On 5 October, a press conference was held in Novi Vinodolski to present the 1st Tehnolub Motul Rally Primorje, a new motor racing event organised by AK On&Off Racing.

Representatives of the organisers, the Croatian Auto and Karting Federation, local and regional authorities, the tourism sector and the competitors presented the event programme and route, safety standards, organisational details and the starting list. The broader vision behind Rally Primorje was also highlighted – to create a high-quality sporting event that will connect motor racing with the tourism promotion of Novi Vinodolski, Senj and the wider coastal region.

Vladimir Golub, President of AK On&Off Racing, presented the idea behind launching Rally Primorje and the reasons why the club decided to take on the demanding project of organising a new motor racing event.

“We want to create a rally that reflects the times we live in today. We wanted to offer a different approach and reduce costs, while at the same time preserving everything that drivers and spectators love about rallying,” said Golub.

One of the goals of the new concept is to bring motor racing closer to the public and enable spectators to see more passes by the competing cars during a single day.

“We are not trying to be the biggest or the loudest. Instead, we want to offer a quality experience for spectators, drivers and the entire community,” Golub emphasised, adding that the area has exceptional roads, an attractive setting and people who recognised the value of the event from the very beginning.

Representing the Croatian Auto and Karting Federation (HAKS), Secretary Kruno Horvat highlighted that Rally Primorje is the final race on this year’s HAKS calendar. He particularly pointed out the attractive format of the event, which features as many as five starts in a single day: three in the Novi Vinodolski area and two in the Senj area.

Competitors will face two different and demanding special stages, offering a combination of technically challenging sections and faster stretches. The Novi Vinodolski special stage is 17.17 kilometres long, with the start located above Bribir, in the Sveti Vid area. The route then climbs through Pališin, while the finish is located at Vepar above Novi Vinodolski.

The Senj special stage is 13.85 kilometres long. The start is located above Senj near Lopica, with the finish at Rupa at the northern end of the stage. The first approximately six kilometres through Gornja Uz Glavice are particularly demanding from a technical perspective, followed by a faster section of the route towards Rupa. The combination of the different characteristics of the two stages is expected to present a serious sporting challenge for both drivers and their cars, while offering spectators an exciting competition.

The importance of holding such an event outside the main tourist season was highlighted by Tena Peričić Baričević, Director of the Tourist Board of the City of Novi Vinodolski. She emphasised that Novi Vinodolski has been working for years to extend the tourist season and that sporting events such as Rally Primorje play an important role in this effort. In addition to promoting the destination during the shoulder season, the rally also creates an opportunity to further showcase the hinterland of Novi Vinodolski.

“Through events like this, we are also showcasing our hinterland, which is truly vast and beautiful. I am particularly pleased whenever we have the opportunity to introduce it to visitors,” said Peričić Baričević.

The tourism significance of the event was also highlighted by Vice Nekić, President of the City Council of Senj, who emphasised the importance of such events in enriching the offer during October and extending the tourist season. The arrival of a large number of competing crews and support teams provides an additional opportunity to promote Senj as an attractive destination beyond the traditionally busiest summer months.

“All the media images that we will send across our beautiful country, and I believe even further afield, will be excellent promotion for Senj and the best invitation for everyone to come and experience what rallying has to offer. I sincerely believe that this event will become a tradition, because our local roads and routes have so much to offer in the world of rallying thanks to their attractiveness,” said Nekić.

Support for the project on behalf of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County was expressed by Deputy County Prefect Robert Matić, who recalled that motor racing has a long tradition in the area, enjoys great popularity and has strong public support. He expressed his wish for motor racing in the region to continue developing and reaching a higher level, while also ensuring that quality motor racing events have their place alongside other sports. He also sees Rally Primorje as an opportunity to bring images of Kvarner, its roads and landscapes to a wider domestic and international audience.

The press conference was also attended by competitor representative Tomas Hrvatin, while the organisers presented key information for crews and spectators, with particular emphasis on the safety of all participants and visitors.

The conference was also attended by partners who have contributed to the organisation of the sporting event, including Alenka Spoja, Director of the Tourist Board of Vinodol Municipality, and Viktor Samaržija, Director of the Tourist Board of the City of Senj.

The first edition of the Tehnolub Motul Rally Primorje therefore brings not only a new motor racing event, but also a concept that goes beyond the sporting competition itself. By connecting Novi Vinodolski and Senj, the attractive coastal roads and hinterland, sport, tourism and the local community, the organisers aim to lay the foundations for an event that will become a recognised part of the sporting and tourism calendar of the Primorje region in the years to come.