The Spanish round of the FIA World Rally Championship has undergone many changes in its short history. In 2005 it moved from the Costa Brava to the Costa Daurada on the other side of Barcelona. It has also had a new date from 2007, and is now contested in the autumn. Despite all the innovations, the character of the "Rally Catalunya" has changed precious little.

The wide, sweeping roads make this one of the fastest asphalt rounds of the season. The right driving style is the key here: drivers must find the optimum line in the corners in order to maximise their pace. Since 2010, however, tests on gravel have also been added to those on asphalt.

Another variable is the unstable weather. The Costa Daurada may conjure up images of glorious sunshine, but the WRC event takes place in the autumn. At this time of year, the mountains close to the coast can often whip up dense rain clouds within a matter of minutes. And when it rains, the rally course becomes extremely slippery. The rally is based at the PortAventura theme park in Salou, in the Tarragona region. The Rally de España is hugely popular among spectators, who regularly flock to the stages.