ARCHIVED - Saturday 8th May, Mazarrón rallysprint: the 38th Subida Playas de Mazarrón

Racing takes place on the N-332 between Puerto de Mazarrón and Los Ruices

Petrol heads and racing fans enjoy the Mazarrón mountain sprint rally but residents will be unable to enter or leave their properties

Residents of the Valdelentisco valley, which is the steep and twisting valley on the N-332, the inland road between the Puerto de Mazarrón and Cartagena, are advised that once again they will be either confined to their homes or shut out of them for much of Saturday 8th May.

This time, though, it is due not to a worsening of the pandemic situation but to the holding of the 38th edition of the annual “Subida Playas de Mazarrón”, the longest-lasting motor vehicle competition of its kind in the Region of Murcia. Last year’s edition was cancelled during the first wave of coronavirus contagion, but the event is back on the calendar for the 38^th time in 2021, and the N-332 will be closed from 12.30 onwards to allow racing to take place.

This is a high-speed rally sprint event with 36 drivers taking part and in past years there have always been plenty of onlookers and spectators lining the road. Those planning to attend should remember that parking on grass verges is not permitted, and of course they will have to arrive before 12.30 when the road is closed, armed with refreshments as there are no bars along the route. Sun-cream and a hat are also advisable, as are sturdy shoes: the best viewing points are on scrub-riddled banks above the road, which require a spot of scrambling.

Technical verifications take place from 8.30 onwards at the Café Buenavista in El Alamillo, in the outskirts of Puerto de Mazarrón, which will also be the scene for the prize-giving after the races at 20.00.

The RM-332 will be closed to traffic between kilometre 18.3 and kilometre 22.3 - from just above the Valdelentisco desalination plant on the Mazarrón side of the mountain pass all the way down to Las Ruices on the Cartagena side - from 12.30 midday until the early evening, with four legs of racing (two practice runs and then two competition runs) starting at 14.00.