The combination of the globally popular auto-moto spectacle and the great ambience of the ACI marina Vodice offered the foundation for creating a beautiful tradition that will unquestionably greatly contribute to the further positioning of Croatia as a country of exceptional natural beauty and top sports.
ACI marina Vodice hosted a unique sporting event with the participation of the world’s best rally drivers Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux and two local automotive trump cards – Viliam Prodan and the first name of the Croatian rally but also motoring in general, Juraj Šebalj. The whole event was an excellent adrenaline overture to the upcoming WRC Croatia Rally, which will take place from 21 to 24 April, and whose selected competitors had the opportunity to experience the magic of elite sailing led by famous Croatian Olympians, brothers Sime and Mihovil Fantela.
World stars under the mentorship of local Olympians
Just a few days before one of the most popular car events in the region, the WRC Croatia Rally, the stars of motorsport in the Vodice waters under the auspices of the Fantel brothers tested ACI ClubSwan 36 sailboats, the world’s most elite sport sailing vessels and briefly replaced road conditions with the sea. In one of the most attractive marinas in the middle of Adriatic, they were greeted by another Croatian Olympian, Ivan Kljaković Gašpić, today the ACI Sail project manager, who introduced them to these top boats whose speed can reach an impressive speed of 30 knots. Thanks to the ideal weather conditions, the storm and the spring sun that greeted the gathered, the world’s rally stars were able to experience the full potential of ClubSwan 36 class sailboats, which provided an adrenaline experience to remember in the hands of Olympic grandmasters.
From mountain macadams to sea expanses
This unique group of prominent motorists in one of the most beautiful waters hosted by the ACI marina Vodice, organized by Red Bull in cooperation with the WRC Croatia Rally and with the support of the City of Vodice and the Tourist Board of Vodice. This was a unique opportunity for the selected competitors of the upcoming car spectacle to briefly replace the steering wheel at the helm, and the mentorship of world sailing champions in the 49er class, Šime and Mihovil Fantela, was just an extra wind in the back. One of the skippers, Šime Fantela, did not hide his satisfaction with the work done. Thierry Neuville commented on the whole sailing experience: “This is my first time sailing on a sports sailboat and I can say that it was a really special experience.” This was another top event that confirmed the potential of ACI for the establishment of Croatia on the sports and nautical map of the world, and we believe that in the future they will not be missing.
Videos: Red Bull Content Pool
Photos: Predrag Vučković