In front of the Tsarevets fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, the 52nd edition of the “Rally Bulgaria” began. The official start of the competition was given by the mayor of the city, Daniel Panov.
The cars and teams were presented on stage in the square in front of the hundreds of motorsport fans who attended the opening. Among the official guests were the head of the Traffic Police Department in the General Directorate of the National Police, Commissioner Dimitar Michev, the honorary citizen of Veliko Tarnovo – Vessela Letcheva, former Minister of Youth and Sports.
The rally route is 150 km long, divided into 13 stages, which will take place in the city. The competition is the third round of the national rally championship and is valid for the European Rally Trophy.
“27 teams from Bulgaria and Romania will participate in the race,” Kaloyan Stanchev, chairman of the Automobile Federation of Bulgaria, told BTA.
According to Emil Panchev, chairman of the Union of Bulgarian motorists, the “Rally Bulgaria” is an annual event, with some interruption due to the covid pandemic. For the first time since the mid-1970s, Veliko Tarnovo is hosting the competition.
On Saturday at 10:00 a.m. the actual competition starts with locations around Kilifarevo, Dryanovo and Shemshevo. On Sunday, the sections are around Plakovo, Yakovtsi and Zlataritsa.
“On September 3, the awarding of the cups to the winners who will take part in the competitions for the European Cup will take place,” added Valentin Bonev from the federation.
