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Nicolas: IRC stars will be flat out in Azores

"It’s a fantastic place to have a rally"

By Franck Drui

9 February 2012 - 10:09

Jean-Pierre Nicolas says a thrilling spectacle is in store when Intercontinental Rally Challenge season six gets underway on SATA Rally Acores from 23-25 February.

Nicolas, a former international rally-winning driver and now the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager, says the testing nature of the gravel event and the fact it forms the opening round of the IRC season will make it an epic.

“It’s a fantastic place to have a rally, with fast and flowing stages, a uniquely beautiful location, and unpredictable weather,” said Nicolas. “It’s a real drivers’ event, and this year of course it will be even more special because it marks the first rally of the IRC season, so everyone will be flat out.”

This year’s SATA Rallye Acores features 14 stages over a competitive distance of 194.40 kilometres. The untimed City Stage on the streets of Ponta Delgada will open the action on Wednesday 22 February.