RALLY Argentina is famed for its demanding gravel stages, spectacular river crossings and fanatical fans. It also has special memories for Guy and Phil.

They have tasted success here before, winning the FIA Junior WRC category in 2006.

Now they have targeted a repeat victory to strengthen their challenge for the 2010 IrC title.
 
Guy told guywilks.com: "I can remember the stages quite well but the conditions might have changed a lot.

"So we’re going to go to an old stage that’s not being used this year to check our pacenotes and see exactly what the situation is.

"In any case, the Škoda Fabia S2000 is an awful lot quicker than the J-WRC car we drove  in 2006. The speeds will be higher, the jumps higher and the watersplashes more hazardous, so in preparing for the event we have to take all of this into consideration.

“We have to try and win Rally Argentina. It’s never easy to win a rally, and that will be the case in Argentina because there will be a lot more high-quality opposition.

"All our main IRC rivals are there and the local star drivers will be fast, but it’s certainly our aim to win.

“We had a two-rally game plan coming to South America, and part of it was to stay here between events to train in the heat.

"It’s a lot of work and a long time away from home, but to return to Britain with a first and a second place finish would be absolutely fantastic.

“We set ourselves very high standard and there is a lot Škoda UK Motorsport wants to achieve this year.

"Second in Brazil was a good result, but we really want to win one of these South American rounds, and doing that in Argentina would be very special.”

Based in the town of Villa Carlos Paz – a popular holiday destination for Argentineans, on the shores of San Roque Lake in the province of Córdoba - Rally Argentina is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The rally will start on Friday 19 March at 17:00 with a spectacular 2.5 mile (4km) super-special stage on the streets of Villa Carlos Paz.

Leg 1 continues the following day, with six stages in the Calamuchita Valley region. Three stages in the morning are repeated in the afternoon, separated by service in Villa Carlos Paz, with the day’s competition totaling 85.45 miles (137.52kms).

Leg 2 takes place in the Punilla Valley on Sunday (21 March), with four stages in the morning and a repeat of two in the afternoon totaling 63.4 miles (102kms). The day includes the famous Ascochinga-La Cumbre stage which, at 14 miles (22.4kms), is the longest of the event.

There are 15 stages in total, equaling 150 miles (240kms). The rally will finish on Sunday afternoon with a repeat of the super-special stage in Villa Carlos Paz.