
#52dias #RallyRACC 🇪🇦 🌎✈️ #2007 Spectacular and difficult RallyRACC 🇪🇦 🌎✈️
#RallyRACC #2007 #WRCHY #2022
Xevi Pons (Subaru). 43 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA
The second leg of the 43 movistar RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España is being held today. Yesterday, the changing weather accounted for a really tricky first day. No rain so far today, but the road is still largely wet and therefore the driving is not easy.
Deep emotions and feelings in homage to Colin McRae
The rain forced a change of setting for the tribute to former World Rally Champion Colin McRae, who passed away in a helicopter accident three weeks ago. The ceremony was finally held in the porch of Port Aventura Hotel, the Headquarters of the 43 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España, instead of being hosted before the ceremonial start area in the Salou Waterfront, which had to be cancelled.
With all the manufacturers’ drivers and their team leaders respectfully in line, the President of the RACC Sebastià Salvadó said, on behalf of the race Organizing Committee, that “Colin was a spectacular driver and a great fighter, and has become a reference for all of us”. Carlos Sainz, personal friend, team mate and competitor of the late Scottish driver, summarized the feeling of all drivers with some very emotional words: “Colin was, above all, a good friend. For those who are part of the world of rallies, he was a great champion. He has now become a legend”.
This event, loaded with emotions and sensitivity, was closed by the sound of a pipe. Martin Hewins, pipe major and personal friend of Colin, is the artist who played a piece he especially composed in honour of the former World Champion. It was a heartfelt moment of remembrance.
Martin Hewins: “The melody reflects Colin’s character and his leadership skills”
Martin Hewins is Pipe Major for the Red Ross Clan and also a great motorsports lover and close friend of Colin McRae. Hewins played a part of a piece entitled “A Pipers’ Tribute to Colin McRae”, especially composed in honour of the late Scottish driver. Martin Hewins played two of the four minutes of his tune dressed in the traditional Scottish attire. Weather permitting, he will play it again as a salute to all the official drivers as they start off tomorrow morning.
“I believe the music I was honoured to play today expresses the deep admiration many of us feel for Colin McRae. He was a real Braveheart for the Scots, and I think this melody reflects his personality, bravery, determination and leadership”, Hewins declared. The artist, born in Helmsdale, close to Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands, will soon record this piece. He recently published a CD paying his respects to the troops serving abroad. Hewins flanked Colin McRae in many of his WRC races and played tunes in his honour as he took the start. He currently accompanies David Coulthard, also from Scotland, in some F1 Grand Prix races.
“Fate decided to take Colin away a few days before our race. We are proud to remember him as a person and as a champion, as he amply deserves. Colin won the Rally Catalunya twice and will always remain in our mind. He is part of the history of our rally”, Aman Barfull, clerk of the 43 RallyRACC Catalunya-COSTA DAURADA, Rally de España, declared. An exhibition panel at the race headquarters reviews the nine times Colin McRae participated in the Rally Catalunya. He won two of them and ranked second once.
S-5 – El Lloar – La Figuera – 22,430 kms.
General description:
This is one of the classic stages of the Rally Catalunya-Costa Daurada, and one of the most followed at the crowded junction of El Molar. It is a stage with a completely new and even surface, combining twisty sections with fast sections, especially after having been reasphalted in 2005, where some of the bends were eliminated.
The special starts on the T-732 after passing El Lloar. It begins with a combination of long bends and a faster and very technical area until the El Molar junction, where it takes the T-730 to pass La Figuera, the start of a very technical area. It finishes 3 km after the junction with the T-714 coming from La Torre de l’Espanyol.
25th August #2022