During this year's FIA World Rally Championship Argentina Rally a trio of specially-adapted Fiat Palio Adventure models were used by the Police of Córdoba for security and safety duties.

The Fiat Palio "Adventure" model range, first introduced seven years ago, was designed to offer tough, rugged capabilities across the most difficult of terrains and surfaces, characteristics that would be put to the test during the Argentina Rally, where the regional police force of Córdoba would be required to oversee security and safety. The Adventure models (which also include the Strada pick-up and Doblò light people carrier) are typified by their bigger bumpers, powerful mist lights, durable plastic wheelarch and door sill protection covers, a raised ride height and chunky alloy wheels.

The three cars were lent to the Police of Córdoba by Fiat Argentina and they were specially prepared to offer all the benefits that come with this model and to be able to support the many contingencies that would arise during the rally, which saw more than one million spectators lining the route. Clearing the path for the WRC cars taking part, and preventing accidents and congestion on the road sections were their main duties.
 

The trio of Palio Adventure models were helped in their rally tasks by the fitting of a bank of powerful flashing lights on their roof sections to draw immediate attention to their approach. The cars were co-ordinated by a Fiat Ducato, while Fiat Argentina personnel were also on hand in a supporting role.

During the twenty sixth edition of Rally Argentina, the successful and traditional formula of three legs featuring different characteristics, was once again applied, ensuring the finest action for the event which which this year was the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship. It was run in the Province of Córdoba, under the organisation of the Automóvil Club Argentino. A new super special stage during Thursday evening officially opened the competition which visited the three valleys surrounding Córdoba’s hills: Punilla, Calamuchita and Santa Rosa de Calamuchita.

Fiat Auto has a winning tradition on the Argentina Rally, and in fact the very first edition - held in 1980 - was won by Walter Rohrl and Christian Geistdorfer driving a Fiat 131 Abarth, while during the mid-1980s Massimo Biasion, driving the factory-run Lancia Delta Integrale, made the event virtually his own with a string of wins. This year though victory went to the French star rally driver Sebastien Loeb in the Citroën Xsara WRC who completed the 22 special stages, totalling 351.44 timed kilometres in 4 hours and 06:51.3 minutes. Second place on the podium went to Norwegian Petter Solberg behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza WRC who finished 44.6 seconds adrift, while Italian Gigi Galli was third with his Peugeot 307 WRC. Celebrating his 100th race in the World Rally Championship Austrian Manfred Stohl grabbed the fourth position overall in his Peugeot 307 WRC, while fifth position went to Spaniard Dani Sordo (Citroën Xsara WRC). Local honour was upheld by Argentine driver Federico Villagra who was the winner in the Production Class (GpN), finishing 1 minute and 15.5 seconds ahead of Omar Yoma (Subaru) with Claudio Menzi (Subaru) third.