While Rally Bulgaria is new to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, the event has a long history dating back to 1970, when it was known as Rally Zlatni Piassatzi. Formerly based at the Black Sea, the event moved to the Rila Mountains in 2002 and has since had its home in the picturesque ski resort of Borovets.
The country’s history in the sport, however, dates further back. Le Marathon de la Route, a round of the FIA’s premier rally championship of the time, ran from Liège in Belgium to the Bulgarian capital Sofia and back from 1961 to 1964.
The Liège-Sofia-Liège - part of the series known as Le Marathon de la Route - was, along with the East African Safari, one of the toughest events of its era. In 1961 only eight of the 90 entries arrived at the finish. The cars left Liège, three at a time, from 22h00 on Wednesday, arriving in Sofia at 07h30 on Friday morning. After a brief four hour rest halt, crews headed north again with the first car arriving back in Belgium at 16h00 on the Sunday afternoon. The route took in many of the great Alpine and Dolomite passes and rough, dusty tracks in Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, and was flat out virtually all the way.
Rally Bulgaria - a round of the FIA European Rally Championship since 1972 - moves up into the FIA World Rally Championship this year and is the first of four Tarmac events in the second half of the season.
RALLY DE BULGARIA – ROUTE GRAPHICS
CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2009
The Rally Bulgaria route is a mix of old and new, with no fewer than three entirely new sections of road being used this year. The longest stage of the rally (SS1/SS3) is entirely new, while SS2/SS4 on Friday is a 50/50 blend of old and new roads. On Saturday, stages 5/8 and 6/9 are both new to the event and SS7/10 has been used previously. Sunday’s closing stages have also run in the past.
RALLY DATA
Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages: |
1,069.56 km
354.10 km
14 |
RALLY DE BULGARIA TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA
|
Thursday 08 July
Shakedown
FIA press conference, Press Room, Rila Hotel, Borovets
Ceremonial start
Friday 09 July
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone
First car arrives for end of day service and Media Zone
Saturday 10 July
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone
First car arrives for end of day service and Media Zone
Sunday 11 July
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone
Prize-giving and podium ceremony
FIA press conference, Press Room, Rila Hotel, Borovets |
08:00 - 14:00 hrs
13:30 hrs
19:30 hrs
12:42 hrs
17:14 hrs
11:54 hrs
17:33 hrs
10:06 hrs
13:12 hrs
14:00 hrs
15:00 hrs |
FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
|
Thursday 08 July
Sunday 11 July |
Karl Kruuda, FIA Junior World Rally Championship
Hans Weijs, FIA Junior World Rally Championship
Olivier Quesnel, Citroën Total World Rally Team
Per-Gunnar Andersson, Stobart M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Kimi Räikkönen, Citroën Junior Team
Petter Solberg, Petter Solberg World Rally Team
Winning Junior World Rally Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant |
ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday, the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place in the service park on the WRC Stage at the earliest opportunity during the end of day 45 minute service.
Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday, selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day 45 minute service at the teams’ service areas.
STAGE CHART
Shortly after the finish of the event on Sunday, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/wrc/2010/bulgaria/Pages/stage_chart.aspx