History 2000s

2004 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2004 Rally Argentina (Argentina)

Date: July 16–18, 2004

Start Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina

Finish Location: Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina

Total Distance: ~1,100 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 382.36 km

Surface: Gravel (with river crossings)

Set against the rugged backdrop of the Sierras de Córdoba, the 2004 Rally Argentina featured dramatic weather changes, rocky tracks, and iconic river fords. Veteran Carlos Sainz drove a masterclass of control and composure to take his final WRC career win, delivering another crucial result for Citroën in their championship campaign.

Route

El Condor–Copina: High-altitude stage over rocky terrain and tight switchbacks — heavy fog often a factor.
Giulio Césare: Fast and technical, with blind crests and loose gravel — crucial for gaining time gaps.
Tanti–Villa García: Included deep water crossings and rougher patches — required mechanical resilience.

Argentina’s gravel stages are known for being both scenic and treacherous, with tight corners, altitude, and water crossings. Key stages included:

The weather was largely dry during the 2004 edition, but dust and stage wear remained serious factors across the multi-day event.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Carlos Sainz & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara WRC
2nd Place
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Subaru Impreza WRC
3rd Place
Markko Märtin & Michael Park · Ford Focus RS WRC

Sainz used his years of experience to maintain a steady pace and avoid trouble. Solberg was quick but lost time with a water splash error, while Märtin secured another solid podium for Ford after a strong second leg push.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Water Crossings: Iconic fords caused several retirements — drivers had to balance speed and splash depth control.
  • Fog and Altitude: Higher stages like El Condor introduced low visibility and reduced engine output.
  • Fatigue & Pacing: Long days and punishing terrain meant mental consistency was as important as raw pace — Sainz delivered both.

The 2004 Rally Argentina was a fitting stage for Carlos Sainz’s final WRC triumph — a performance of experience, technical mastery, and quiet domination on one of rallying’s most iconic stages.

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