• More than 170 teams participated in a return of the Rally Costa Brava defined by the good weather and the success of the new rally locations.
• The Rally Costa Brava will return in just four months, with the celebration of its 70th edition from 17^th to 20^th March, 2022.

With the arrival of Sunday and the prize-giving ceremony, the 69 Rally Costa Brava came to an end after two intense days of competition. 13 stages and 175 kilometers against the clock that were a real challenge for the more than 170 vehicles that participated in this edition of the oldest rally in Spain.

The event brought the season to an end for the European, Spanish and Catalan historic rally championships, being decisive for the outcome of all the championships at stake. Teams from 20 different nationalities had the experience of competing in one of the most prestigious historical rallies in Europe.

Alex Romani, President of the Club RallyClassics: “It was fantastic to meet again at the Rally Costa Brava one year and eight months later. We have had an extraordinary weekend, with a longer rally with an epicenter in Girona, and the new location of the service park in Fornells de la Selva has been a success. Furthermore, the new regroupings in Palamós and Santa Coloma de Farners have allowed us to bring the magic of classic rallies to more fans. From the organization of RallyClassics, we can only thank the 400 people who have made the 69 Rally Costa Brava possible and have made it an unforgettable weekend ”.

The competitors gave their best in a rally with a very selective itinerary, consisting of six stages on Friday (Els Àngels, Santa Pellaia and La Ganga) and seven stages on Saturday (Osor, Collsaplana, Cladells and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya). Given the large volume of participants and the exceptional dates in which the rally was contested due to the pandemic, the participants had to deal with the low temperatures and the sections of night driving, adding a big amount of excitement to the rally.

69 Rally Costa Brava Results

FIA European Historic Rally Championship

With 41 vehicles entered in the FIA ​​European Historic Rally Championship for this event, it was clear from the first leg of the rally that victory would not be easy in any of the four categories that form this continental event.

Category 4 had a high level of participants, among which the Dutch duo Mats van den Brand / Sander van Barschot (BMW M3) stood out from the beginning, based on a fast and spectacular driving that led them to their victory in this category, ahead of his teammates Pascal Perroud / Julie Amblard (BMW M3) and Antonio Sainz / David de la Puente (Subaru Legacy 2.0 Turbo 4WD), first full-season entry competitors. Had it not been for a 1 minute penalty for advance at a time control, van den Brand / van Barschot would have been the fastest ​​team of the rally.

In category 3 the Swedish team Christer Hedlund / Ida Lidebjer (Ford Escort RS1800) won, while with the same vehicle, category 2 went to the Spanish duo Xesús Ferreiro / Xabier Anido (Ford Escort RS1800). The Melide Motorsport drivers were also the fastest team of the rally and they revalidated the victory in the Rally Costa Brava, a milestone that they already achieved in 2014.

Finally, category 1 fell to Antonio Parisi / Giuseppe D’Angelo (Porsche 911S). The continental title that remained to be decided in this event, that of category 2, was finally for the Czechs Vojtech Stajf / Vladimir Zelinka (Opel Kadett C GT / E).

Spanish Rally Championship for Historic Vehicles (Sporting)

Xesús Ferreiro / Xabier Anido (Ford Escort RS1800) were also the fastest team among the Spanish championship ​​cars, achieving victory in Pre 81, a category in which they had already been proclaimed champions in 2021. Among the Pre 90 cars Antonio Sainz / David de la Puente (Subaru Legacy 2.0 Turbo 4WD) were the fastest, a position that remains pending of the official results. Among the Youngtimers Pau de las Heras / Gerard Alsina (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI) won, while the title was decided in favor of Rafa Díaz / Xabi Petralanda (Renault Clio 16S). In category 5, victory for Allan Holly / Ángel Manzano (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI).

Catalan Rally Championship for Classic and Historic Vehicles (Sporting)

Among the vehicles entered in the Catalan championship, Jordi Ventura / Josep Autet (Volkswagen Golf GTI) took the victory after beating more powerful vehicles, such as that of their immediate pursuers Thierry Marcobal / Justine Obrecht (BMW M3), with Rubén Cervera / Cristina Inés (Ford Escort RS2000) in third position.

Spanish Rally Championship for Historic Vehicles (Regularity Sport)

In the fastest of the Spanish regularity categories, Marcos Fernández / Adolfo Gónzalez-Almuiña (Ford Escort RS2000) were the most regular and also the most effective, securing more than half of the disputed sections. Behind them were Santiago Campos / Javier Alonso (Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16V) and Jaime Carbonell / Enrique Carbonell (Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4).

Catalan Super Sport Regularity Championship

In the Catalan regularity, Jorge Villasán / Jordi Ibarra (Volkswagen Golf GTI) were at the top and very constant throughout the rally, and thus surpassing Ramón Dalmau / Antoni Moragas (BMW 325i). Joaquim Gummà / Joaquim Turón (BMW 323i) took third place.

