Rescuing Romanian villages from the demographic decline that has been increasingly accentuated in recent years and reconnecting young people with the values, traditions and authentic tastes of Romania's rural areas are among the objectives of a courageous and innovative initiative that is taking shape: the 'Picturesque Romania' Rally, says Ionut Diaconeasa, advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR).

'In a landscape where Romanian traditions and everything we know about the Romanian village are at risk of remaining just stories in textbooks, a brave and innovative initiative is taking shape: Rally Start - 'Picturesque Romania', a sporting event that aims to unite speed with values, adrenaline with authenticity. The competition, structured in five stages through picturesque areas such as Sarata Monteoru, Saschiz, Tisau, Jurilovca and Hoghilag, is not just a sporting event, but a real approach to reconnect with the roots of the Romanian village,' Ionut Diaconeasa told AGERPRES.

He said that the organizers would like to sound an alarm about the demographic decline of the Romanian village, given that Romania has lost more than two million inhabitants in the last two decades, most of them from rural areas.

'The organizers want more than just a show. They want to sound an alarm about the demographic decline of Romanian villages. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, Romania has lost more than two million inhabitants in the last two decades, most of them coming from rural areas. Worse still, in some municipalities, over 60% of the population is over 60, and young people are almost completely absent. Rally Start - 'Picturesque Romania' is here to change that. Each stage becomes an opportunity to discover folk costumes, old customs, authentic tastes and people who still keep alive the link with the past,' Diaconeasa emphasized.

By promoting local gastronomy, agritourism and cultural heritage, the competition transforms rural areas into real destinations of interest. 'For young people, this rally can be more than an experience, it can be a revelation. The village should not be seen as a place without a future, but as an untapped opportunity, where small businesses, sustainable projects and creative initiatives can come to life,' the MADR representative further said.

There are currently many European programmes and non-reimbursable funds dedicated to young farmers or entrepreneurs in rural areas, run through the Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR), and an encouraging fact is that the absorption rate in recent years is over 95%. 'The 'Picturesque Romania' Rally brings not only visibility, but also inspiration. The village needs young people. And young people need rallies,' maintains the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture.

On the other hand, tourists are increasingly looking for authentic experiences, not just tourist attractions, and Romania's villages and picturesque areas can be promoted through 'local stories, real images and cultural events', not just standard leaflets.

'The modern tourist doesn't just want a place to sleep, but a story to tell after they leave. Pottery workshops, traditional cooking, wine tastings, carriage rides or nature hikes become tourist attractions in themselves. Traditional cuisine is one of a region's strongest visiting cards. Simple dishes made with local ingredients such as stews, homemade pies, sarmale(mincemeat wrapped in cabbage or vine leaves, editor's note) with sour cream from traditional sheepfolds, home-made cheeses or wine from the hills offer tourists an unforgettable culinary experience,' the MADR advisor added.

Sarata Monteoru, the first locality from where Rally Start - 'Picturesque Romania' will start, is located in Buzau county, at the foot of the sub-Carpathian hills. It is a resort with a rich history, known since the 19th century for its salty and therapeutic waters.

'Besides hiking and cycling trails, now also motorsport, including off-road, perfect for active tourists, Sarata Monteoru offers spectacular hilly landscapes, healthy waters and spa treatments, beneficial for rheumatic and respiratory diseases as well as local gastronomy where you can taste traditional dishes from Buzau. Places such as Sarata Monteoru can become true gems of Romanian tourism if they are given visibility and minimal infrastructure. I believe that in order to attract tourists to lesser known areas, we need to think in terms of a complete experience: nature, gastronomy, tradition and genuine hospitality,' Ionut Diaconeasa said.

There are 11 Local Gastronomic Points (PGL) registered in Buzau County, according to the legislation in force, and Sarata Monteoru is one of them, and it will be visited by the crews participating in the first stage of the rally. Also from Buzau county come 33 traditional certified products from 8 producers and 26 products with the mountain product label from 15 producers.

'The local stars are Carnatii de Plescoi [Romanian sausages made with mutton, chili peppers, and garlic, editor's note], which obtained European recognition as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in 2019, and Babicul de Buzau, which has submitted the documentation and is in the process of being recognized as a PGI,' said the MADR advisor.

