Cagliari inaugurates Rally Italia Sardegna

Thursday, June 11

11/06/2015 - All is ready at the Rally Italia Sardegna for this evening start when Cagliari is hosting the opening super special stage at 19:30 hrs. The first "act" of the six round of the 2015 World Rally Championship, however, took place in Putifigari, east of the city which is hosting race Head Quarter and Park Service Alghero, in the north-west of the Mediterranean island. In the morning the 4.36 km shakedown gave all WRC crew the possibility to test their car in view of three very demanding race legs up to Sunday. This evening test will be broadcast live on TV all around the world (in Italy on FOX Sports 2 HD) and 53 crews will challenge each other on a 1.25km circuit, to be repeated twice, devised in the Cagliari harbour area. Then, the first main change of the 2015 itinerary will be the race come back in the Oristano area after four years: Friday, June 12, the first leg of the rally will be completed by 9 speciale stages for a competitive distance of 133.50 km: they are Grighine Sud (26.31 km), Grighine Nord (18.34 km), Montiferru (14.41 km), Sagama (2.58 km), to be repeated twice, and the Sinis Mont'e Prama test (14.08 km).

First to start this evening Paolo Andreucci, co-driven by Anna Andreussi, on Peugeot 208 T16 R5, who, on the gravel roads of Sardinia, will challenge WRC2 contenders for the first time: "It was a nice gift from Peugeot for my 50th birthday", said the eight-time Italian champion. At the same time on track will be also Gianluca Linari and Nicola Arena's Subaru Impreza. With number one on his sidepods, however, will be Volkswagen Polo R WRC of French Sebastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia: "Everything is ok, no problem. This surface was quite soft, very representative of race conditions. Car went well on hard tyres", said reigning world champion after his shakedown. Soon before him will start his teammate Jari-Matti Latvala, co-driven by the other Finn Miikka Anttilla: "Car setup is ok, I went for hard tyres and I am very motivated", commented the latest Rally Portugal winner talking about this morning.

In the shakedown also Citroen DS3 WRC appeared in great shape with British Kris Meeke, co-driven by Paul Nagle, and with Mads Ostberg and his co-driver Jonas Andersson. Meeke said: "We set a very good time. Everything went well, a part from a little damage on the rear right tyre. It will be a very long and tough rally". Ostberg, who was runner-up in Sardinia last year, commented: "I experienced a very good feeling with the car. I tried hard and soft tyres and I am satysfied with my setup. Rally Italia Sardegna always is a very tough race but I like it and I feel good with the race and the island". Fastest time was set by Hyundai i20 WRC works crew Dani Sordo and Marc Marti. Spanish driver said: "It went well, shakedown was representative of the rally, Car setup is ok, we went for both hard and soft tyres. I am happy with my time and I am confident". Among the great stars of the race is expected to be Robert Kubica on Ford Fiesta RS WRC. Polish former F1 driver commented his shakedown: "It was very tough, with difficult conditions in its final part. Everything went well and car setup is ok. We tried new solutions and they worked in the right way". On the other side, Lorenzo Bertelli, co-driven by Lorenzo Granai on a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, experienced an engine overheating during his shakedown third loop.