The trip to Argentina may be long for European fans, but, when you combine a land of spectacular scenery with a nation of people always up for a party, you have the ideal location for a World Rally Championship event. It's always a highlight of the season. The rally will be based in Villa Carlos Paz - a small resort town near the stately city of Cordoba but this year there will be no trip to the superspecial held at the River Plate Soccer Stadium in the capital city of Buenos Aires on the Thursday. Also, there will be no superspecial inside Cordoba stadium; instead this year's spectator stage will be built on the area just outside the stadium. The high altitude of the stages, just as in Mexico, can sap the cars of power as they struggle for breath in the thin air. The blend of high speeds and bumpy terrain place extra stresses on the suspension, and the bodywork can take a pounding. More hazards are provided by the numerous watersplashes, but the sight of a World Rally Car plunging through a water-filled ford is one of the highlights of the season. The weather can also be highly unpredictable and because this year the rally is to be held in the rainy season, the rally route will avoid the most severe water crossings. In the wet, the loose gravel surface can become greasy, catching out the unwary.