• The tribute to the Lancia Rally 037 and the first special stage in Girona were the highlights of the opening day of the 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava.
  • The rain did not deter a massive crowd, who also eagerly enjoyed the autograph session on the podium with the great champions Miki Biason, Salvador Servià, Jari-Matti Latvala and Romain Dumas.
  • This year, the oldest rally in Spain debuts with KH-7 as its main sponsor, boasting a record-breaking 256 registered teams and the best vehicles and drivers from European historic motorsport.

Girona is already buzzing with the spectacle of top-tier historic motorsport. The 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava kicked off this evening and will continue until Saturday night after two intense days of competition. The podium offered a glimpse of the immense historical, popular, and media significance of this 73rd edition. The tribute to the Lancia Rally 037, the autograph session with legendary champions Miki Biasion, Salvador Servià, Jari-Matti Latvala, and Romain Dumas, and the rally’s start with the first special stage, Els Àngels, marked the beginning of a record-breaking edition.

The 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava is the first event of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship and Spanish Historic Rally Championships. A staggering 256 cars are participating, a number never seen before in a rally in Spain. This is the third consecutive year that the event, organized by Club RallyClassics, has surpassed its previous registration record. With this demonstration of strength, the oldest rally in the country begins a new era alongside KH-7.

A Memorable Evening at the Girona Podium

The parc ferme and podium in Girona were the epicenter of activity on Thursday evening. Before the official start of the rally and the first special stage, the Lancia Rally 037 received a heartfelt tribute from fans near the podium. Eight participating units gathered, including some original cars with an impressive sporting legacy as part of the official Lancia Corse team.

The hosts were Miki Biasion and Salvador Servià, who 40 years ago raced and won behind the wheel of this iconic model: in 1985, the Italian driver won the Rally Costa Brava in an 037, while the Catalan driver became Spanish champion. 

Both were the stars of the massive autograph session that followed. Biasion and Servià, along with Jari-Matti Latvala (winner of 18 World Rally Championship events) and Romain Dumas (three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans), enjoyed the affection and recognition of the crowd, which once again proved that the Rally KH-7 Costa Brava is much more than a rally—it is a living testament to the history of this sport.

Adding to the excitement, the roar of engines accompanied the pre-event activities. This year, the Rally KH-7 Costa Brava reintroduced the Thursday night stage for participants in the Sporting and Legend categories. At 7:00 PM, vehicles began departing from the podium under steady rain to head to the first stage, Els Àngels. At 15.678 km, it is the longest stage of the rally, a legendary climb located in Girona itself, easily accessible to the public. Thus, the rally is already underway and will not stop until Saturday evening.

 

Fornells de la Selva, the other epicenter

On Friday and Saturday, the rally will welcome participants in the Sport Regularity and Regularity categories. With a full lineup of 256 vehicles in action, these two days will feature a route of three different stages on Friday and two different stages on Saturday, as the third stage on Saturday, Sant Hilari – Osor, had to be canceled due to landslides caused by the recent weather conditions. On Friday, the stages are Santuari dels Àngels, Santa Pellaia Curt, and Salions – Sant Grau Curt; on Saturday, Sant Miquel de Cladells and Collsaplana, with two loops each.

The 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava brings together the best of European historic rallying. The star of the show is Jari-Matti Latvala, who carries the number 1 on his Toyota Celica. The three-time world championship runner-up and Toyota WRC team principal begins his first full season in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship (EHRC) in Girona. He will face off against a lineup of past Costa Brava winners, including “Lucky”-Fabrizia Pons (Lancia Delta Integrale), Pascal Perroud-Loïc Dumont (BMW M3), Xesús Ferreiro-Javier Anido (Ford Escort RS1800), Tony Fassina-Marco Verdelli (Lancia Stratos), and French ace Romain Dumas (Porsche 911 Carrera RS).

Beyond the strictly sporting aspect, the 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava has also attracted internationally renowned media personalities, led by Jordi Roca. Recognized as the world’s best pastry chef, he is once again part of the Seat Históricos team, this year with a Seat Fura Crono in the Regularity category. International singing sensation Álvaro Soler is also participating for the third time, driving a Porsche in the Regularity category.

In short, the 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava has begun this Thursday, reaffirming its status as the premier showcase of European historic motorsport, thanks to the number of teams, the quality of the vehicles, and the caliber of the drivers and co-drivers. Until Saturday night, Girona, Fornells de la Selva, and the most legendary roads of the region will bear witness to this extraordinary event.

For more information, please visit the RallyClassics website