With the North American rally season now underway, the 47th edition of the Rallye Perce-Neige opens the six-round 2012 Canadian championship. 40 crews are set to start the classic winter event based in Maniwaki, Quebec, the capital of the Upper Gatineau region.

The rally features 16 special stages spanning over 244.37 compeitive kilometers (151.84 miles) all run over the course of a single day. This format makes it one of the longest events in all of North America and will undoubtedly challenge the endurance of all contestants.

The Perce-Neige stages are covered in a light layer of snow and patches of ice are found intermittently. Dirt is showing through the roads in a few areas and will appear more as the day goes on. Some of the stages were plowed yesterday and are lined with snowbanks 2-4 feet high. A proper winter rally.

It's a mostly clear and sunny but crisp day in Maniwaki with a high of 6°C (22°F).

CrazyLeo Urlichich is the first car is out on stage at 9:11am Eastern. He'll be followed by Subaru's Pat Richard and Rockstar Energy's Antoine L'Estage.

The rally begins with the shortest test of the event, the 2.02 km (1.2 mi) Marie-Anne stage, and will run the longest stage of the event, the 32.95 km (20.47 mi) Kitigan Zibi stage, a total of three times throughout the day.

The rally concludes in Maniwaki Saturday night at approximately 10:35pm.

More Rallye Perce-Neige news and updates: http://bit.ly/vZX6N2