Rally Argentina

Surface: Gravel

It's another gravel event, making it three in a row, but the unique flavour of South America's local culture and roads makes the event anything but a repetition.

Argentina is a country currently in crisis, after inflation spiralled out of control. As a result many in this proud South American nation have been reduced to poverty, but when the rally comes to town there is always fervent support.

South America is a troubled continent, but sport is a unifying force on the whole and brings the country together. The Argentines are not the richest fans in the sport, but they are certainly some of the most colourful and could stake a claim to being amongst the loudest too.

The watersplash is an integral part of the Rally Argentina, as SEAT found out to its cost when its cars swallowed too much water early in the event last year. Argentina always produces some memorable images from the splashes through to fast and rocky roads that take all of a driver's commitment and bravery.

As Argentina's rally is based at high altitude, the rally boasts unpredictable weather conditions. And when it rains in South America, it can often turn out to be a monsoon that washes away all semblance of grip and turn the rally into a war of car control.

Last year Peugeot threw victory away not once, but twice. Marcus Gronholm was excluded after the event for receiving instructions from his crew outside of a service area and then second-place finisher Richard Burns was thrown out for an underweight flywheel. Carlos Sainz inherited the win, while Colin fought to third place.

This year everyone in the WRC will want a more clear-cut result, and McRae is confident of a strong run on an event that he enjoys.

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