Soultzeren – Pays Welche SS4-7

Every week, up to the Rally France-Alsace 2012, we will introduce each special stage, decrypted by the Rally’s General Manager, Dominique Serieys, and with the help of the organization stage managers. This week, Soultzeren – Pays Welche’s special stage (SS4-7).

Key Factors:

- Friday, October 5th
- 19.93 kilometers
- 1st car due: 1st loop 11h22 – 2nd loop 15:55
- Number of Course’s Safety Marshalls: 38
- Number of Public’s Safety Marshalls: 113

Analysis:

This stage is completely new. The uphill climb is laid out on the mountainside as far as the Wettstein pass; then comes a beautiful, fast, technical section going through the Orbey forest with a change of pace at Giragoutte, and narrow roads through Labaroche, finishing with a wider downhill run until the finish line in Orbey. This stage could spring a few surprises…

The opinion of Dominique Serieys, Rally France-Alsace’s General Manager:

- Description: «At first sight, this special stage may seem easy, but it won’t be. Composed of an uphill climb (like an hillclimbing with hairpins), the competitors will have to face a tricky direction change at Giragoutte, a tough narrow passage through the village of Labaroche, and eventually a quick and wide descent towards Orbey.»

- Public Areas (ZP): «There are many possibilities: the ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, ZP4 and ZP5 all have a very nice exposure, with an unreal view… If I were not one of the organizers, this week-end, I would have gone to the ZP6 & ZP7, which are situated in the Wettstein pass’ ascent. Then, there are the ZP8 & ZP9 accessible from a forest path starting in Hohrod; the ZP10 & ZP11 just before and after the direction change at Giragoutte; and finally the ZP13, very well located in an overhanging field, in the descent towards Orbey.»