• Girona will host a spectacular Rally KH-7 Costa Brava from March 13 to 15, setting new records for team registrations and international participation, solidifying its status as a key event in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.
  • This year’s edition will feature the best historic cars, led by a fleet of Lancia Rally 037, legendary champions such as Miki Biasion, Salvador Servià and Jari-Matti Latvala, as well as media personalities like Jordi Roca and Álvaro Soler.
  • The most iconic stages in the region will provide a luxurious backdrop for the event, which will also feature two popular venues: the podium in Girona and the Service Park in Fornells de la Selva.

This year’s Rally KH-7 Costa Brava will honor its illustrious history with a record-breaking 73rd edition. The event was officially presented this morning in Girona, with a clear message from the authorities: the best historic sporting rally in Europe will be more spectacular than ever, and its organization will help boost and diversify tourism in Girona and the surrounding region. The 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava, taking place from March 13 to 15, is the opening round of both the European and Spanish Historic Rally Championships.

For the second consecutive year, the rally organized by Club RallyClassics has surpassed its own registration record. This year, the event boasts 256 teams, exceeding last year’s figure of 247. Not only is this the largest edition of the Rally Costa Brava, but it also sets a new national record for a rally in Spain. This milestone marks the perfect start to the collaboration between the Rally Costa Brava and KH-7, two major brands united by their passion for historic motorsport and their popular appeal, which extends beyond the sport itself.

Strong international and female participation

The international reputation of the Rally KH-7 Costa Brava and Girona’s status as the “capital” of historic rallies have contributed to the highest number of foreign team registrations in this 73rd edition. Of the 256 teams, 81 are Spanish, while an impressive 175 represent 20 different nationalities.

Most participants come from other European countries, but teams from as far as Argentina, Uruguay, and Antigua and Barbuda are also taking part. Foreign teams now account for 68% of the registrations, five points higher from the previous record (63%) set last year.

Female participation in the 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava is also noteworthy. Club RallyClassics pioneered the #MotorDona program in 2022 to promote female participation and talent in classic motorsport. This year, the Costa Brava features 67 women, representing 13% of participants. Among them are 6 female drivers and 61 female co-drivers, with women making up nearly 25% of all co-drivers. The #MotorDona program also encourages women’s involvement in other areas of the event, such as organization, mechanics, engineering or team management.

The 256 registered teams are divided into the following categories: 171 compete in the various Sporting categories of the European, Spanish and Catalan championships; 76 participate in the Regularity and Regularity Sport categories of the Spanish and Catalan championships; and 9 in the Legend exhibition category.

Lancia Rally 037: a tribute to a legend

This year, the Legend category is dedicated to the Lancia Rally 037, one of the most iconic vehicles in rally history. The 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava pays tribute to this car to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Miki Biasion and Tiziano Siviero’s victory in the 1985 edition, with the Lancia Rally featured on this year’s poster. Biasion and Siviero will be in Girona to participate in the tribute to the Lancia Rally 037, which will take place on Thursday, March 13, at 5:30 pm at the podium, just before the official start of the rally.

The tribute will bring together a fleet of ten Lancia Rally 037s, a rare achievement in historic rallying. Among the drivers will be Salvador Servià, the renowned Girona-born driver who won the Spanish Rally Championship twice with this vehicle in 1985 and 1986. Following the tribute, a fan-favourite autograph session will take place.

The 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava features many other renowned drivers, including Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala, a three-time World Rally Championship runner-up and current Toyota WRC team principal, who will compete in a Toyota Celica. French ace Romain Dumas, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and record holder at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, will drive a Porsche. Both drivers are expected to be major attractions at the start of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.

Beyond the sporting realm, the rally has also drawn media personalities, led by the popular Jordi Roca. Recognized as the world’s best pastry chef, he returns as part of the Seat Históricos team, driving a Seat Fura Crono in the Regularity category. Among the drivers of the five cars entered by the Spanish brand is Cecilia Taieb, the company’s global communications director, with co-driver Jordi Gené, a brand ambassador and professional driver.

Álvaro Soler, who is participating for the third time, also didn’t want to miss the rally. This internationally famous singer is competing with a Porsche in the Regularity category. All of them are drawn to the unique atmosphere and media appeal of the Rally KH-7 Costa Brava.

Fans will enjoy a world-class lineup of historic vehicles. In addition to the aforementioned vehicles, the entry list includes over 40 Porsches, more than 20 BMW M3s, around 30 Ford Escorts, and 20 Lancias. From iconic Group B cars to modern Kit Cars and WRC models, these legendary rally vehicles promise an unparalleled spectacle.

A packed schedule and iconic stages

The itinerary for the 73 Rally KH-7 Costa Brava features a couple of notable changes. First, the Thursday night stage returns, exclusively for Sporting and Legend categories. This iconic climb to Els Àngels in Girona will take place after the Lancia Rally 037 tribute. Second, two of Saturday’s stages, Sant Miquel de Cladells and Sant Hilari – Osor, will be run in the opposite direction to past editions. The other Saturday stage is Collsaplana, while Friday’s itinerary includes the Santuari dels Àngels, Santa Pellaia Curt, and Salions – Sant Grau Curt, each run twice (totaling 13 stages for Sporting and Legend, and 12 for Regularity and Regularity Sport).

 

All rally information available on our  website