At the end of the first leg in the Madeira Rally (Portugal), fifth event in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the official Grande Punto Abarth driven by Giandomenico Basso and navigator Mitia Dotta are in the lead, 27.1” ahead of Travaglia in a Mitsubishi Lancer and over 1 minute in front of Spanish driver, Ojeda in his Peugeot 207. The Portuguese rally, run over tarmac roads in the island of Madeira, is proving to be a hard-fought battle and Basso – winner of the 2006 edition - has already won four special trials, while Travaglia (Italy), Magalhaes (Portugal) and Vouilloz (France) have each won one. Andrea Navarra, the Abarth Team's official driver and current leader in the Drivers IRC standings, was forced to withdraw before the start of the first special trial because of electrical problems.
The other Grande Punto Abarths entered for this race are also doing well, with the company's Portuguese subsidiary driver, Josè Pedro Fontes (fifth), Italy's Corrado Fontana (eighth, in the running for the European title) and Polish drivers Tomasz Czopik (tenth) and Volkan Isik (twelfth).
"Despite my lead it wasn't an easy day," comments Basso. "The very variable weather made it extremely difficult to choose the right tyres and, with Travaglia always breathing down my neck, I know I couldn't afford to let up for a moment."
Tomorrow (Saturday, August 4) will see the second and last leg. It includes nine timed trials, among which the 27.4-kilometre Riberiro Frio section, the longest in the Portuguese rally. The arrival on the seafront in Funchal is scheduled for 6.23 pm local time (one hour later in Italy).
Madeira Rally standings after 8 special trials:
1. Basso-Dotta (Grande Punto Abarth) in 1h40'14.9”
2. Travaglia-Granai (Mitsubishi) + 27.1”
3. Ojeda-Costa (Peugeot 207) + 1'11.7”
4. Magalhaes-Grave (Peugeot 207) + 2'36.3”
5. Fontes-Prata (Grande Punto Abarth) + 2'53.9”
6. Casier-Miclotte (Peugeot 207) + 3'47.3”
7. Jean Joseph-Boyere (Citroen C2) + 4’06.3”
8. Fontana-Casazza (Grande Punto Abarth) + 4’07.4”
Turin, August 3, 2007
International
