FIAT ABARTH AT THE 1000 MIGLIA RALLY ANDREUCCI AND BASSO DOING WELL DESPITE PUNCTURES

The first leg of the 29th 1000 Miglia Rally, which ended today (Saturday, April 9) after 8 special trials, turned out to be both demanding and selective. The official Fiat Abarth teams, Paolo Andreucci-Anna Andreussi and Giandomenico Basso-Mitia Dotta, finished this first leg of the race in 6th and 8th place overall. The provisional leaders of the race are Cunico-Pirollo (Mitsubishi). Both official Fiat Abarth teams were held up by punctures, each of them losing more than one minute. In the third trial of the day Andreucci was halted by a puncture when he was overall leader. But the 2003 Italian champion reacted well and fought his way back from 8th place to finish 6th. The sixth special section was fatal for Basso, who up to then had driven a steady race that found him in 6th place overall. A performance that left him well ahead of his direct rival in this opening race in the European Rally Championship, Jean Joseph (Renault). Andreucci and Basso both drove an attacking race and will surely continue to claw back positions in the remaining 4 special trials in tomorrow's second and final leg (Sunday, April 10).

The real problem in today's special trials was the alternating wet and dry road conditions, which meant that the right choice of tyres was a deciding factor.

Of drivers entered for the Fiat Abarth Trophy the leading teams are Colombini-Guglielmini, followed by Manzini-Salvadori and Pozzi-Curto, all in Fiat Punto Super 1600s and respectively in 16th, 20th and 22nd place overall.

Tomorrow, Sunday, April 10, the second and last leg with 4 special trials (252 km in all, of which 75 km timed trials). Start scheduled for 7.31 a.m. with the final arrival at 2.45 p.m.


Provisional standings after the first leg in the 29th 1000 Miglia Rally
1. Cunico-Pirollo (Mitsubishi), in 1h49'31.5"
2. Travaglia-Zanella (Renault), + 0.3"
3. Longhi-Imerito (Subaru), + 5.5"
4. Bizzarri-Bosi (Renault), + 47.1"
5. Navarra-Fedeli (Mitsubishi), + 1'12.6"
6. Andreucci-Andreussi (Fiat Punto Abarth), + 1'24.9"
7. Cantamessa-Capolongo (Subaru), + 2'07.3"
8. Basso-Dotta (Fiat Punto Abarth), + 2'28"
9. Perico-Carrara (Renault), + 2'37.1"
10. Dallavilla-Vernuccio (Citroen), + 2'38.9"


Turin, April 9, 2005

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