The National Rally Start Championship - 'Picturesque Romania' is an initiative of the Romanian Motor Racing Federation (FRAS) which wanted to combine motorsport with cultural tourism. Intended especially for beginners and juniors (from the age of 15), the championship is held in five stages on asphalt and macadam and has a dual purpose: training new generations of race drivers and referees, but also promoting the picturesque areas of Romania.

The routes are specially chosen to cross areas with spectacular scenery and living traditions, and at each stage, participants and the public can explore the local gastronomy, traditional customs and tourist attractions of the region. The competitions thus become a platform for promoting national culture and identity, stimulating the local economy and offering a complete experience - sport, education and tourism. 'FRAS, through such competitions, demonstrates how motorsport can become a catalyst for local development, education and tourism', explained the MADR representative.

The race from Sarata Monteoru in Buzau county opens the 2025 competition season of the National Rally Start Championship - 'Picturesque Romania', on April 5-6, 2025. The route from Sarata Monteoru has a length of 8.95 kilometers and will be covered five times, of which one passage (shakedown) is intended exclusively for training. In total, the drivers will cover 44.75 kilometers of special stage, on a mixed asphalt-macadam route, with a total length of 111.75 kilometers.

The event is aimed in particular at juniors and novice drivers, offering a safe, competitive, educational framework, tailored to their development needs. The programme includes courses and seminars for youngsters, as well as route reconnaissance sessions.

The organisers estimate the participation of 35-45 teams, along with their technical teams, and registration is exclusively online on the My.FRAS.ro platform. The competition is organized by ACS Motor racing Sibiu, with the support of MADR in promotion and support, under the framework of the 'Picturesque Romania' programme.

One of the participants is the driver Raul Badiu, who debuted in 2010 in motorsport, and in his 15 years of activity has won more than 20 titles in different classes and groups, with two seasons in the JWRC World Rally Championship, three podiums in the overall standings and a victory in the overall standings at the Harghitai Rally 2024.

'For me, Rally Start - 'Picturesque Romania' is not just a competition - it is a journey through the heart of our country. It's the kind of rally that demands both your driving technique and your respect for the places you pass through. The roads are challenging, but the beauty of the scenery, the simple people and the authentic traditions give you another dimension to the race. We are not just racing for time, we are racing to bring back to life places that deserve to be rediscovered. I think this is what motorsport is all about: competition with purpose, adrenaline and above all identity. Sport is not just about competition, it is about character, community and discovery. And Romania has everything it needs to become an ideal playground, or in reference to this competition - a competition racetrack for young people who want more than the virtual world behind screens and devices. As an athlete, but also as a person who has traveled the country far and wide, I strongly believe that we can attract young people to sport and authentic Romanian culture by promoting events of this kind,' Raul Badiu told AGERPRES.

The Rally Start - 'Picturesque Romania' competition stages are: Trophy Sarata Monteoru - Buzau (Asphalt) April 5-6, 2025 - a technical stage on the rugged roads of the sub-Carpathian area, with breathtaking scenery and quality asphalt; Trophy Saschiz - Mures (Asphalt) June 14-15, 2025 - a stage held in an area with a strong historical background, dominated by medieval towns and authentic Saxon villages; the Saschiz stage runs on a network of 22 km of farm roads recently paved with AFIR funds, offering a technical and spectacular route winding through the Transylvanian hills and authentic rural landscapes; trophy Tisau - Buzau (Macadam) 5-6 July 2025 - the first macadam stage, characterized by fast, challenging forest roads, typical of the wine-growing region near Buzau Mountains; trophy Jurilovca - Tulcea (Macadam) 20-21 September 2025 - a spectacular stage crossing the Dobrogean landscapes, with fast macadam roads and fine dust, with the approach to the Danube Delta as a highlight; Hoghilag trophy - Sibiu (Asphalt) October 11-12, 2025 - the last stage returns to asphalt and takes place in an area renowned for its tuberose culture and Saxon traditions, offering a memorable end to the season.

Both the participating teams and spectators will be directed to the PGLs through the application developed by AFIR - Certified Romanian Products and Activities Catalogue (CPAC) for meals and accommodation at the guesthouses in the vicinity of the locations where the five stages will take place. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mariana Nica; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)