Czech driver Martin Semerad scored a stunning victory on DMACK tyres at the WRC series opener in Sweden at the start of the year and followed this up with third at a tough Rally Portugal to consolidate his lead at the top of the table.

But Rally Argentina, round six of the FIA World Rally Championship, throws up some specific challenges of its own – from high-speed water splashes to fog and soft, sandy surfaces. The event will certainly pose a tough test to both Semerad and his DMACK tyres.

To cope with the conditions, DMACK has nominated its DMG2 gravel tyre in the G4 medium compound. This is the first WRC event where the G4 will be nominated and used – but its performance has already been proven on the tough stages of Portugal.

DMACK crews received FIA authorisation to change to the G4 compound for legs two and three of Rally Portugal after the nominated G2 suffered from excessive tyre wear. The G4 helped Semerad deliver a podium finish after dropping down the order on the first day.

Since Portugal, DMACK has been busy improving its WRC gravel tyre. Working alongside its development technicians at the factory in China, the team has tested various compounds and constructions with the view of using its joker option to nominate a new gravel tyre after Rally Finland.

Durability and performance testing has taken place in Jordan, Australia, Latvia, Norway and Finland – with initial results, in terms of speed, puncture resistance and tyre wear, looking very positive.

Semerad leads off ten Production WRC regulars who head to South America for round three of the series. In addition to the Czech, DMACK will also supply tyres to two Argentine drivers, Alejandro Levy and Ezequiel Campos, who have been nominated as wildcards to score PWRC championship points.

Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres motorsport director, said: “We had a challenging event in Portugal but I’m confident that we will bounce back stronger than before. We’ve conducted various development tests around the world over the last two months and have been working closely with the construction technicians at the factory in China to upgrade and improve both construction and compound of the WRC gravel tyre. Test results are showing some solid improvements and that’s vital to enhance our performance going forward.

“Martin Semerad is happy with the tyres’ performance and we want to give him as much support as we can to maintain his championship lead in PWRC. But we are also focusing on further improvements for this year and will most likely play our joker to nominate a new improved gravel tyre after Rally Finland.”

Event Details After a year’s absence, Rally Argentina is back in the WRC and again based in Villa Carlos Paz near Cordoba.

It’s one of the WRC’s classic events and, in addition to its soft, sandy, rock-strewn roads, the event always throws some unpredictable weather into the mix. High-speed jumps and water splashes are guaranteed and so is the warm welcome from the thousands of fanatical Argentine spectators who flock to the event.

The rally kicks off with an exciting Super Special stage in Carlos Paz on Thursday evening before the real action gets underway on Friday as crews tackle 156 km of high-altitude action. Fridays sees two passes through the classic El Condor stage which, at over 37 km long, sees crews race through scenery that resembles a lunar landscape.

Saturday’s stages are mainly based south of Rally HQ around the town of Santa Rose de Calamuchita – famed for its high-speed water splash which pitches rally cars to some crazy angles.

But one of the biggest challenges of the event will be the massive 48 km Ascochinga stage which could provide a final day sting in the tail for crews.