39. Croatia Rally 2012 ERC

CROATIA RALLY is the oldest automobile race competition in the Republic of Croatia. It is one of the most demanding and best quality events in this part of Europe. It was founded in 1974 as a regional Croatian championship. The first race was held in the Primorsko-goranska County region, with the start set in Rijeka. Three years later, the rally commenced on the legendary track at Preluk near Opatija and attributed points for the Yugoslavian Championship. After years of candidature, in June of 1992 and in its nineteenth year of running, the event received a European designation of a low coefficient of 2. The organizers proudly point out that it is the first international sporting event entrusted to Croatian organizers following the independence of the Republic of Croatia.
The quality of organization and support over many years by the main sponsor INA-Industrija nafte d.d. Zagreb, along with support from high-ranking sporting and political officials, led to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) raising the rally rating in 1994 to a coefficient of 5, and only a year later in 1995 to the prestigious coefficient of 10.
The race was tied to Zagreb throughout a period of many years. In its thirty-seventh year of running, the rally returned to Rijeka! The MRCsport, auto club from Rijeka, accepted the obligation of organizing the event, whereas the City of Rijeka became host to this valuable sporting event.
In its thirty-eighth year of running, race participants are pleased with the organization, and exceptional interest in covering all programs relating to the race have been expressed by Rijeka's inhabitants which is indeed a justifiable reason for the City of Rijeka to provide support and in the years ahead.
Croatia Rally 2012 has all the prerequisites of becoming a leading European rally on account of its good organization.