championship points in Codasur
Mitsubishi driver Raul Orlandini goes to the fifth round of the 2008 Peruvian Rally Championship, Rally Región Junín, this weekend in search of maximum championship points and to climb back up in the drivers’ standings where he currently lies third, three points behind second placed Ernesto Jochamowitz and 13 points behind championship leader Nicolas Fuchs.
Rally Región Junín takes place in Huancayo and it is also the fourth round of the 2008 Codasur Championship where some of the best drivers in South America compete against each other in seven different countries of the continent with hopes to obtain the prestigious crown.
This year, Argentinean rally champion and Munchi’s Ford Team driver Federico Villagra has been invited to join the pack in this popular round of the series bringing even more excitement to the competition and a special challenge to Orlandini.
“I’m really looking forward to this weekend specially because Villagra will be competing in our class. It will be an interesting challenge for all of us specially for the ones that are fighting for the title,” said Orlandini.
The 23-year-old retired on the second stage of the previous round, Rally Cañete, because of a broken axle while leading the rally by 12.3 seconds, his first retirement of the year, however, his intentions this weekend remain the same.
“It is very important for me to win this weekend so that I can stay in the championship fight. The EVO IX is working even better than in the beginning of the season therefore the chances of taking my second win of the year in Huancayo are very positive,” he added.
The event takes drivers through the mountains of the Mantaro River Valley at an altitude of 3,244 metres above sea level, covering a total of 160.80 competitive kilometres divided into 18 special stages, 10 on day one and eight on day two, which include a super special stage in the Circuit of Sicaya at the end of each leg featuring two cars running head to head at a parallel track and crossing each other at a bridge.
The action kicks off Thursday (10 July) with a Shakedown followed by a ceremonial start on Friday evening. The first car starts SS1 on Saturday at 8.51am, local time (GMT -5hrs), and the rally finishes on Sunday with a prize giving ceremony in Plaza Huamanmarca at 3.30pm.
You can follow the rally live online at achperu.com
