Andreucci takes Italian Championship lead

The eighth round of the Italian Rally Championship ’09 (September 11/12), the fourth on gravel, has been hard-fought and fascinating.

128 timed kilometers on the beautiful gravel roads of the Gallura region in Sardinia, with unforeseen turn of events. Porto Cervo and Olbia hosted the two days event and the 62 entered crews.

The race started on Friday with a Superspecial stage at Cala Saccaia, Olbia industrial harbor. On Saturday crews tackled 9 special stages and Paolo Adreucci, winning 5 of them, scored 10 important points for the Italian Rally Championship classification. Abarth drivers’ Anton Alen and Luca Rossetti tried to fight in any way.

The son of the unforgettable Finnish champion started hard, winning the 1st and 4th special stages, only 2 seconds behind Paolo Andreucci leader of the classification. A mistake on Special Stage 7 stopped the young Finnish driver.

In the same special stage Luca Rossetti suffered a puncture and a mechanical problem and arrived with 8 minutes delay at the next TC.

Paolo Andreucci finished with a deserved victory, 2nd Rossetti, 3rd Travaglia, for the fourth time (2001/2006/2008).

Fourth overall the young driver Simone Campedelli, who, due to a puncture on the last special stage, has been passed by Travaglia. Fifth overall Andrea Navarra in a Subaru.

The next round of the Italian Rally Championship is the "51st Rallye Sanremo” (September 25/26)

Final Results of the 28th Rally Costa Smeralda Sardegna
1. Paolo Andreucci – Anna Andreussi (Peugeot 207 S2000) in 1h27’12”8
2. Rossetti – Chiarcossi (Abarth Grande Punto) at 1’22”3
3. Travaglia– Granai (Peugeot 207 S2000) at 2’39”9
4. Campedelli – Fappani (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) at 2’42”3
5. Navarra – Cerrai (Subaru Impreza N14) at 3’23”4
6. Perego – Pizzuti (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX) at 3’25”9
7. Battistini – Pinelli (Peugeot 207 S2000) at 4’12”1
8. Bruschetta – Civiero (Subaru Impreza N14) at 4’23”8
9. Zheludov – Kolomeytseva (Skoda Fabia S2000) at 5’20”7
10. Fanari – Stefanelli (Subaru Impreza N12) at 7’07”6

ITALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers’ Classification : 1. Andreucci (Peugeot) 54 points; 2 Travaglia 52 ; 3. Rossetti (Abarth) 46: 4. Cavallini (Peugeot) 14; 5 Longhi (Skoda) 13 ;
Manufacturers’ Classification : 1. Peugeot 118 points ; 2. Abarth 88 ; 3. Mitsubishi 28; 4. Skoda 19; 5. Subaru 13

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