Rally Italia Sardegna returns to the FIA World Rally Championship after a year out of the series in 2010. Innovations this year include new stages during the opening leg and a different location for the service park at the Isola Bianca cruise terminal at Olbia Port. Rally Headquarters is based at the Museo Archeologico in Olbia.
Round five of the FIA World Rally Championship marks the debut competitive outing of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC and the two official MINI WRC Team entries piloted by Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke. At the top of the Championship leaderboard competition is fierce with no fewer than four drivers separated by just eight points. In Italy, Ford has 10 Fiesta RS World Rally Cars entered and Citroen’s Sebastien Loeb, current leader of the FIA World Rally Championship, will be hoping for win number four on the island.
The event is also the third round of the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship, in which Karl Kruuda, the youngest competitor in the series, will be looking to maintain his Championship lead. All 10 registered competitors will contest this first European round of the SWRC. Rally Italia Sardegna also sees the FIA WRC Academy crews taking to the stages again. Another Estonian, Egon Kaur, currently heads the leaderboard.
RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA – ROUTE GRAPHICS
CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2009
This year there are four completely new stages – Lago Omodeo, Alta Marmilla, Grighini Nord and Grighini Sud – all running in the opening leg around the remote service area at Siamanna. The remaining stages have all largely been used since 2004, providing a reasonably familiar route for the competing crews. The final stage of the rally – the 8.24 kilometre Gallura stage – will run as the Power Stage, in which additional Championship points are awarded to the fastest three drivers through this single stage. The action will be broadcast live on Rai Sport.
RALLY DATA
| Total distance: Stage distance: Number of stages: |
1,183.52km 339.70 km 18 |
RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA
Thursday 5 May Shakedown (P1 and P2) – 08:00 – 12:00 hrs
Shakedown (P3 and WRC Academy) – 10:00 – 12:00 hrs
Shakedown (Non priority) – 12:00 – 14:00 hrs
FIA press conference, Press Room – 13:30 hrs
Ceremonial Start, Molo Brin, Olbia – 20:00 hrs
Friday 6 May
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone, Siamanna – 12:37 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Olbia – 20:00 hrs
End of day press conference, Service Park, Olbia – During the 45’ service
Saturday 7 May
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone, Olbia – 12:35 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Olbia – 17:45 hrs
End of day press conference, Service Park, Olbia – During the 45’ service
Sunday 8 May
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone, Olbia – 09:49 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Olbia – 12:57 hrs
Prize-giving and podium ceremony, Molo Brin, Olbia – 13:10 hrs
FIA press conference, Press Room – 14:00 hrs
FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
Thursday 5 May
Albert Llovera, FIA Super 2000 World Rally ChampionshipKarl Kruuda, FIA Super 2000 World Rally ChampionshipEgon Kaur, WRC AcademyAndrea Crugnola, WRC AcademySÈbastien Loeb, CitroÎn Total World Rally TeamMalcolm Wilson, Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally TeamKris Meeke, MINI WRC TeamNick Shorrock, Michelin Competition
Sunday 8 May
Winning FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship crewTop three crews in the overall classificationRepresentative of the winning entrant
ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
• ‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place in the service park on the ‘WRC Stage’ at the earliest opportunity during the end of day 45 minute service.
• Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day 45 minute service at the teams’ service areas.
http://www.rallysportlive.com/2011/05/wrc-rally-italia-sardegna-2011-preview/