DMACK Tyres continues to hold top position in the Production WRC standings after a solid performance by Martin Semerad at Rally Argentina. The young Czech driver’s fifth position was enough to keep him in the championship lead – albeit tied at the top with Kiwi Hayden Paddon.

The sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship was always going to be a stern test for DMACK. Its G4 gravel tyre was nominated and used for the first time and faced a tough challenge with sandy, rocky stages, mixed with tricky asphalt sections throughout the three-day event.

But the G4 coped well with the conditions and its tyre wear and durability on the rough stages was impressive, standing up well to both gravel and asphalt, and providing a renewed sense of confidence for the DMACK technical team.

Its puncture resistant properties also provided DMACK runners with extra protection from rocks especially during the ultra-rough second pass through some of the South American tests.

Semerad, however, was unable to put the DMACK durability to full use on the opening day of the event. Running as first PWRC car, he was following the world rally cars and on stage four, the 37km run through the lunar-like El Condor stage he hit a large rock that had been pulled out by a previous competitor. It bent the suspension and broke the front right wheel, causing enough damage to force his retirement from day one action.

El Condor struck again on Friday afternoon when the rough second pass decimated the Production WRC field and left another DMACK runner on the second rung of the podium at the overnight halt. Local hero Alejandro Levy, a wildcard nominated by rally organisers, thrilled the crowds with his second place.

Restarting on Saturday, Semerad set a series of quick times to climb from tenth position to sixth after the gruelling 160km of action to the south of Rally HQ in Carlos Paz.

He was slowed after damaging a wheel and puncturing a tyre on the Santa Rosa stage but lost minimal time due to the DMACK DMG2 gravel tyre’s run flat shoulders.

On Sunday’s final day action Semerad climbed to fifth despite losing his front brakes on the mammoth 48km Ascochinga stage – the longest of the rally. His top-five result secured enough points to keep him in a tie for the lead of the championship with Hayden Paddon – runaway PWRC winner in Argentina.

Meanwhile Ezequiel Campos, the other rally wildcard, delivered a solid performance in his DMACK-shod Mitsubishi Lancer. He put in a steady drive, highlighted with a third place on Ascochinga, to finish seventh in PWRC.

The WRC now moves to the Acropolis Rally of Greece on 16-19 June where DMACK has nominated its hard compound G2 tyre. The proven medium G4 makes its next appearance at Rally Finland on 28-30 July where PWRC runners rejoin the world series.

DMACK will continue its development and evaluation programme over the next few months and is aiming to use its joker option to nominate a new gravel tyre after Rally Finland.

Dick Cormack, DMACK Tyres motorsport director, said: “Argentina has been a very successful rally for us. We are extremely pleased with how the G4 tyre has performed and its durability exceeded our expectations in the tough conditions. Our tyres have been competitive on another new rally and Martin Semerad has overcome some problems to bag a solid points haul and remain at the top of the table.”

Martin Semerad said: “We are very happy to finish fifth after all the problems and especially after having to retire on Friday. Following the world rally cars was difficult as there were lots of loose rocks on the road. The DMACK tyres worked perfectly and I’m really glad that we decided to use them on this rally. Tyre wear was very good and it looked like we even had an advantage.”