Held over three days it covers 533km of rural roads through Zhejiang Province, centred around Longyou, a county of Quzhou City. Divided into ten special stages totalling 148km, teams will be tested across a variety of surfaces from gravel to concrete.
Of the entries three are the Skoda Fabia (Rally 2), six Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 (N4 specification), one Subaru and a Skoda S2000. All 22 registered competitors are Chinese citizens.
China Rally Longyou is also the penultimate round for the Asia Cup – a subseries contested across five of the seven qualifying events.
Added to the APRC calendar in 1997 it was last a competing round in 2019 prior to the global pandemic. With restrictions lifted the 2023 event will begin with a ceremonial opening at the Public Culture Service Centre on Friday morning. The teams then head for the Shiyuan Track where the Super Special Stage begins at 2pm.
Saturday’s leg is contested across a further five stages, returning twice during the day to the central service park location. A day of concrete surface, the She Yang 22.76km stage is used three times with Mao Jia Pu used twice.
Sunday’s remaining four stages are a repeat loop with a service break in the middle. The remaining journey of 218km threads through bamboo forest sections over a mix of road surfaces from gravel to concrete. Remaining teams return to Longyou for a final service before the 2:30pm ceremonial finish back at the Public Culture Service Center.
