Udine, 16 July 2013 – Promoting the communication of the territory, a place that has always been inspired by tourism and reception, an exclusive destination that has been attracting more and more tourists and at the same time contributing strongly to motor-racing. This are the characters of the 49th Rally of Friuli Venezia Giulia for an edition that keep on the sportive tradition while getting on the launch ramp for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary that will take place in 2014.

A TERRITORY EMBASSADOR
This edition will go on stage in its classic collocation of end of August (from 29 to 31) and will be organized by Scuderia Friuli ACU, with several strong points starting from the touristic promotion of the whole region, exploiting the "emotional tourism” that is bound to the racing event that will attract a lot of people widening the touristic season of the area.

The new name of the event stands out, "RALLY OF FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA" and the adoption of a brand new logo highlighting the words "TURISMO FVG" (i.e. tourism Friuli Venezia Giulia). The rally will vehicle the communication of the territory and of its excellence in a wide project to develop the regional touristic system.

A RACE, SEVERAL RACES
On a purely technical note, the Rally will move its base to Cividale del Friuli, whose Longobard Itinerary has been recognized by UNESCO as Humanity Heritage. This will become the beating heart of the event, housing the headquarters as well as Service Park and Regrouping. The Rally of Friuli Venezia Giulia will be anyway bound to the town of Udine: the Spectacle stage will be back from Piazza I Maggio, which will bring the spectacle of rally to one of the most exclusive showcases at international level.

The Rally confirms also a wide range of validity, starting from the European Historic Rally, that will be the ninth out of twelve rounds, the Italian Rally Championship (six round out of eight) back after a stand-by 2012 due to the rotation decided by the Federation. Moreover, the ralyl will also be valid for the Mitropa Cup (fifth round), the Slovenian Rally Championship, the IV and V Zone Challenge and for the Citroën, Renault and Suzuki Cups.

The organization has always showed its relatedness to drivers and also in this year an event at "drivers' size” has been created, with reductions on entering fees for the cars "expired homologation” which took into account the economic downturn moment to promote the participation of drivers with cars that are anyway capable of adding good value to every rally.

THE ITINERARY: TRADITION OF RACING EXCELLENCE

The race will take place from Friday 30 and Sunday 31st August and will unfold in 11 Stages that will go through the historic as well as a modern itinerary; it will feature 151,880 Km. timed on a total of 449,960 (the "historic" fraction will be slightly shorter).

Scrutineering are scheduled for Thursday 29 August, the shakedown for the morning of Friday 30 August. The sportive challenge will start on Friday at 12.01 (GMT+1) from Cividale del Friuli, first with historic cars while "modern” cars will start at 13,45. The first day will feature 4 Stages among which the aforementioned "Città di Udine" in the afternoon with chequered flag starting from 18.30 for the drivers of the Historic European Championship and at 20.30 for the Italian Rally Championship drivers.

On Saturday 31 August historic cars will open the way at 8.01 and will be followed by the modern cars at 9.30. Six more stages will follow to get to the final flag that will be waved from 17.15 for historic cars and 19 for the others.

(Press Release by 49th Rally Friuli Venezia Giulia Press Office)