The route and itinerary for the 2017 Nikola Tesla EV Rally though Croatia was announced on January 17, 2016, one of the most relaxing and spectacular ways to see the country. And this year's rally has plenty to entice.

The itinerary for the 4th Nikola Tesla EV Rally in Croatia has been announced, and having taken part last year, I can honestly assert that not only was it a wonderful way to explore new destinations in Croatia in some style, but it was also one of the enjoyable things I have done during my time in Croatia.

And this year's rally looks set to be even better, as organisers Igor and Tina Kolovrat unveiled the fruits of their very hard labour in arranging this year's rally. In the words of the official promotional material:

"Nikola Tesla EV Rally Croatia is the first rally exclusively held for electric vehicles in this part of Europe and the only in the world of this type.

The rally is being held for the fourth year in a row and it has international character. 98% of the participants are from abroad (Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, the USA and Canada.

The participants are domestic and foreign e-mobilists, entrepreneurs, globetrotters, tourists and adventurers. The rally has toured also abroad n the past.

(TCN with Mate Rimac and his Concept One, which took part in last year's rally)

"IDEA The rally is a joint cooperation and integration of partners, cities and towns, tourist offices and affiliated institutions in order to establish the infrastructure for electric vehicles. Setting up charging stations, the promotion of green technologies, renewable sources of energy, ecology, Croatian excellence as well as the natural beauty and the best domestic brands and companies. On the route of the rally we've set up (and are setting up) charging station for electric vehicles on the most attractive tourist locations (Rovinj, NP Paklenica, Smiljan, Poreč, ...) and we have established a "Green electric tourist Highway".

(The 2017 route)

"REALIZATION We have encouraged positive processes towards the connection of recent international developments in the area of electromobility, reduction in harmful gas emissions, traffic safety, development of infrastructure and strengthening of tourism, technological and energy potential of the Republic of Croatia. We've set up charging stations on some symbolic points like at Smiljan in front of Nikola Tesla's birth House, being the most important for us, which became a place of pilgrimage for all owners of electric vehicles that are coming to Croatia from all over Europe, even from Norway and Denmark.

(The rally brings participants to some of Croatia's top attractions, including the sixth largest Roman ampitheatre in Europe, the Pula Arena)

A key component of the race is to showcase Croatia's natural beauty, and its increasing accessibility for the electric car market. While a mobile charging station accompanies the rally, the 5-star accommodation options all come with charging stations, allowing competitors to 'refuel' while relaxing is some of Croatia's finest accommodation. The rally is not a race as such, with generous time frames attached to each rally, allowing participants to take in the beauty of Croatia at their own pace. Strategic gourmet stops en route allow drivers to rest and sample the finest indigenous wares. As a luxury tourism promotion concept, I have yet to see anything to match the rally, and the impressions of last year's participants were overwhelmingly positive and glowing.

(Mate Rimac and his Concept One under scrutiny from a Roman traffic warden)

This year's race will see some island hopping for the first time, inluding a speed race at the airport of Mali Losinj, which promises to be very competitive.

And you don't have to drive a Tesla or million dollar Rimac Concept One to take part - all electric cars are welcome.

But if you do have a Concept One, you are very welcome too. Paul Runge, the first purchaser of a Concept One, will be returning to take part in this year's rally. Here is our TCN interview with him on his road to buying the first car ever exported from Croatia, as well as his impressions of last year's rally.

And the rally always includes a pilgrimage to where it all began, the village where Nikola Tesla was born. Without his genius, there would be no rally and many other things missing in the modern world. TCN asked organisers Igor and Tina Kolovrat above, for a quote to go with this article:

"8 days, 17 cities, 7 islands and 5 national parks ... This year the quietest and most beautiful rally in the world offers even more adventure (speed race on Island Mali Lošinj-airport and Street race in the centre of Zagreb), unique wine-gastro experineces, and connecting even more interesting people, entreprenuers from all over the world. In addition to participants from Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, France, USA, Belgium, Finland and South Africa, this year we have participants also from Dubai and UK. The power of our rally is networking, people that are coming, some of them 4 years in a row who met on our rally have become friends or business partners as we gather people from different area of expertise. Most of the vehicles will be Tesla Model S and Model X but we also have participants with e-Golf, Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf and other e-vehicles."

To learn more about the rally, watch the video below for an overview of the Nikola Tesla EV Rally 2016, and click here to visit the official website for more information on how to get involved in this fabulous event, which runs from May 31 to June 7.