The shakedown will take place tomorrowIt's finally time for the Italian Rally Sardinia, the seventh round of World Rally Championship and Junior World Rally championship.
Tomorrow the shakedown will get underway, the first event of a spectacular three-day show.
The
shakedown is going to be a test for drivers and cars who will be run in the race. The action will start at 8.00 in the morning until 12.00, on La Crucitta di Sant'Antonio di Gallura place (distance of 4,3 km).
On a course that has the same technical characteristics as the rally's stages, the drivers will be able at last to set up their cars just for the three legs of the Italian Rally Sardinia, scheduled from Friday, the 18th from Sunday, the 21st.
The shakedown moment will be very important for the race strategies for Sabastian Loeb, the man who's leading the overall standings at the moment: “Now is the time to think for the championship,” said the 32 years old driver. “and every race will be crucial for us. We must start our race as quick as possible on the first leg, and take the advantage to manage our race in the other two legs.”
The main opponent for the World Champion will be
Marcus Gronholm, winner of two races so far in 2006. “We have done some important tests,” explained the Finn. “and I'm sure that it's now the moment to gain over. I must win, because I want to close an unlucky four-race sequence.”
The hopes of the Italians are focused on Gigi Galli and his co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini, driving the Peugeot 307 WRC back by Pirelli. After a remarkable third place in Argentina, the Italian have been followed by hundreds of fans coming from all over the nation. “I will not disappoint them,” mentioned the 33 years old driver. “Sure, the rally will finish only on Sunday in Olbia, but however I'm so motivated. In Argentina I have achieved my best result in the World Championship, in only my second race at the wheel of a new car. With the Pirelli tyres we made a good job and the package is very good. The special stages are much improved compared with what I have known two years ago and now I feel quite optimistic.”
After the publication of the First Leg order of departure, the crews will reach Porto Cervo from the 18,00 where at 20.
00 it will be the official start of the event with the Ceremonial start in Marina Vecchia.
All the drivers and the cars will parade on the ramp where, after three days of race, the protagonists will gather for the prize-giving ceremony on Sunday 21 (at 14.15).
The Ceremonial Start will also feature another fascinating parade. Such as an “out of time” meeting between different technical concepts of rally cars coming from different ages, a rare series of '70-'80s models will go onto the ramp before the newest ones.
It will be possible to admire 1970's Lancia Fulvia HF of Simo Lampinen, now Clerk of the Course in the Sardinian race; 1972's 124 Fiat Spider Gr.4 European Champion with Lele Pinto and Gino Macaluso; 1976's Lancia Stratos of Lele Pinto and Arnaldo Bernacchini; 1974's Fiat 124 Abarth of Fulvio Bacchelli and Bruno Scabini; 1978's Fiat 131 Abarth (Alitalia colors) of Markku Alen; 1983's Lancia 037 European Champion with Miky Biasion; 1986's Lancia Delta S4 of Markku Alen; 1992's Lancia Delta of Juha Kankkunen.
At the wheel of “Queens of International Rally” they will be, between the others, Simo Lampinen, Luigi Macaluso, President of the CSAI, Markku Alen, Piero Longhi and Piero Liatti. The entire collection will be exposed during the three days of contest in front of the Archaeological Museum of Olbia (Headquarter Rally).
Press release Rally d'Italia Sardegna
