The All Terrain Organization of Argentina (OTTA) regrets to inform you that due to financial problems it has requested authorization to the FIA and the FIM in order not to run the competition scheduled for next September.

It is with great effort that OTTA has been organizing successfully the Por las Pampas Cross Country Rally for ten consecutive years, introducing the world cross country category in Argentina, and also introducing Argentina to this international sport.

Since its first edition in 1998, the event never stopped growing and improving, coming from a short diagram in the Province of Cordoba, to a lineal itinerary joining no less than Patagonia Argentina with the Atacama Desert in Chile.

In 2007, after many years of investment, and after three years of association with our Chilean partner and main sponsor, we lived a difficult rally due to the low number of entries and the bad weather conditions. After this difficulties our partner decided abruptly and unanimously to break off the relationship with our organization transferring unforeseen debts and compromises. This unexpected and sudden end didn't leave enough time to work on a new strategy for 2008.

Although the damages caused to our organization were big, OTTA remains strong and with big plans for the future. But faithful to our history, we don't want to hold an event below the FIA and FIM standards, that we have been fulfilling in each edition. Therefore, we feel obliged to cancel the next edition of or event, taking 2008 as an year of transition, to be able to come back in 2009. This year of recess will be good to lay new foundations to find sponsors and venues to run the race.

We are infinitely grateful to ACA, CAMOD, FIA and FIM; to both the national and international drivers and teams that have always shown their enthusiasm for the event and to the sponsors who have approached us to offer a solution.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Automovil Club Argentino, as National Sporting Authority (cars' category), is studying the possibility of holding a short event, during the dates in which Por las Pampas Rally was scheduled, in compliance with the international FIA calendar.

Once again we want to thank you very much, and we hope to meet you again in 2009 to share a great competition!

Press Release