The cities of Guanajuato Capital, León, Silao and Romita are venues for this international automotive event.
More than thirty-three drivers will compete for the crown of the 3rd. Edition of the “Rally of the Nations Guanajuato 200 years”, a sports tourism event that promises a great economic impact of 180 million pesos for the State of Guanajuato.
At a press conference at the Subaru Car Agency – which heavily ventures into rallying – in Mexico City, Juan José Álvarez Brunel, Secretary of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato, representing Governor Diego Sinhue Rodríguez Vallejo, recognized this event as one of the most important international motorsport events in Mexico, which this year will attract -from February 23 to 25- more than 173 thousand people, according to the organizing committee’s prediction.
Accompanied by Gilles Spitalier, Director of the Rally of Nations; Oswaldo Ponce Granados, Mayor of Romita; Juan Aguilera Cid, Director of TV4; Yazmìn Quiroz López, Director of Hospitality and Tourism of León; and Marco Campos, Councilor of Guanajuato Capital, the Secretary of Tourism applauded the management of the State Government with the Municipalities and organizers to position the state as a host destination recognized for successfully holding large-format and convening events.
“Guanajuato is the home of the Rally and the capital of motorsports. The state government has proposed strategies to ensure the positioning of a leading destination as a venue for major events that offers motorsport fans world-class tourist experiences,” highlighted Álvarez Brunel.
The Secretary of Tourism pointed out that during the Rally, the arrival of more than 17 thousand tourists is also expected, and Guanajuato hotels are expected to have an average occupancy of 41%. “Our travelers have secured more than 30 thousand rooms in the state already, of which more than 12 thousand are in the four host municipalities.”
For three days, drivers from 13 countries: Mexico, Finland, Norway, Italy, Spain, Peru, France, Germany, England, Brazil, Sweden, United States, and Canada, will race through the traditional stages of the WRC, as well as some new ones that they will prepare. for the WRC in 2025, passing through tourist attractions, tunnels, agave fields, and dirt roads, offering – not only to those present but to the digital audience from more than 80 countries a great online coverage through TV4.
This unique automotive event in the world returns this year with a special format that is enriched by the Shakedown, in Romita; Pre-plucked and Brinco, in Silao; Street Stage, in Guanajuato Capital; and Rally Campus and Street stage, in León.
Roads of Guanajuato
“The roads of Guanajuato are extraordinary and are in perfect condition, they are roads that renowned pilots and pilots who are just starting out in this sport want to race. In this Rally competitions are held in teams of two cars for each country represented,” said Gilles Spitalier.
This 2024 the following pilots will face each other: Arturo Orozco, Gustavo Uriostegui, Emiliano Retama, Mauro Zavaleta, Francisco Name, Juan Carlos Peralta, Carlos Andrade, Miguel Granados, Gabriel Pérez, Enrique Meza, Patrice Spitalier, Ricardo Cordero, from Mexico; Harry Rovanpera, from Finland; Conner Martell, from the United States.
Didier Auriol and Julien Ingrassia, from France; Sergi Francori, Nil Solans, from Spain; Joel Levac, from Canada; Alberto Batistolli and Andrea Mabellini, from Italy; Mads Ostberg, from Norway; Dennis Rådström, from Sweden; Annia Cilloniz, from Peru, Hilaire Damirón, from Brazil; Niki Schelle, from Germany; Max McRae and Tom Williams, from England.
“The state has made a great effort to train new drivers in the TV4 Guanajuato Team and this year we will see them participate in this international event that will be broadcast for more than 40 hours on TV4, FOX, social networks and digital platforms in Mexico and in more than 180 countries,” said Juan Aguilera Cid.
Patrice Spitalier, former NACAM Jr and Tour European Rally Jr champion driver, and Pancho Name, former national champion driver, also present at the press conference, were excited about their participation in this edition and representing Mexico.
The mayor of Romita, Osvaldo Ponce, the director Yazmín Quiroz and the councilor Marco Campos applauded one more edition of the Rally of the Guanajuato Nations in their municipalities, which allows for greater positioning of destinations, attractions and tourist products.
The Rally of Nations is an event committed to the environment, working on projects that help counteract the impacts of the event. In this sense, the Secretariat of Tourism of Guanajuato works together with the organizing committees of the events in favor of sustainable tourism through the “Guanajuato Sustainable Tourism Distinctive”, which establishes good practices in the tourist events that take place in the state.
The Ministry of Tourism invites visitors and tourists to enjoy this event and visit the state’s tourist destinations, taking advantage of the excellent land and air mobility offered by the Guanajuato State Government in coordination with service providers.
San Miguel Times
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