RIS - Tour Operator

SEBASTIEN LOEB AND DANIEL ELENA,CITROEN C4 WRC, ARE ON THE TOP IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE RALLY D’ITALIA SARDEGNA
Dani Sordo is second at the wheel of the other Citroen Total, while Petter Solberg (Subaru) is behind him. The WRC leader, Mikko Hirvonen, is fourth. The Italian Gigi Galli (Ford) is sixth after being in trouble because of a puncture.

Olbia, May 16th, 2008 - The two Citroen C4 Total Wrc of Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo, in the first two places, while the other ones have to chase in a race that is still far from conclusion. Now the World Champion Loeb, who took the most part of his advantage over the two very long Castrazza’s Special Stages, is fleeing and behind him there is Dani Sordo who has already demonstrated to be an important support to his team-mate. At their shoulders Petter Solberg, author of an excellent race with his Impreza, and Mikko Hirvonen. The current leader of the World Championship, in the colours of Abu Dhabi Bp Ford World Rally Team, only in some occasion has expressed himself at quick pace. In fact he has not found yet the right feeling with the racetrack that is very difficult because of three days rains. Chris Atkinson, Subaru, had the same troubles with set-up and he has been far from the best time in the Stages. Gigi Galli, Focus of Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team, and Jari Matti Latvala, Hirvonen’s teammate, were instead the two main unlucky protagonists of the day. The Italian driver, very fast in the first stage with the third time, had a puncture in the Second Stage loosing more than 1 minute.
With a furious comeback Galli scored the best time in S.S. 4 and he therefore recovered from tenth to sixth place where he had finished the First Day. Latvala suffered the same problem with a puncture in the same stage and now he is seventh (best time in S.S. 1 and 6). Henning Solberg, with another Munchi's Ford Focus, finished eight after being very fast in the second half of the Stage.
Tomorrow, Saturday May 17th, the Second Day will be characterised by a total of 410.68 km with 134,60 km of them 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 start will be at 8.00 in the Olbia Service Park (Cala Saccaia) and the finish will be at 17.59 in the same location.

Rally d’Italia Sardegna – General Classification First Day; 1. Loeb – Elena (Citroen C4 Wrc) in 1h 31’27.6; 2. Sordo – Marti (Citroen C4 Wrc) + 35”7; 3. P. Solberg - Mills ( Subaru Impreza Wrc) + 53”8; 4. Hirvonen – Lehtinen ( Ford Focus Wrc) + 58”9; 5. Atkinson – Prevot ( Subaru Impreza Wrc) + 1’09”0; 6. Galli – Bernacchini (Ford Focus Wrc) + 1’12”3; 7. Latvala – Antila ( Ford Focus Wrc) + 1’31”1; 8. H.Solberg - Menkerud ( Ford Focus Wrc) + 1’52”5.

Special Stages Classification

P.S. 1 Monte Corvos ( km 16.43); 1. Latvala 11’24”3 ; 2. Sordo 11’31”3; 3. Galli 11’31”7; 4. Loeb 11’32”1; 5. Mikkelsen 11’33”9;
P.S. 2 Castrazza ( km 33.96) ; 1. Loeb 23’56”1; 2. Sordo 24’14”3; 3. Hirvonen 24’17”0; 4. Atkinson 24”21.3; 5. Solberg P. 24’25”2;
P.S. 3 Terranova ( km 15.39); 1. Loeb 10’48”3; 2. Latvala 10’52”9; 3. Galli 10’52”9; 4. Sordo 10’53”4; 5. Atkinson 10’56”7
P.S. 4 Monte Corvos 2 ; 1. Galli 11’07”3; 2. Latvala 11’08”8; 3. P.Solberg 11’11”2; 4. Sordo 11’15”8; 5. Hirvonen e Loeb 11’16”3
P.S. 5 Castrazza 2 ; 1. Loeb 23’21”4; 2. Latvala 23’24”9; 3. Galli 23’25”0; 4. Sordo 23’28”9; 5. Hirvonen 23’33”2.
P.S. 6 Terranova 2; 1. Latvala 10’30”9; 2. Loeb 10’33”4; 3. Galli 10’34”5; 4. H.Solberg 10’37”8; 5. P.Solberg 10’38”3.