Photo: Petr Fryba

Opening show 2009 will be in Oslo

The Bjerkebanen trotting track in Oslo becomes the arena for the opening show and the first special stage of Rally Norway on 12 February 2009. And, for the first time the final stage on 15 February will be in spectacular winter conditions in the mountains with two to three meter high walls of snow.

By running a special stage almost in the middle of the Norwegian capital, Rally Norway again brings something new into its part of the WRC circus. Both the international audience and the Norwegians will get close to the rally brothers Petter and Henning Solberg, Sebastien Loeb and the other rally stars.

“This will be a great opportunity for a big audience, both visitors and residents, in the Norwegian capital,” says Even Wiger, managing director of Rally Norway.

Compared with the first WRC round in Norway in 2007, Stig Rune Kjernsli, clerk of the course, promises more rally, entertainment and show.

“In 2009 all stages will be run twice, which makes the event more accessible for the spectators,” says Kjernsli.

Day by day

The 2009 rally stages have been trimmed and made even more spectator friendly. The special stages have also been designed and chosen to offer more interesting challenges for the drivers.

Day 1 (Thursday 12 February) the opening show and the first special stage will be run at the Bjerkebanen trotting track in Oslo, a venue with a rich rally history in Norway.

‘Day 1’ continues Friday 13 February in the southern part of Eastern Norway in the forests around Kongsvinger.

Day 2 (Saturday 14 February) the rally continues with the spectacular mountain stage and another special stage in the Olympic arena of Lillehammer before a special stage in the city of Hamar, the host city, ends the third day.

Day 3 (Sunday 15) will have special stages in the forests east of Hamar and the final special stage will be a new mountain stage, at Hedmarksvidda (Hedmark mountain plateau), in an area with copious snow and picturesque views, around Budor guest house.

Meters of snow

“Probably, for the first time in WRC’s history, the final special stage will be run through a corridor enclosed by two to three meter high walls of snow. I call this spectacular,” states a pleased clerk of the course, Stig Rune Kjernsli.