Rally Guanajuato Corona Announces Its 2014 Route

I just received this press release from the Rally Organization. If there is enough interest with people from this area we could organize a group to go and take in this event. PM me if interested and I'll get costs, etc.

This year, Mexico will once again play host to a World Rally Championship event. Rally Guanajuato Corona has become quite a classic on the official FIA calendar, thanks to the innovative additions it makes every year aimed at further testing the rally drivers as they race along the roads of the state of Guanajuato, and this year the event to be held from March 6 to 9 will be no exception.


The competition taking place in the municipalities of León, Silao and Guanajuato will see an increase in the number of special stages. This year’s event will provide a thrilling 401.77 km of pure speed during these stages, compared to the 396.82 km of last year. The 636.66 km of road sections will bring the total up to 1,037.43 km.

This will take it over the new required minimum imposed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile at the last meeting of the World Motorsport Council. To make things even more exciting for fans, motorsport’s governing body ruled that at least 25 percent of the distance covered during any rally must be made up of special stages. At Rally Guanajuato México, the figure will be 39 percent, making what is already known as one of the calendar’s tightest events even more appealing.

The traditional ceremonial start in Guanajuato’s city centre will take place on Thursday, March 6, to be immediately followed by the Monster Street Stage Guanajuato, when at 20:09 hours on the dot, the first competition car will roar off along the 1.01 km street stage that will be broadcast live on local television.

On Friday, March 7, the World Rally Cars will take to dirt roads for the first time, where they will face a total of 425.62 km, including 147.88 km of competitive sections (35 percent) and 279.55 of road sections, with the additional spectacle of two new stages (5 and 9) at the state’s Bicentennial Park, Parque Guanajuato Bicentenario.

Given its strategic location right at the intersection where the municipalities of Guanajuato, Silao and León meet, a mass of spectators are expected, who will get two chances to see the cars in action, one at 11:07 hours and another at 16:49 hours. Those attending will be able to enjoy a host of attractions between each stage and even take in a concert later in the day, the details of which will be announced shortly.

On top of all this, there will be two chances to see the cars at Los Mexicanos (9.40 km), El Chocolate (44.03 km), and Las Minas (15.70 km) on their two passes. The day’s events will be brought to a close with the popular Michelin Super Special Stage at Leon’s racetrack.

For folks who have never seen a rally give it a shot it is fun.

I should probably clarify what this is for those that are not familiar with this form of motorsport. This is a spectator event for us mere mortals. This event is one of the rounds in the World Championship - the top of the heap - best teams/cars/drivers in the world. This is to Rally what "F1" is to circuit racing. Motorsport enthusiasts are very fortunate to be able to witness one of these events so close to home as it is the only one on the calendar for North America.

I went last year to spectate so if anyone wants more info, please PM me.