Federico Villagra

Federico Villagra, nicknamed Coyote, is the most successful Argentinean rally driver of all time, with nine Argentinean rally championship titles on his account.

In the World Rally Championship, he debuted in 1998 at Rally Argentina and since then he recorded more than 50 WRC starts. Between 2007 and 2011, he spent five seasons driving for Munchi's Ford World Rally Team, finishing among top 10 world's driver two times.

In recent years, Villagra is a regular contestant at Dakar Rally, finishing in the third place in the Truck category in 2016.

Argentinean rally legend Federico Villagra

Impressive motorcycle career

Federico Villagra was born in May 1969. He started a racing career in motocross, collecting an impressive number of championship titles. He was a junior champion in 1984 and after he won title almost every year. Among other titles, he was four-time Argentinean supercross champion and two-time national motocross champion. His last title came in 1996. After that, he switched to rallying.

World rally debut with Peugeot 405 Mi16

He debuted in some national rally events in 1997, appearing on the world's rally scene in 1998, driving a Peugeot 406 Mi16 at Rally Argentina, which was part of the World Rally Championship. Villagra finished 22nd overall and fourth in the A7 class.

In 2000, Villagra started to race with Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI. Next year, he gained the first success in the national championship, finishing third in the Production class (N4) standings.

Federico Villagra at 1998 Rally Argentina

Villagra started to collect championship titles in 2002

In 2002, he clinched his first championship title, being first in the N4 class and second overall in the Argentinean championship. He repeated the same in 2003. And then, in 2004, he won his first outright title in the national championship. In the same year, he was also Chilean rally champion.

While collecting wins and titles in Argentina and Chile, Villagra participated in the Argentinean WRC event every year, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI. His best overall result was 13th place.

Six WRC events in 2005

In 2005, Villagra expanded his WRC activities, participating in six events with Lancer Evo VIII and Evo VII, being eligible to score points in the Production WRC category. His best PWRC result was sixth place at Rally New Zealand and Rally Australia, he was 14th in the final standings. At his home event, he was excluded.

Of nine national titles, Villagra won six titles driving Mitsubishis

Eight consecutive rally championship titles in Argentina

In 2006, Villagra focused again on the Argentinean championship, winning his second title and starting the unprecedented streak of eight consecutive championship titles. From 2006 to 2010, his victorious cars were different evolutions of Mitsubishi Lancer Group N car.

In 2011, Villagra was a champion with Ford Fiesta MR, repeating the same thing two more times with the same car. After eight seasons of domination in the Argentinean rally, Villagra was moved from the throne in 2014, being beaten by Marcos Ligato. In 2015 and 2016, Villagra finished second again. Most recently, Villagra won Campeonato Rally Argentino in 2018.

Villagra spent five seasons driving for Munchi's Ford World Rally Team

Impressive performances led to World Rally Car arrangement

While writing Argentinean rally history, Villagra also left a remarkable trail in the World Rally Championship. He gained first big success in 2006, scoring the N4 class victory at Rally Argentina. In 2007, he was the winner again, making an impression on people from Munchi's Ford World Rally Team, who hired him to drive Ford Focus RS WRC 06 until the end of the season. His teammate was the founder of the team Luis Perez Companc. Villagra scored his first WRC points at Rally Japan, finishing in the seventh place.

Villagra is racing with Fords since 2007

Four more WRC seasons with Munchi's Ford World Rally Team

Villagra spent four more seasons with Munchi's Ford World Rally Team, finishing twenty times among points scorers. His best season was 2009, when he was closest to WRC podiums in two events, finishing fourth at Rally Argentina and Acropolis Rally. At the end of the year, he was 9th in the points.

He was again 9th in 2010, driving the last generation of Ford Focus RS WRC. Next year, he spent a season driving Ford Fiesta RS WRC and finishing 13th in the final standings. In 2010, Rally Argentina was a part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Villagra participated with Ford Fiesta S2000, finishing in the fifth place.

One-off WRC return in 2015

Both Villagra and Munchi's team didn't return to the 2012 WRC season. Since then, Villagra focused on the national championship, taking one more title in 2013 and finishing in the second place three times. He had a one-off return to the WRC in 2015, participating at Rally Argentina and finishing in the 10th place with Ford Fiesta MR.

Villagra's Iveco Powerstar at 2016 Dakar Rally

Dakar Rally debut in 2014, podium in 2016

In 2014, Villagra debuted at Dakar Rally, which took place in South America, including Argentina. He was driving Mini All4 Racing, gaining impressive result with 12th place at the end of the world's toughest race. In 2015, he returned to Dakar Rally with Ford Ranger, managing to finish the race in 27th place.

And then, in 2016, he reached a podium, not in the car category but in the truck category. He was driving Iveco Powerstar for the La Gloriosa Team De Rooy, finishing in the third place. At 2017 Dakar Rally, Villagra was again at the wheel of the Iveco Powerstar. He finished in the fourth place.

At 2018 Dakar Rally, driving an Iveco Powerster again, he was fighting for a victory against Kamaz of Eduard Nikolaev but retired on the penultimate stage due to mechanical problems. In 2019, he finished fourth in the Peruvian dunes of the 2019 Dakar Rally.

Photos: ewrc-results.com