Why WRC drivers expect Rally Paraguay to be “almost a second Safari”
WRC drivers expect Rally Paraguay to become something of a lottery, with forecast heavy rain threatening to create “almost a second Safari Rally” this season. Paraguay surprised many crews as the gravel rally made its WRC debut last year with its distinctive red-clay gravel surface proving difficult to master. This year the rally is the longest of the WRC season at 358.88km, featuring five ...…
The World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers anticipate Rally Paraguay to be an extremely challenging event, likening it to a "second Safari Rally" due to heavy rain forecasts. The 358.88km gravel rally, debuting on the WRC circuit last year, features five new stages and increasingly polished surfaces that become extremely slippery when wet.
Protecting tyres and dealing with bedrock coming through the road surface will be crucial. The hot topic surrounding the event is the weather, with Friday expected to remain dry but heavy rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Punctures are also expected to be a major issue, particularly on the red clay dirt surface which changes constantly and is difficult to navigate, even on shakedown.
While some drivers view the rally as an exciting challenge, others feel it may be even more unpredictable than the Safari Rally in Kenya, due to the lack of open run-off areas for recovery.
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