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The first leg of
the Rally Italia Sardegna is going to
start tomorrow.
This morning, Gigi Galli, obtained the
best time in the Shakedown, on the
gravel itinerary of Monte Pinu. This
evening in Porto Cervo the starting
Ceremonial is going to take part.
Olbia, 15th May
2008.
The enchanting scenario of the Marina
Vecchia in Porto Cervo will be the
glittering frame for the Official
Starting Ceremony of the rally Italia
Sardegna 2008.
At 20.00 in the fabulous surrounding of
a Mediterranean sunset, all the 57 crews
entered at the sixth Round of the World
Rally Championship and third Round of
the JWRC will be present for the
Starting Ceremonial.
The spectators’ and the sporting and
local authorities’ warm welcome will
embrace the stars of the WRC who, after
a good night’s rest, will set off
tomorrow at 9.00 from the Olbia Service
Park, heading towards the 132 km of
Special Stages on the fascinating
Sardinian gravel roads, out of a total
Day mileage of 370 km.
The itinerary, as always very demanding
for both drivers and cars, will increase
the technical and sport challenge which
animates the WRC.
After the Recce and this morning’s
shakedown, run on the 3,7 km of the
Monte Pinu gravel stage, the World class
drivers concur in saying that the
Sardinian event is one the most
challenging of the season, and with
possible changes in weather conditions,
particularly for Day 2 on Saturday.
As Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford
Focus Rs Wrc - BP Ford Abu Dhabi World
Rally Team) said, this will be one of
the key aspects for the event’s outcome.
“ This Rally is beautiful when dry, but
in case of rain the surface is too
demanding especially for the car. The
lines dug by the cars and the rocks
brought by the water would be a problem
for all. Also because nobody wants to
back off”.
Amongst these will surely be Gigi Galli
(Ford Focus Rs Wrc - VK M-Sport Ford
Rally Team), the only Italian Driver in
the WRC. The local hero, as always
encouraged by hundreds of supporters,
aims at a good result in his home event.
“I’ll do my best but I surely will not
be able to fight for victory. It’s
stimulating for an Italian driver to
take part in Rally d’Italia. Today I was
fastest in the shakedown, I would be
delighted to end the race just behind
the works drivers. I hope to give my
supporters some satisfaction”.
Alessandro Bettega (Renault Clio R3 –
Trt),who will race in the JWRC, was
present at the press conference that has
taken part after the shakedown, and he
has affirmed he does not feel under
pressure. “Everyone is looking at me, I
know, but, in this situation, I’m able
to do my best. Especially in my category
it will be very exciting, because there
will be 17 crews ready to fight, do not
forget Prokop, Sandell and Ogier. I’ll
do all my best in order to thank the
National ACI-CSAI that has helped me in
anyway allowing to take part to the WRC”.
In the meantime
the shakedown has been just a little
example of what the drivers are going to
live in the next days. The race will
start tomorrow morning at 9.00. The
first Day will be developed along Monte
Corvos’ (16.43 km), Crastazza’s (33.96
km) and Terranova’s (15.39km) area. All
of them will be raced twice for a total
of 131,56 km chrono.
On Saturday 17th May, the second Day
will be characterised by a total of
134,60 km developed along the Special
Stages of Punta Pianedda (18,53 km),
Monte Lerno (29,31 km) e Filigosu (19,46
km), all raced twice.
The third Day, Sunday 18th will start
with the Special of Monte Olia (19,28)
and will continue on the gravel roads of
Sorilis (18,66 km), both will be raced
twice. The last one will be Liscia Ruja
(2,69 km),in the enchanting surrounding
of the Gulf of Cala di Volpe just before
reaching the podium in Porto Cervo where
the Finish ceremony will take place at
14.30.
344,73 km on a total of 1.040 racing km,
will be chrono timed and the most part
of them will be raced in the Sardinian
Forestall Area and in the Provinces of
Olbia-Tempio, Nuoro and Sassari.
The Service Park will be located in
Olbia and it will be once more the main
base from where drivers and cars will
leave each day.
After each group of Stages all the
drivers will drive back to Service park
(from 13.05 to 13.55, tomorrow; from
13.02 to 13.32 on Saturday; and from
10.11 to 10.41 on Sunday) and at the end
of the day (at 18:00 on Friday; at 17.59
on Saturday and at 13.27 on Sunday to
continue until the last Stage, Liscia
Ruja, and Porto Cervo. Entrance to the
Service Park will be FOC in the aim to
bring the Italian and the foreign
supporters even closer to the
fascinating show of motor event
Special Stages for
tomorrow:
P.S. 1-4 Monte
Corvos
First driver at 10.23 (1) – 15.18 (4)
Road closing time: 7.23 to 18.45
Monte Corvos starts in the nearby of
Buddusò, it s a mid-fast itinerary, made
by several parts of different special
stages. It crosses the Loelle’s site
P.S. 2-5 Crastazza
First driver at 10.50 (2) – 15.45 (5)
Road closing time: dalle 7.50 alle 19.15
Crastazza starts in the Coiluna’s site
and reach the Nuoro’s province and the
Crastazza’s site. In its final part it
is 3 km longer.
P.S. 3-6 Terranova
First driver at 12.07 (3) – 17.02 (6)
Road closing time: dalle 9.07 alle 20.30
Developped in the Terranova’s and Monte
Olia’s site, it has been quite totally
renewed and crosses the SS 389. In the
nearby the famous Cannonau’s production
wineyards
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