From wrc.com files
Following consecutive long haul trips to Argentina, Mexico and Jordan, the FIA World Rally Championship returns to Europe this week for round six of the 15-event series, Rally d'Italia Sardegna.
The Sardinian event, which starts on Friday 16 May, is the first of a group of three warm weather Mediterranean gravel rallies to be run over five weekends before the summer break.
The Italian round of the WRC was previously the Rallye Sanremo, based on asphalt roads around the Italian Riviera resort. But in 2004 the event switched from asphalt to gravel and from the mainland to Sardinia and it's remained there ever since. In common with previous years, the opening and closing ceremonies take place in the resort of Porto Cervo in the northeast of the island, while the single service park is based in the port at the nearby town of Olbia.
The event's 17 stages are made of fine and sandy gravel with a hard-packed base below and are surprising fast, given their tight, narrow nature. This provides a stern challenge for drivers who must balance the desire to push with the need to avoid the numerous stones and rocks that litter the roadside - especially on the second pass.
This year organisers have made a number of changes to the route and 29 per cent of it is new or run in the opposite direction to previous years. Much of the new distance is covered on the opening day, which nevertheless returns to traditional territory south of Olbia in the Nuoro region.
The second leg is similar to last year's, covering more inland tests in Gallura and including the spectacular Monte Lerno jump. The final day moves away from Tempio Pausania and Arzachena for tests south of Olbia before a short, final stage around the 5-star hotel resort 'Cala di Volpe' - home to James Bond in 'The spy who loved me'. In total drivers will tackle 17 stages covering 344.73km.
Weather conditions in Sardinia are expected to be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, and should be ideal for the single tyre chosen for the rally - Pirelli's hard compound Scorpion - which has reinforced sidewalls to offer increased protection against punctures. If that's not enough, each car can carry two spares.
As the first of the trio of Mediterranean gravel rallies, Sardinia is a good indicator of how the championship might develop between now and August. The battle between main contenders Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen took an unexpected turn after Loeb's bizarre exit from Jordan, but the incident means that after five rounds it's still tight at the top.
Hirvonen has not finished lower than fifth all year and has taken points from every round. His first win of the season, in Jordan, helped him back to the top of the drivers' table.
photo:Citroën Communication - McKlein
Following consecutive long haul trips to Argentina, Mexico and Jordan, the FIA World Rally Championship returns to Europe this week for round six of the 15-event series, Rally d'Italia Sardegna.
 |
| Sébastien Loeb - Citroën C4 WRC |
The Italian round of the WRC was previously the Rallye Sanremo, based on asphalt roads around the Italian Riviera resort. But in 2004 the event switched from asphalt to gravel and from the mainland to Sardinia and it's remained there ever since. In common with previous years, the opening and closing ceremonies take place in the resort of Porto Cervo in the northeast of the island, while the single service park is based in the port at the nearby town of Olbia.
The event's 17 stages are made of fine and sandy gravel with a hard-packed base below and are surprising fast, given their tight, narrow nature. This provides a stern challenge for drivers who must balance the desire to push with the need to avoid the numerous stones and rocks that litter the roadside - especially on the second pass.
This year organisers have made a number of changes to the route and 29 per cent of it is new or run in the opposite direction to previous years. Much of the new distance is covered on the opening day, which nevertheless returns to traditional territory south of Olbia in the Nuoro region.
The second leg is similar to last year's, covering more inland tests in Gallura and including the spectacular Monte Lerno jump. The final day moves away from Tempio Pausania and Arzachena for tests south of Olbia before a short, final stage around the 5-star hotel resort 'Cala di Volpe' - home to James Bond in 'The spy who loved me'. In total drivers will tackle 17 stages covering 344.73km.
Weather conditions in Sardinia are expected to be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius, and should be ideal for the single tyre chosen for the rally - Pirelli's hard compound Scorpion - which has reinforced sidewalls to offer increased protection against punctures. If that's not enough, each car can carry two spares.
As the first of the trio of Mediterranean gravel rallies, Sardinia is a good indicator of how the championship might develop between now and August. The battle between main contenders Sebastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen took an unexpected turn after Loeb's bizarre exit from Jordan, but the incident means that after five rounds it's still tight at the top.
Hirvonen has not finished lower than fifth all year and has taken points from every round. His first win of the season, in Jordan, helped him back to the top of the drivers' table.
photo:Citroën Communication - McKlein