With most of the 2020 rally racing season in Europe having been scrapped, postponed, or canceled, 2021 is looking more hopeful. Next year, Europe’s first large rally race is going to be the Hispania Rally 2021 – the Badlands edition.

What’s New For Hispania

According to organizers Jairo Segarra and Domingo Aguilar, Hispania is growing and expanding. The 2021 edition will have six stages instead of five, and the registration is now open with 75 participants having already secured their entries. “We have 55 motorcycle pilots so far, and that’s just early bird entries. We’re hoping for a very successful rally in 2021, and we’ve named it the Badlands Edition because of the area where the rally takes place. The Gorafe Desert and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains look so similar to South Dakota’s Badlands it’s hard to believe you’re in Europe”, Aguilar said.

Hispania Rally 2021 will take place in Guadix, Spain, starting February 28 and ending March 6. Competitors can expect a stationary bivouac, plenty of sandy riverbeds, canyon trails, and fast-flowing gravel tracks with a total distance of 1,500km.

Because of the tragic passing of motorcycle racer Alberto Martinez during Hispania 2020, a section of the rally route will be dedicated to his memory, and #14 – Martinez’s race number – will be removed.

COVID Measures

Hispania Rally organizers offer a flexible cancellation policy to all competitors; at the bivouac, mask-wearing will be mandatory, and riders are encouraged to book accommodation via the official rally organization and have their meals at the bivouac to minimize contact with the locals in Guadix.

Registration for Hispania Rally 2021 will be open until mid-Feb, and the organizers expect to see bigger numbers than last year (Hispania 2020 saw over 180 competitors in motorcycle, quad, and SSV classes). If you’ve been itching to give rally racing a go, Hispania might be your best best for the spring of 2021.

Images: Actiongraphers

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