IRC Sanremo Rally : BFGoodrich - PreviewRound 7 of the 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge promises to set the scene for a thrilling showdown not only between the Peugeot 207 S2000 and Abarth Grande Punto S2000 camps - the 'lions' and the 'scorpions' - but also between
BFGoodrich and its Italian rival.
In the chase for the Drivers' title, Spain's Enrique Garcia Ojeda (Peugeot/BFGoodrich) will be out to maintain his edge over Andrea Navarra (Abarth/BFGoodrich) who will have the advantage of home ground. The Sanremo also counts towards the Italian Championship in which Giandomenico Basso (Abarth/BFGoodrich) is targeting a second consecutive crown.
Sanremo is widely known for its flower industry, its cycle race (from Milan), its casino... and its rally. Indeed, Italy's round of the World Rally Championship was based in the Ligurian resort for many years before switching to the dust and gravel of mountainous Sardinia.
The Intercontinental Rally Challenge snapped up the chance to incorporate this legendary fixture in its calendar and consequently ensures continuing international rally action in the mountains that tower over the Riviera. And a glimpse at the 2007 entry list points to an exciting weekend of motorsport, with the battle between Peugeot and Abarth topping the bill.
Top names defending the Lions' corner include two Peugeot Italy/BFGoodrich entries, former Peugeot works driver and three-time Sanremo winner Gilles Panizzi alongside Luca Rossetti, winner in Ypres last June. Peugeot Spain/BFGoodrich will be represented by its usual line-up of current IRC leader Enrique Garcia Ojeda and Nicolas Vouilloz, third in the provisional standings thanks to a score of two wins. Bernd Casier will fly the Peugeot Belgium/BFGoodrich flag, while the French outfit BSA has entered BFGoodrich-shod Peugeot 207 S2000s for the 2003 JWRC Champion Brice Tirabassi and Julien Pressac.
The Scorpions' chances will be spearheaded by Abarth/BFGoodrich's Italian factory trio, namely Umberto Scandola, Andrea Navarra, who is second in the IRC standings, and Giandomenico Basso, clear winner in Madeira and leader of his home series. Renato Travaglia will also be out in an Abarth Grande Punto S2000, as will ex-WRC star Freddy Loix from Belgium.
Tyre manufacturer BFGoodrich will supply its partners with two types of g-Force Profiler, one for dry roads and available in two compounds (soft, A01; medium, A10) and the other for wet conditions (W00). The regulations do not permit run-flat systems, but competitors may carry two spares if they wish.
The route of this year's Sanremo Rally does honour to its glittering entry list, although the format does stray from today's norm. It starts late Thursday afternoon and the first three stages will be followed by a parade through the streets of Sanremo before moving on to the event's highlight, the 44km Ginestra test which begins at 10.57pm. The rally ends mid-afternoon Saturday after 217.48km of stages.
Press Release BFGoodrich
