|
Rally d’Italia Sardegna is on!
It’s finally come the top moment of the
Italian Rally Sardinia, the seventh
challenge of World Rally Champ and
Junior World Rally Cup.
Tomorrow is going to take place the
shakedown, that will be the first moment
of a spectacular three-days-show. The
shakedown is going to be a test for
drivers and cars who will be run in the
race, and it will start at 8.00 in the
morning untill 12.00, on La Crucitta di
Sant’Antonio di Gallura place (distance
of 4,3 km).
On a track that has the same technical
caratheristich the race track, the
drivers will be able at last to set up
their cars just for the three legs of
the Italian Rally Sardinia, scheduled
from Friday, the 18th from Sunday, the
21st. The shakedown moment will be very
important for the race strategies for
Sabastian Loeb, the man who’s leading
the general overall standings of WRC at
the moment: “Now is the moment to think
straight to the championship – says the
32 years old driver assisted by Daniel
Elena on Citroen Xsara WRC of Kronos
Total team – and every placement would
be capital for us. We mast start our
race as quick as possible on the first
leg, and take the advantage to manage
than our race in the other two legs”.
The main opponent for world champion
Loeb will be Marcus Gronholm, winner of
two races in 2006 champ on Ford Focus
run by BP-Ford World Rally Team. “We
have done some important tests yet –
explains the Finnish in couple with Timo
Rautiainen – and I’m sure that it’s now
the moment to gain over. I must win,
because I wont to close an unlucky
four-races sequence”.
The hopes of the Italians all for Gigi
Galli that, with Giovanni Bernacchini on
the Peugeot 307 WRC in the Pirelli
colors, have conquered one splendid
third place in the Rally of Argentine.
In Sardinia they have been followed by
hundred of fan coming from all the
nation. As well as the Olbia’s Galli fan
club. “I will not disappoint them – the
33years Italian driver said - Sure, the
rally will finish only on Sunday in
Olbia, but however I’m so motivated. In
Argentine I have conquered my best
result in World Championship and above
all I was in my second race at the wheel
of a new car. With the Pirelli we made a
good job and the package is very good.
The special stages are very improved
regarding what I have known two years
ago and now I feel quite optimistic”.
After the publication of the First Leg
order of departure, the crews will reach
Porto Cervo from the 18,00 where at
20.00 it will be the official start of
the event with the Ceremony in Marina
Vecchia. All the drivers and the cars
will parade on the ramp where, after
three days of race, the protagonists
will be received for the Prize-Giving
Cerimony on Sunday 21 (at 14,15).
The Ceremonial Start will be introduced
from another fascinating parade. Such as
an “out of time” meeting between
different technical concepts of
rally-car coming from different ages, a
rare series of ’70-’80s models will go
onto the ramp before the newest ones. It
will be possible to admire 1970’s Lancia
Fulvia HF of Simo Lampinen, now Clerk of
the Course in the Sardinian race; 1972’s
124 Fiat Spider Gr.4 European Champion
with Lele Pinto and Gino Macaluso;
1976’s Lancia Stratos of Lele Pinto and
Arnaldo Bernacchini; 1974’s Fiat 124
Abarth of Fulvio Bacchelli and Bruno
Scabini; 1978’s Fiat 131 Abarth (Alitalia
colors) of Markku Alen; 1983’s Lancia
037 European Champion with Miky Biasion;
1986’s Lancia Delta S4 of Markku Alen;
1992’s Lancia Delta of Juha Kankkunen.
At the wheel of “Queens of International
Rally” they will be, between the others,
Simo Lampinen, Luigi Macaluso, President
of the CSAI, Markku Alen, Piero Longhi
and Piero Liatti. The entire collection
will be exposed during the three days of
contest in front of the Archaeological
Museum of Olbia (Headquarter Rally).
|
