Sport

The 16th edition of the International Sertões Rally, scheduled to take place from June 17 to 28 2008, will cover 4,474 kilometers of challenges in six Brazilian States. The take off of the world’s biggest rally, in number of participants, will take place in Goiânia (GO), and the arrival will be in Natal (RN).

With massive presence of drivers, navigators, teams, and reporters, the briefing, which presented all of this adventure’s details, was held in Barueri, a town located in the São Paulo Metro region. The toughest special stage (timed) will be the fourth one, scheduled for the 21st, between Niquelândia (GO) and Paraná (TO). The special section will be a “Marathon,” i.e., competitors may not count on their support teams to make any repairs.

The 16th edition also includes the longest stage, the one to be held on Friday (the 23rd), between Palmas (TO) and Balsas (MA): 682 kilometers, 536 of which timed. The season’s main novelty is that the Sertões will be valid as a stage of the World Cross-Country Rally Cup for cars and trucks. The event has held a stage for the World bike and quadricycle Championship since 2005.

Check out the characteristics of the 10 stages:

06/17 – Night prelude in Goiânia (GO)

06/18 – 1st stage – Goiânia (GO) – Santa Helena/Rio Verde (GO)

• DI (initial movement) – 45km
• TE (special section / timed) – 184km
• SP (Super Prime) – 1,5km
• DF (final movement) – 42km
• TD (total of the day) – 275km

06/19 – 2nd stage - Rio Verde (GO) – Aruanã (GO)

• DI – 77km
• TE – 222km
• DF – 182km
• TD – 481km

06/20 – 3rd stage - Aruanã (GO) – Niquelândia (GO)

• DI – 61km
• TE – 262km
• DF – 92km
• TD – 415km

06/21 - 4th stage – Niquelândia (GO) – Paranã (TO) – Marathon Stage

• DI – 46km
• TE – 431km
• DF – 5km
• TD – 482km

06/22 - 5th stage – Paranã (TO) – Palmas (TO)

• DI – 8km
• TE – 268km
• DF – 177km
• TD – 453km

06/23 - 6th stage – Palmas (TO) – Balsas (MA)

• DI – 126km
• TE – 536km
• DF – 20km
• TD – 682km

06/24 - 7th stage – Balsas (MA) – Floriano (PI) – Marathon Stage

• DI – 5km
• TE – 235km
• DF – 222km
• TD – 462km

06/25 - 8th stage – Floriano (PI) – Crateús (CE)

• DI – 69km
• TE – 220km
• DF – 130km
• TD – 419km

06/26 - 9th stage – Crateús (CE) – Mossoró (RN)

• DI – 120km
• TE – 220km
• DF – 180km
• TD – 520km

06/27 – 10th stage – Mossoró (RN) – Natal (RN)

• DI – 110km
• TE – 130km
• SP – 5km
• DF – 80km
• TD – 325km