After the success achieved in Portugal's Madeira Rally with Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta, the Abarth Team will enter two works Grande Punto Abarth S2000s for this weekend's Barum Rally in the Czech Republic, an event counting towards the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the European Rally Championship. Basso's team-mate will be reigning European and Italian Champion Luca Rossetti, alongside co-driver Matteo Chiarcossi. The crew usually is Abarth's standard bearer in the Italian Championship.
Basso is in contention for the title in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, where he occupies the third position. He is also currently leading the standings in the European Rally Championship.
The outcome of the race is in the hands of fate, for there are particularly numerous potential winners. In addition to the two Abarth works drivers, Britt Kris Meeke, Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz, Belgian Freddy Loix (all in Peugeots), Finn Juho Hänninen and Czech Jan Kopecký (both in Skodas) aim at victory too. Several talented local drivers will join the usual IRC contenders, such as Martin Prokop, Roman Kresta (both in Peugeots) and privateers Jaromir Tarabus, Grzegorz Grzyb and Jaroslav Orsak, who have all chosen the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 to try and shine in their home country.
The Barum Rally gets underway tomorrow night (Friday 21 August) at 5:00pm from Zlín where a spectators' special stage is due at 9:00pm as an opening for an event that is very popular in the all Czech Republic. On Saturday 22, the first leg includes eight special stages totalling 156 competitive kilometres. On Sunday, the rally draws to a close with another 98 competitive kilometres spread over six special stages.
This truly iconic rally in the international calendar features a characteristic route with rather fast timed special stages, which are often covered in broken asphalt, and a wealth of traps.
Intercontinental Rally Challenge standings after 7 races: 1. Kris Meeke (GB), Peugeot, 34 points; 2. Jan Kopecký (CZ), Skoda, 29; 3. Giandomenico Basso (I), Abarth, and Freddy Loix (B), Peugeot, 27; 5. Nicolas Vouilloz (F), Peugeot, 19.
European Championship standings: 1. Giandomenico Basso (I), Abarth, 59 points; 2. Michael Solowow (PL), Peugeot, 51; 3. Corrado Fontana (I), Peugeot, 49; 4. Krum Donkev (BG), Mitsubishi, 43; 5. Luca Betti (I), Peugeot, 31; 6. Renato Travaglia (I), Abarth, 13.
Turin, 20 August 2009.
International
