Entries for Rally Argentina, the fifth round of the 2017 World Rally Championship, closed with 25 entries in the WRC category, of which only 20 are for points-eligible homologated cars, and five under special rules admitting local produced cars. Â
Ari Vatanen winning the 1981 Brazil Rally in a Ford Escort. (Photo: Martin Holmes)In addition, 57 cars have been entered for the national Rally Argentino Rally Championship category. Â
The Argentino category admits locally made Chevrolet, Ford, Peugeot, VW, Audi, Renault and Citroen Maxi Rally cars, examples of all of which are due to take part. Â
Twelve 2017 World Rally Cars have been entered, together with one old version World Rally Car (Gorban’s WRC Trophy Mini). There are seven WRC2 entries, but no WRC3 entries. Â
As the wisdom of encouraging more long-haul events into the WRC calendar becomes a major talking point, it is interesting to note that if no late entries are accepted, this event will equal the lowest ever world championship event entry level for a WRC event. Â
This was in Brazil 1981 in which only 20 homologated cars took part, and which was won by Ari Vatanen in his Rothmans Ford Escort RS1800 (pictured). Â
It is also notable that of the WRC homologated cars, there are only three drivers from the Americas – Gustavo Saba from Paraguay, Benito Guerra of Mexico, and Pedro Hello from Chile.
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- Martin Holmes Â