IRC – Mikkelsen ahead of Sordo and Campana in Corsica

With three special stages on the program and a crazy lineup, the first day of the Tour de Corse has just made the mouths of all racing enthusiasts water. rally. In addition to being a legendary rally, this event risks displaying unbearable suspense until the finish. During the first special, the order of the Championship did not in any way reflect the classification of the special. At the wheel of his Fiesta S2000, Giandomenico Basso achieved the scratch ahead of the Mini S2000 of Dani Sordo and the Peugeot 207 S2000 Craig Breen. Although the gaps were minimal, Andreas Mikkelsen failed in fourth position. In the next, the Norwegian raised the bar as he took the scratch ahead of Sordo, Kopecky and Basso. At this point, the race was already losing one of its candidates for victory. It was a front driveshaft that put an end to the Irishman's hopes of success.

A nice surprise for the spectators came to conclude this stage on the Isle of Beauty with a best time achieved by Pierre Campana. This day therefore ends with a trio composed of Mikkelsen, Basso and Sordo remaining within three seconds. But 20 seconds behind, the French armada is watching for the slightest mistake from them. Campana, with his scratch, manages to climb to fourth place while Mathieu Arzeno (207 S2000) is a second and a half behind him. Besides Kopecky sixth, three other French drivers complete the top 10, namely Bryan Bouffier, Julien Maurin and Jean-Marc Manzagol.

The positions therefore seemed fixed at the end of these first three specials but a twist of theater redistributed the cards with the retirement of Giandomenico Basso. The Fiesta S2000 driver, who was in second place less than two seconds behind Andreas Mikkelsen, had an accident while returning to the service park. The Italian therefore gives up second place to Dani Sordo while Pierre Campana stands out by occupying third place less than 20 seconds from the lead of the event. Mathieu Arzeno (207 2000) is fourth ahead of the Fabia S2000 of Jan Kopecky and the 207 S2000 of Bryan Bouffier. The first six drivers are held within 30 seconds.