Rally driving features much more prominently at the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games to be held in Valencia, Spain from 23-27 October.
Three times as many medals are on offer to Rally2 competitors during this third edition of the event, with a gold awaiting the fastest crew in the mixed-surface category, one for the quickest on tarmac, and another for the best over gravel, as a total of 13 nations are represented.
In the Rally2 category open to four-wheel-drive FIA-homologated rally cars powered by turbocharged 1600cc engines, competitors can span regional- and national-level rally series all the way up to the FIA World Rally Championship.
Key to the regulations, each crew enters under the nationality of the driver, while the co-driver may herald from a different country.
Rally2 Overall
The Rally format for the Games has evolved since the second “Race of Nations” was held in 2022. Previously, it played out exclusively on smooth roads between Marseille and Toulon in France. This time around, the programme begins with gravel before moving onto tarmac.
The combined times from the six gravel, six tarmac, and two Super Special Stages held at Circuit Ricardo Tormo will then decide which of the five competing nations from the overall Rally2 category progress through to the Medal Stage on Sunday. The all-important decider directly precedes the Closing Ceremony.
The Medals Stage showdown will pitch the top three crews from the mixed-surface class head-to-head on a new Rallycross-style course at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo to decide who earns the gold, silver and bronze. For all stages, the precise layouts have not been disclosed to ensure sporting fairness.
Among the five countries featured in the mixed-surface Rally2 discipline is host nation Spain. Its junior rally champion Alejandro Cachon and co-driver Borja Rozada will compete aboard their Toyota GR Yaris in a bid to defend the nation’s silver medal earned in 2022.
Germany’s chances depend on Ford Fiesta driver Björn Satorius and co-driver Hanna Ostlender. Meanwhile, Mexico looks to Alejandro Mauro Sanchez / Adrian Perez (Fabia RS) as Türkiye is represented by Ali Türkkan / Burak Erdene, who claimed the silver medal in the Rally4 division in 2022 ahead of securing third in this year’s Junior WRC standings.
Finally, the United Kingdom will count on returning Games competitor Oliver Mellors and long-time co-driver Ian Windress in their trusty Proton Iriz R5.
Rally2 Gravel
Rally2 Gravel competitors must master the loose-surface mountain roads of the designated Gravel Rally Area to the west of Valencia, the port city on the Mediterranean Coast. After driving flat-out from Utiel to finish lines in Calderon and San Antonio, the Friday schedule ends with a tarmac Super Special Stage at the Games’ main hub: the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Three-time Spanish Rally Superchampionship title winner José Antonio Suárez will be partnered by Alberto Iglesias in a Škoda Fabia RS as part of a revised, dedicated gravel line-up for Team Spain.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s hopes rest on the returning Jari Liiten. A successful runner in a variety of Nordic championships, the previous Games participant will drive a Fabia Evo alongside navigator Mikael Johansson.
Ecuador and Qatar are two newcomers to the competition. The former is represented by the vastly experienced Juan Guerrero and Andres Carpio (Fabia RS) while four-time FIA WRC2 event winner Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and his brother Nasser (Fabia RS) fly the flag for Qatar.
They face stiff competition from Lithuania’s Rokas Steponavičius / Dovydas Ketvirtis (Fabia) and Türkiye’s Türkkan / Erdener.
Rally2 Tarmac
Accompanied by competitors from Rally4 (for two-wheel-drive cars) and the Historic Rally (for machinery built between 1970 and 1981) category, the competition will then move further south.
Stages 8 to 13 will take place on Saturday in the Tarmac Rally Area, which encompasses Cortes, La Cabezuela, Yatova, La Garrofera and Gestalgar. Rally2 Tarmac entrants will also reconvene for a Super Special Stage at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
Cachon / Rozada will once again represent Spain on the smoother roads. Wearing the country colours of neighbouring Portugal will be Fabia Evo pilot João Silva and, calling the pacenotes, Luís Rodriguez.
They will attempt to fend off Denmark’s Kenneth Madsen / Mette Felthaus (Citroën C3) and hill climb specialist Sandro Tavartkiladze / Davit Arjevanidze (Fabia RS) from Georgia. Team Luxembourg will field Steve Fernandez / Steve Kirfel in a Hyundai i20, while Türkiye’s Türkkan / Burak Erdener will also ply their trade in the Rally2 Tarmac class.
Rally 2: Discipline Information
Rally2 is open to a range of four-wheel-drive rally cars that have been homologated by the FIA. They must feature turbocharged 1.6-litre engines, while competitors require the international licence ITC-R. Drivers may have experience in a variety of regional- and national-level rally series all the way up to the FIA World Rally Championship.
Category Format
For the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games, Rally2 is divided into three categories. Each offers medals. The mixed-surface class will comprise 12 stages – six gravel, six tarmac – plus two Super Special Stages and the deciding Medal Stage.
The tarmac competition will play out over six stages plus a Super Special Stage, while the gravel category will consist of six regular stages and one Super Special.
Rally2 Roll of Honour
2022: Mathieu Arzeno & Romain Roche (Team France)
Rally Timetable: click here
Entry lists:
Rally 2: click here
Rally 2 Tarmac: click here
Rally 2 Gravel: click here