Four specially-equipped Fiat Palio Adventure Lockers were used by the regional police force of Córdoba on the rough, rock strewed tracks of the recent FIA World Rally Championship's Rally Argentina to oversee spectator security and safety.

The use of Fiat's range of Adventure vehicles for safety duties on the Rally Argentina has gone on now for some years and they have constantly proved tough and resilient in carrying out their arduous duties. The Adventure range of models (which also includes the Strada pick-up, Idea mini-MPV and Doblò light people carrier) are typified by their bigger bumpers, powerful mist lights, durable plastic wheelarches and door sill protection covers, a raised ride height and chunky alloy wheels. The Locker versions are fitted with an innovative self-locking differential to bestow genuine off-road capability.

The four Palio Adventure Lockers were lent to the Police of Córdoba by Fiat Auto 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 each year sees one million spectators lining the route. Clearing the path for the powerful four-wheel-drive WRC cars taking part, and preventing accidents and congestion on the road sections were their main duties. The cars 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, while radio communications and roof mounted aerials allowed the crews to keep in constant contact with other safety vehicles as well as with air support.

Fiat Auto has a winning tradition on the Argentina Rally, and in fact the very first edition - held in 1980 - was won by Walter Röhrl 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 once again to the French star rally driver Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4/Citroën Total WRT) who won for the fifth consecutive time. Following the reigning champion home was his teammate Dani Sordo while Norwegian Henning Solberg (Ford Focus RS/Stobart VK M-Sport) claimed the final step of the podium. Loeb's strategy started when he ended in third place after Day 1, coming back on Day 2 with an aggressive style to win six out of the nine special stages to put the French driver on top of the overall standings. On day 3, Loeb drove through the rest of the stages without risking too much to clinch victory. Sordo, ruled during Day 1 of the competition and found a reward when he finished in second place overall. Henning Solberg moved up to third position after his brother Petter Solberg retired after having problems with his Citroën Xsara's fuel pump.