The 2024 FIA Motorsport Games, set to take place in Valencia, Spain from 23-27 October, promises a thrilling spectacle in the Historic Rally class, where ten crews from six nations will compete for three coveted gold medals. Legendary rally icons, including the Audi quattro and Ford Escort RS1800, are primed to steal the spotlight on both gravel and tarmac stages.
This category, dedicated to rally cars homologated between 1970 and 1981, brings a nostalgic touch to the event, blending modern competition with vintage charm. Each car must carry a valid FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP) and adhere to FIA Appendix K regulations, ensuring they maintain the authenticity of their original rally days.
Expanding the challenge for 2024
The Historic Rally class, which debuted at the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games, returns with triple the medal opportunities. In Marseille, the competition was limited to asphalt stages, but Valencia promises greater variety, with medals to be contested across three distinct disciplines: Tarmac, Gravel, and Mixed-Surface Rally. This year’s event ups the ante with increased complexity, ensuring more opportunities for drama, precision driving, and tactical skill.
Mixed-surface rally: Testing versatility and skill
All six participating nations will field entries in the Mixed-Surface discipline, where crews must tackle 12 stages—six on gravel, six on smoother tarmac—plus two Super Special Stages at the heart of the Games, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. The top performers will progress to the ultimate test: the Medal Stage on Sunday.
In this thrilling finale, competitors will go head-to-head on a specially designed Rallycross-style course, with gold, silver, and bronze on the line. To ensure fair play, the exact layouts of each stage remain undisclosed until competition day.
Returning champions Andrea “Zippo” Zivian and Nicola Arena from Italy are back to defend their crown. Piloting their 1981 Audi quattro, the duo enters as strong favourites, especially on gravel stages, where the quattro’s legendary four-wheel-drive prowess can shine. Having won consecutive FIA European Historic Rally Championship titles in 2021 and 2022, they are the ones to beat.
But the Italian champions will face stiff competition. Czech Republic’s Vojtěch Štajf, the 2022 silver medalist, returns with a new navigator, Veronika Havelková, and upgraded machinery, swapping his previous Kadett Coupe for a 1972 Opel Ascona. Meanwhile, home hopes rest on Spain’s Antonio Sainz—the brother of rally legend Carlos Sainz—who will compete in an iconic Porsche 911 SC (1981), along with co-driver Carlos Cancela.
Adding to the excitement, Sweden’s father-and-son team Kjell and Peter Fransson will make their international debut in a freshly rebuilt Renault Alpine A310. The UK’s duo, Ben Mellors and Alex Lee, will pilot a classic Toyota Celica RA45 (1979), while Germany will pin its hopes on the Volvo 240 crewed by Siegfried and Renate Mayr, a husband-and-wife team with experience from the 2022 Games.
Gravel rally: Mastering Valencia’s dirt roads
Five nations will also go head-to-head in the Gravel Rally discipline, set across six demanding stages on Valencia’s rugged mountain roads. The competition will begin at Utiel on Friday, winding through checkpoints in Calderon and San Antonio, before culminating in a Super Special Stage at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
In this category, Sweden and the UK bring different teams to the fight. Sweden’s Kim Sevius and Alexander Alin will pilot a meticulously prepared Volvo 544 Sport, a car with deep roots in rally history. Meanwhile, Ernie and Anna Graham, three-time FIA European Historic Rally Championship Category 1 titleholders, will represent the UK in their 1975 Ford Escort RS.
The Gravel Rally will also see Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic re-enter their Mixed-Surface teams, showcasing both versatility and determination as they pursue further medals.
Tarmac rally: Precision on asphalt
Saturday’s Tarmac Rally discipline will challenge drivers across six stages in Valencia’s scenic southern regions, passing through towns like Cortes, La Cabezuela, Yátova, La Garrofera, and Gestalgar. A Super Special Stage at Circuit Ricardo Tormo will close out the day’s action.
Both the UK and Sweden will rotate their driver line-ups for this discipline. James Potter and Tim Sayer, fresh from securing the 2024 FIA European Historic Rally Championship Category 1 title, will aim to bag another victory for the UK in their Ford Escort RS. Sweden’s hopes rest on Christer Hedlund and Ida Lidebjer-Granberg, who will steer a late-model Ford Escort RS1800 (1981) with confidence and precision.
A nostalgic yet fiercely competitive discipline
The Historic Rally division isn’t just about old cars—it’s about reviving the soul of rallying. All participating vehicles must meet strict eligibility requirements, including a valid FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP) and compliance with FIA Appendix K regulations. These cars remain faithful to their original specifications, offering fans an authentic glimpse into rally history. Drivers, meanwhile, must hold at least an international ITD-R licence to compete.
The 2024 FIA Motorsport Games offers a unique opportunity to celebrate motorsport’s golden age while fostering new rivalries. From the iconic Audi quattro’s gravel dominance to the elegance of the rear-engine Porsche 911 on tarmac, this edition promises to deliver high-stakes action across multiple terrains and surfaces.
The final showdown: A test of nerves and skill
With three gold medals on the line, Valencia will see new stories etched into the legacy of the FIA Motorsport Games. From head-to-head battles on the Rallycross-style Medal Stage to gruelling gravel stages and precision tarmac tests, the competition will push both man and machine to their limits. Will Italy’s champions retain their crown? Can Spain’s Sainz deliver a dream win for the home crowd? Or will the UK and Sweden spring a surprise?
Rally fans worldwide can expect high-octane thrills, fierce competition, and the beauty of classic rally machinery in action. As these iconic cars take to the roads and circuits of Valencia, the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games’ Historic Rally class is set to offer one unforgettable ride.
