRC round in Yalta. Indeed, the last non-Bulgarian winner in Sliven was a Turk, Ercan Kazas, who triumphed in 2000.
— One of Sliven’s most popular locations is Karandila, a hilltop reaching 1050 metres above sea level.
— Grilled meats and soups are popular in Bulgaria with tarator, a cold soup made from yoghurt and cucumber particularly sought after.

THE BATTLE FOR VICTORY

Having done the bulk of the winning in Sliven since 2002, the battle for victory on the Mabanol-backed event, a new addition to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for 2012, is set to be between Bulgarian aces Krum Donchev and Dimitar Iliev.

Iliev claimed victory in Sliven last season in a ŠKODA Fabia Super 2000, while first place for Donchev this year would mark the first for a Peugeot 207 S2000 in the IRC in 2012. However, both will have to fend off the threat posed by Yağiz Avci, who scored his maiden IRC win on the previous round in Ukraine at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000. Petar Gyoshev is another Peugeot 207 driver in action in Sliven.

IRC Production Cup

Having climbed to within touching distance of title leader Andreas Aigner with IRC Production Cup victory in Ukraine, Renault Mégane RS driver Robert Consani will be aiming to make more progress in Bulgaria, particularly with Aigner not nominating the Sliven event as one of his scheduled appearances in 2012. Marco Tempestini also impressed on the previous round in Yalta with third place in class in his Subaru Impreza R4 STI. Like Consani, the Romanian will be in contention for the win. Local driver Plamen Staykov will be a contender in his R4-specification Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer, while Todor Slavov will also be capable of mounting a challenge for top spot providing he can complete his deal to drive a Renault Mégane RS, which is eligible for IRC Production Cup and IRC 2WD Cup points.

IRC 2WD Cup

After skipping the last two rounds in Czech Republic and Ukraine, 2010 IRC 2WD Cup winner Harry Hunt is back in action for his Sliven Rally debut. The Briton tops the standings in his Citroën DS3 R3T and will be expecting strong opposition from Robert Consani – who is eligible for IRC Production Cup and IRC 2WD Cup points – and Estonian Martin Kangur in a Honda Civic Type R. Bulgarian Renault pilot Todor Slavov will be among the favourites for class victory, while Ekaterina Stratieva is the IRC’s leading female driver and will impress on home soil. Other drivers to watch include Turkey’s Murat Bustanci, in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2, Romanian Vlad Cosma and Hungarian Renault Clio R3 ace Menya Krózser.