Caminos del Inca 2007 (Incas Rally 2007)
For immediate release
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
PERUVIAN TEAMS DOMINATE ENTRY FOR CAMINOS DEL INCA 2007
· Former winner Cesar Catano aims for further success
· Two crews from Dominican Republic set for Peruvian Inca challenge
· Spaniard Carlos Martinez enters a Subaru Impreza WRX in Perú
LIMA (Perú): Caminos del Inca 2007 has attracted entries from as far afield as Finland, Spain, England and the Dominican Republic, in addition to a string of teams from host nation Peru and neighbouring Equador. The gruelling 10-day event is being organised by the Automóvil Club Peruano (ACP) and starts in Lima on Friday, September 14th.
While former FIA World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen should start as one of the favourites to take victory with veteran co-driver Seppo Harjanne, Perú has strength in depth across the entry list, with former winners and numerous cars entered in the S1600, TS, FL and Group N categories boosting the entry.
Lima’s Cesar Catano won the event last year and is likely to be one of Kankkunen’s closest challengers in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, although Raul Orlandini (Mitsubishi) and Huancayo’s Alfredo Carhuallanqui (Mitsubishi) will be acclimatised to the high altitude of some of the special stages and should push the flying Finn all the way. Orlandini’s father won the event in both 2003 and 2005 and his son will be aiming for a third Caminos del Inca title for the Orlandini family in memory of his late father who passed away last year.
Spaniard Carlos Martinez could well be one of the front-runners with co-driver Juan-Pedro Cilloniz at the helm of a Subaru Impreza WRX. Other Impreza drivers include Lima’s Esteban Raraz and Ricardo Dasso. Dasso could well become one of Kankkunen’s main rivals. He has the pace and the experience to match the Finn over this tricky and varied terrain. Ernesto Jochamowitz is also likely to feature in his Mitsubishi Challenger.
The international entry is bolstered by the appearance of two crews from the Dominican Republic. Julio Cabrera and Juan-Carlos Pacheco have entered a Mitsubishi Jeepeta, while Rafael Sanchez and Rafael Lantigua wheel out a Ford Proton in the N3 class.
Among the S1600N runners are Cuzco’s Abelardo Caparo Salas in a Honda Civic, Lima’s Alfredo Pallete in a Volkswagen, George Pacheco in a Renault Clio and Abancay’s Wilbert Calle Espinoza at the wheel of a Toyota Levin. Meanwhile, both Equador’s Diego Ribadeneira (Peugeot) and Arequipa’s Oscar Achata (Datsun) will compete for honours in the Masters class.
The organisers have pledged a challenging and demanding route through some of the most spectacular terrain in the world. The event will rise from sea level to around 4,800 metres in places, before eventually finishing in the Peruvian capital on Sunday, September 23rd. It is being held with the full support of the FIA and the Federatión Peruana de Automovilismo Deporttivo (FEPAD).
Entries are still open for this year’s event from the Automovil Club Peruano, Av. Canaval y Moreyra 671, San Isidro, Lima 27, Perú, Tel: + 511 224 3222 or + 511 225 5283, Fax: + 511 224 1405, E-mail: acpperu.com.pe, www.incasrally.com
For further information contact Henry Bradley, promotions director, Tel: + 1 770 844 1740, mobile: + 1 404 502 0990, E-mail: bracoracing@aol.com or hbradley@incasrally.com, www.incasrally.com
For further media information:
Susan Bradley (E-mail: sbradley@rallyworldmagazine.com) or Angela Perkins and Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, NCH Building, Upper Bar, Newport, Shropshire TF10 7EH, United Kingdom, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: NDPPublicity@compuserve.com, www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
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