DMACK Heads WRC 2 Field For Rally Argentina
The suitability of DMACK’s gravel tyres to the WRC 2 championship will be demonstrated next week as the firm is set to equip over half the field when the FIA World Rally Championship heads south to Rally Argentina.
Ten of the 17 WRC 2 runners will use DMACK’s DMG+2 gravel tyre and the entire field of new-era R5 specification machines will run on DMACK. It’s also the first rally this season where both Drive DMACK World Rally Team drivers will be competing together.
Estonia’s Ott Tänak continues his assault on the series after dominating Rally Mexico in March. He set fastest times on every stage he completed but lost time after sliding off the road. Jari Ketomaa comes to Argentina after finishing second in Portugal and both drivers will be keen to secure a strong haul of points in Cordoba next weekend.
DMACK’s gravel tyre has traditionally found favour on the generally soft road conditions in Argentina. The firm scored its best-ever WRC finish of fourth here in 2012 and has chosen the soft compound S6 as its nominated tyre for the event. Crews will have access to a maximum of 28 tyres over the weekend and will be able to use up to 16 alternative hard compound S3 tyres within the total quantity.
While DMACK’s gravel tyre is well suited to the sandy stages, Rally Argentina throws up a raft of unique challenges which will ensure this year’s event is as demanding as ever. The technical stages are characterised by jumps, water splashes and the soft surfaces can expose rocks, especially on second pass. Then there are the long competitive loops – delivering around 80km of action per loop each day.
Competitors will tackle the 51.88km Ascochinga test twice on Friday and the high distances force drivers and teams to cleverly manage their tyre allocation to maximise tyre durability.
However, the exuberance of the hoards of energetic fans and the unique lunar landscape of the high-altitude El Condor stage make Rally Argentina one of the highlights of the season. Its base remains at Villa Carlos Paz to the west of Cordoba and features three days of action in three separate iconic regions.
Alongside Tänak and Ketomaa, DMACK will also be supplying Quentin Gilbert and a host of South American stars including Peruvian Nicolas Fuchs, and Paraguayan front-runners Gustavo Saba and Diego Dominguez.
DMACK is also the sole tyre supplier to the FIA Codasur South American Rally Championship of which Rally Argentina is the second round.
Event Details
Rally Argentina gets underway on Thursday 8 May with the hugely-popular super-special stage close to Carlos Paz. But the first main day takes crews north for two loops of two stages including the punishing 51.88km Ascochinga/Agua de Oro stage. Saturday’s action is played out 100km south of the rally base in the famous Santa Rosa de Calamuchita valley with two loops of two stages and a final fling through the super-special to end off the day.
The final day could throw up some surprises. Two passes over the iconic high-altitude Mina Clavero and El Condor tests, characterised by their stunning lunar scenery, is a tough way to end a difficult rally. The event offers a total of 405.10 competitive kilometres across 14 stages.
Dick Cormack, DMACK motorsport director, said: “Rally Argentina holds fond memories for the DMACK team and it’s the first time we come here with our new soft compound S6 tyre. It should be well suited to the conditions and stage surfaces but, once again, this year’s event will be pretty demanding. It’s an important event for the Drive DMACK team and we have a strong field of competitors opting for DMACK rubber.�
Ott Tänak said: “It will be a tough rally again this year and definitely one with an emphasis on endurance. There are long stages and possibly some rough conditions so it will be a big challenge. I’ve only been there once before but the aim is to try and take the speed we showed in Mexico and fight for the top positions but, importantly, to stay away from any problems.�
Jari Ketomaa said: “I think it will be an interesting rally regarding the competition level as there are so many drivers that can win this rally. We will definitely have a tough fight with the regional cars. To win this rally you need to have no problems and a clean drive. I’m really looking forward to it as we know the DMACK tyres are better suited to the softer conditions.�
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