After the first short show trial in Olbia, the Belgian Hyundai driver leads Katsuta on Toyota by half a second, ahead of four cars from the Japanese manufacturer
Giulio Masperi
02 June
– Milan
The Rally Italia Sardegna gets underway, the fifth round of the World Rally Championship and the second appointment on dirt roads of the 2022 season. On the first day, Thursday 2 June, after the first special stage, Thierry Neuville shines on the Hyundai i20 N, which takes half a second off the surprising Takamoto Katsuta in a Toyota GR Yaris. Third the other Japanese car with Elfyn Evans. The Sardinian weekend includes a total of 21 timed sections for a total of 307.91 kilometers.
RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA: THE SHAKEDOWN
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In the morning, in the Shakedown “Olmedo” over a distance of 3.53 km, Neuville signs the reference time on the Hyundai i20 N, which on the third lap stops the clock at 2’15”4; followed by the Toyota couple on GR Yaris, in the order Lappi (+ 0 ” 3) making their debut on dirt roads with the new hybrid car, and Evans (+ 0 ” 5). Fourth was Loubet’s Ford Puma (+ 1 ” 6) and fifth was the leader of the World Championship, Rovanperä (+ 1 ” 8).
RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA: FIRST DAY
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A lot of show in the late afternoon on the first special stage, short (3,230 kilometers) and very fast, in Olbia, starting on asphalt and most of the remaining dirt. In the end, Neuville scored the best time, placing his Hyundai i20 N in front of everyone in 2’26”8. According to the surprising Katsuta, on Toyota (+ 0 ” 5), ahead of team mate Evans (+ 0 ” 7). The leader of the championship, Rovanperä, finished fourth with the same time as his teammate Lappi (+1 ”). “Here in Sardinia it will not be easy for us, since from tomorrow (Friday, Ed) we will have the role of forerunner, but we will give everything” said Rovanperä. Satisfaction in the words of Neuville, winner in Sardinia in 2018: “We can have a good race, even if the conditions of the first special stage are very different from the following ones”.
RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA: THE PROGRAM
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Friday 3 June second day of the Wrc Rally Italia Sardegna: 8 special stages (133.56 km) are scheduled. It starts at 7.01 with the PS2 “Terranova 1” of 14.19 km, and ends at 18.31 with the PS9 “Sedini-Castelsardo 2” of 13.26 km. In the middle, the longest part of the entire weekend, the “Monti di Ala ‘e Budduso’” (24.7 km) which includes two passes in the morning. Saturday 4 June further 8 special stages (131.82 km): start with “Tempio Pausania 1” (12.03 km) from 7.46 and end with “Monte Lerno di Pattada 2” (17.01) with the start from 17.16. Sunday 5 June 4 specials (39.3 km): the grand finale with the power stage “Sassari-Argentiera 2” (7.10 km, from 12.18) and the podium ceremony on the Alghero seafront, from 15.
RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA: FIRST DAY RANKING
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After the first special stage held on the evening of Thursday 2 June, the “Olbia-Cabu Abbas” over a distance of 3.23 kilometers, here is the ranking of the top ten drivers.
- Neuville (Bel, Hyundai) 2’26 ” 8
- Katsuta (Jap, Toyota) + 0 ” 5
- Evans (GB, Toyota) + 0 ” 7
- Rovanperä (Fin, Toyota) +1 ”
- Lappi (Fin, Toyota) +1 ”
- Tänak (East, Hyundai) + 1 ” 3
- Sordo (Spa, Hyundai) + 1 ” 7
- Fourmaux (Fra, Ford) + 2 ” 2
- Breen (Irl, Ford) + 2 ” 4
- Greensmith (GB, Ford) + 3 ” 4
02 June 2022 – 20:10
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