Spanish Rally Championship for Historic Vehicles (Regularity)

In the regularity with the low average, the classification was more than tight throughout the entire rally. Finally, the experienced Carles Miró / Iván Matavacas (Porsche 911 SC) were the winners, after a tough fight with Francisco Martínez / Adrián Fueyo (Volkswagen Golf GTI), a team that with this result were proclaimed national champions of the specialty. They were accompanied on the podium by Antoni Verdaguer / María Jesús Mora (Porsche 944 Turbo). Between the first three teams there were only 4.4 points of difference.

Catalan Sport Regularity Championship

In the Catalan low average regularity championship, it was again Carles Miró / Iván Matavacas (Porsche 911 SC) who took the victory, followed by Antoni Verdaguer / María Jesús Mora (Porsche 944 Turbo) and the Belgian team Kurt Declerck / Philipp Defreyne (Porsche 914/6), third by just 0.6 points compared to the second classified.

Many illustrious participants in the 69 Rally Costa Brava

This edition of the oldest rally in Spain had the presence of great names in this sport. Drivers like Maurizio Verini, winner of the 1975 Rally Costa Brava, or Giorgio Schön, who commemorated his participation in the rally 51 years ago, did not want to miss the event.

Joining them were the French tuner Jacques Almeras, accompanied by a co-driver with a long history like “Tilber”, as well as many Legend teams that delighted the fans with their spectacular vehicles.

Also noteworthy was the growing female participation in the rally, which had 4 drivers and 40 female co-drivers.

70 Rally Costa Brava: 17^th to 20^th March 2022

Next year the Rally Costa Brava will return to its usual dates in March, and it will do so to celebrate its 70th edition in style. This means that it will be the starting date for the European and Spanish historic rally championship and will be held in just four months.

Soon the details of this anniversary edition will begin to be revealed, which will once again have Girona as the great epicenter of the event.

FIA European Historic Rally Championship

• Categoria 4: Mats van den Brand / Sander van Barschot (BMW M3)
• Categoria 3: Christer Hedlund / Ida Lidebjer (Ford Escort RS1800)
• Categoria 2: Xesús Ferreiro / Xabier Anido (Ford Escort RS1800)
• Categoria 1: Antonio Parisi / Giuseppe D’Angelo (Porsche 911S)

Campeonato de España de Rallyes para Vehículos Históricos (Velocitat)

• Pre 81: Xesús Ferreiro / Xabier Anido (Ford Escort RS1800)
• Pre 90: Antonio Sainz / David de la Puente (Subaru Legacy 2.0 Turbo 4WD)*
• Youngtimer: Pau de las Heras / Gerard Alsina (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)
• Categoria 5: Alan Holly / Ángel Manzano (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)

Campionat de Catalunya Ral·lis Vehicles Clàssics i Històrics (Velocitat)

1. Jordi Ventura / Josep Autet (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
2. Thierry Marcobal / Justine Obrecht (BMW M3)
3. Rubén Cervera / Cristina Inés (Ford Escort RS2000)

Campeonato de España de Rallyes para Vehículos Históricos (Regularitat Sport)

1. Marcos Fernández / Adolfo Gónzalez-Almuiña (Ford Escort RS2000)
2. Santiago Campos / Javier Alonso (Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16V)
3. Jaime Carbonell / Enrique Carbonell (Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4)

Campeonato de España de Rallyes para Vehículos Históricos (Regularitat)

1. Carles Miró / Iván Matavacas (Porsche 911 SC)
2. Francisco Martínez / Adrián Fueyo (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
3. Antoni Verdaguer / María Jesús Mora (Porsche 944 Turbo)

Campionat de Catalunya Regularitat Ral·lis d’Asfalt (Regularitat Super Sport)

1. Jorge Villasán / Jordi Ibarra (Volkswagen Golf GTI)
2. Ramón Dalmau / Antoni Moragas (BMW 325i)
3. Joaquim Gummà / Joaquim Turón (BMW 323i)

Campionat de Catalunya Regularitat Ral·lis d’Asfalt (Regularitat Sport)

1. Carles Miró / Iván Matavacas (Porsche 911 SC)
2. Antoni Verdaguer / María Jesús Mora (Porsche 944 Turbo)
3. Kurt Declerck / Philipp Defreyne (Porsche 914/6)

*Pending official results.

The 69 Rally Costa Brava was posible thanks to the collaboration of Ajuntament de Girona, Diputació de Girona, Secretaria General de l’Esport i l’Activitat Física de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Ajuntament de Santa Coloma de Farners and Ajuntament de Fornells de la Selva; and the sponsorship of Hotels Ultonia, Costa Brava Mediterranean Foods, GT2i, Blunik, Michelin, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, Tecnigas, Ibis, Àgora, Alkamel, MiRally, Garatge Internacional, Suprametal, Coca-Cola, Alcalà Auto Taller, Sport, L’Esportiu and Integral Apps.