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Neither economic crisis nor a clash with the soccer World Cup can dampen enthusiasm for rallying in Bulgaria as the country steps up to join the world championship circuit."It's been really a long wait as we've been preparing for it for more than 15 years," Bulgarian automobile federation president Georgi Yanakiev told Reuters ahead of this weekend's first World Rally Championship (WRC) event in the country."It's my dream and I'm pleased it's a reality now."Financial constraints mean organisers in Bulgaria, home of a successful European championship rally for four decades, have had to be careful with their spending plans for the three-day event which starts on Friday.They have also made sure to fit the rally timetable around the soccer World Cup in South Africa which reaches its climax with the third-place playoff on Saturday and the final on Sunday."Unfortunately, it has happened during an economic crisis and it made the whole process even more difficult as you know Bulgaria can't afford to spend too much on the organisation of sports events," said Yanakiev, a former motorcycle racer who had competitive success at domestic level and has led the federation since 1980."We're not even a car-manufacturing country but we're glad to have so many companies which were ready to help."Of course, we're realistic and we know it'll be one of the least luxurious rallies. At the same time, we know that (world governing body) FIA officials are aware of our potential.WINTER RESORT"But don't get me wrong. This will be the 41st Rally Bulgaria; it's a competition with a big history."We took the World Cup into consideration too and I can tell you there'll be enough time between the end of the race and the start of the soccer matches," Yanakiev added.Some 300,000 spectators are expected to turn out to watch the rally which will take place around Borovets, Bulgaria's oldest winter resort which hosted Alpine ski World Cup races in the 1980s."Fans play a big part in every competition and we know it'll be an event with very good attendance as we have so many rallying fans in Bulgaria," said Yanakiev."It'll be so emotional to see (Sebastien) Loeb, (Kimi) Raikkonen, (Mikko) Hirvonen...driving here," rallying fan Ivo Stefanov told Reuters. "Bulgaria in the global series...Isn't it amazing?"I'm a keen soccer fan too and I'm watching all the games in South Africa but no doubt I'll be around the roads. It's always good to be part of such a big event."I feel that I can't wait for this to begin. Sunday will be an extraordinary day for me, and not only for me, I'm sure."I'll be only a few metres away from the excitement in the WRC and that's not all. You go back home and you see the dessert served -- the World Cup final. It doesn't sound bad, right?"PASSIONATE CROWDSix-times world champion Loeb, who leads this season's standings, had a chance to sample the local enthusiasm when he appeared at a demonstration event in Sofia on Sunday."It's my first time in Bulgaria and it's very good to see such a passionate crowd, such a good atmosphere," the Frenchman said. "It's a new rally but I see we have so many fans despite the fact that we've never been here before."I know it's an asphalt race and the surface is much quicker but I'm ready. I'll do my best to win as I want to win my seventh world title," the Citroen driver added.Other drivers are also looking forward to the challenge of the 354-km all-asphalt race."It's a new track for us and it's a completely new experience," Spaniard Dani Sordo, who is also part of the Citroen team, told reporters in Sofia. "This might be my day, it's an asphalt race and I'll try to beat Loeb."Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion, is more familiar with the surface from his years of circuit racing."Now we start a new chapter," the Finn was quoted as saying in Bulgarian media. "After snow and gravel, here we are on asphalt."It's something that I'm really looking forward to. I had a really good feeling during the tests and I hope to be able to show that on the roads in Bulgaria."(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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