Thanks to its excellent second place overall at the 51st Sanremo Rally - the first among the Italian Championship contenders -, Grande Punto Abarth S2000 driver Luca Rossetti and co-driver Matteo Chiarcossi have revived their chances of success in the national series, with only one race remaining, the Rally of Como, which is scheduled from 24-25 October.
At Sanremo Rally, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 confirmed itsinvincibility in the longest and toughest special stage, the "Ronde of San Romolo", which was run at night and was won by Rossetti. The Abarth driver then bounced into the lead after the second day's first special stage, when he got ahead of championship rival Paolo Andreucci (Peugeot). After that, he only had to worry about keeping first place among the Italian Championship contenders.
Belgian François Duval, alongside co-driver Denis Giraudet, was less lucky as he was forced into retirement with technical issues three stages from the end.
The third works Grande Punto Abarth S2000, that of youngster Umberto Scandola and co-driver Guido D’Amore, finished 11th.
At the end of the very tough first leg of the 33rd Elpa Rally, the all-gravel Greek round of the European Rally Championship, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 of Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta leads with a 55.5s advantage over Greek Jaoannis Papadimitriou's Mitsubishi Lancer and 1min53.5s over Pole Michal Solowow's Peugeot 207. Tomorrow, the conclusive leg features another six special stages.
Sanremo Rally classification: 1. Meeke-Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000), 2hr 20min03.5s; 2. Rossetti-Chiarcossi (Grande Punto Abarth S2000) + 15.7s; 3. Vouilloz-Klinger (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 16.9s; 4. Loix-Miclotte (Peugeot 207 S2000) a 19.8s; 5. Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 28.1s; 6. Travaglia-Granai (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 46.5s 7. Cantamessa-Capolongo (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 1min28.6s; 8. Hänninen-Markkula (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 1min41.8s.
Italian Rally Championship standings: 1. Andreucci (Peugeot) 62 points; 2. Rossetti (Abarth) 56; 3. Travaglia (Abarth, Skoda, Mitsubishi and Peugeot) 52.
Turin, 26 September 2009.
International
