IRC – Basso keeps Kopecky in check at Sanremo

Giandomenico Basso (Ford) led the entire first stage of the Rally Sanremo resisting attacks from Jan Kopecky (Skoda). After three short, contested special stages, the 44km long La Ronde route taken at night was going to be the justice of the peace for this day. The Italian was the fastest in the peloton and finished this stage with a lead of 25”6 over the Czech. After occupying third place, Paolo Andreucci (Peugeot ) fell to sixth place, more than a minute behind the leader after completing the 44km of the special. Alessandro Perico (Peugeot) regains this place, still 41 seconds behind Jan Kopecky.

The gaps are narrower in the top six since Stefano Albertini (Peugeot) is only four seconds behind his compatriot. Craig Breen (Peugeot) completes the top five by slotting itself between the Italian drivers, the Irishman only four tenths behind fifth place and having a lead of six seconds over Paolo Andreucci. Simone Campedelli had a very good day, taking seventh position in his Citroën DS3 R3T. The Italian is four seconds ahead of Frigyes Turan (Ford) who encountered overheating problems with his engine in the last special.

But the main victims of the Round are Juho Hänninen (Skoda) and Pierre Campana (Peugeot). While the Finn had climbed to fourth place in the previous special, the Fabia S2000 driver went off the road and retired in an accident. The Bastiais driver was able to reach the finish despite a broken rear differential on his 207 S2000 and is now more than six minutes behind the leader of the race although he had previously been in eighth place.

Robert Consani occupies second place in the Production Cup on his Renault Mégane RS. The Frenchman is 47 seconds behind the other Mégane RS of Federico Gasperetti. Bryan Bouffier, who made the Peugeot 208 R2's first competitive outing, occupies sixth place in the 2WD category with less than two seconds behind Robert Consani.

The crews will still have 118,9km to decide between themselves. The second stage of the Sanremo Rally will consist of three stages to be completed twice. The start will be given at 9:05 a.m. for the Colle Langan route (19,9km) before leaving for Passo Teglia (18,8km) and Colle d'Ogia (20,7km). Its second passage will be made from 15:20 p.m.