Tue September 28, 2010

 The new DS3 R3T in San Remo The 114 competing crews did battle on tricky and narrow roads under changeable weather conditions. The two DS3 R3s that were entered proved to be competitive on territory that was completely different from the previous rallies they had known....

Mon September 27, 2010

 Andreucci wins San Remo for Peugeot The latest Peugeot Sport-developed 'Evolution' version of the 207 S2000 was present in Sanremo where examples were entered by the different Peugeot subsidiaries that are actively contesting the IRC. The newcomer lost no time revealing its potential when Kris Meeke emerged...

 Honda wins 2WD class in San Remo For the second consecutive year, Honda has won the prestigious two-wheel drive class on Rallye Sanremo in northern Italy, beating all the established opposition in the closely-fought R3 division....

Sun September 26, 2010

 Skoda declare Hanninen as champion San Remo, 25th september 2010 - After finishing second at the 52nd San Remo Rally, this year's tenth Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) event, Škoda Motorsport's crew Juho Hänninen – Mikko Markkula have become the IRC champions in the Drivers Competition....

Sat September 25, 2010

 52nd Rallye San Remo belongs to Ucci The race has been decided in the penultimate special stage. The direct rivals of the Tuscany driver, Rossetti and Basso suffered technical problems and punctures....

 San Remo Glory for ace Andreucci First IRC victory for Peugeot's Italian veteran Hanninen closes on IRC drivers' title with second place...

 Basso leads after day one in Italy Giandomencio Basso has completed the opening day of Rallye Sanremo with a lead of 5.2 seconds in his Abarth Grande Punto Super 2000 after the battle for victory on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier was turned on its head on the final 44-kilometre Ronde stage....

NEWS JUST IN

 I end: Andreucci wins mega battle @ 01:32 PM - Andreussi wins just, he did a mistake in backing off too much when the fight for 2nd, 3rd & 4th places was still raging. Loix passes Meeke, Kopecky passes Basso, 52years old Cunico drops to 9th behind Neuville, all in last stage. Final results (after SS11)(subject to last road section and scrutineering):
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 2h35m32s7;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +4s4;
3rd= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +34s1;
4th= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +38s3;
5th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat Abarth, +1m21s;
6th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m59s9;
7th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +2m17s9;
8th= Neuville/Klinger, Peugeot, +2m35s;
9th= Cunico/Pollet, Peugeot, +2m42s8;
10th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m43s9

 I SS10 - Abarth luck strikes again! @ 01:05 PM - Typical Abarth luck. Penultimate stage, Basso slowed with a differential problem, Rossetti with a puncture, the Abarth's dropping from a possible 1-2 to a 5-6. Results after SS10:
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 2h14m59s1;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +27s4;
3rd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +1m00s8;
4th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +1m01s4;
5th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat Abarth, +1m29s2;
6th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat Abarth, +1m34s3;
7th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +2m14s3;
8th= Cunico/Pollet, Peugeot, +2m36s;
9th= Neuville/Klinger, Peugeot, +2m47s3;
10th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m51s2

 I SS9 - A Skoda stage for a change @ 01:02 PM - Hänninen wins stage from Loix. Overall main change is Kopecky to pass Cunico for 7th. For Italian TV this is a 1.7km twisty village section of last night's 44km stage. Results after SS9:
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 1h59m14s2;
2nd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +2s5;
3rd= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +16s3;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +27s3;
5th= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +49s;
6th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +58s3;
7th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +2m04s8;
8th= Cunico/Pollet, Peugeot, +2m06s3;
9th= Neuville/Klinger, Peugeot, +2m25s6;
10th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m33s1

 I SS8 - Abarth closes in again @ 09:30 AM - Good stage win for Rossetti. Basso now only 0.9s off the lead. Bouffier drops 3min with a puncture, drops from 5th to 12th. Old star, 1993 winner and former Ford works driver 52 years old Franco Cunico moves 2 places up into 7th. Results after SS8:
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 1h57m55s1;
2nd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +0s9;
3rd= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat Abarth, +15s5;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +28s5;
5th= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +49s1;
6th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +58s4;
7th= Cunico/Pollet, Peugeot, +2m03s6;
8th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +2m05s3;
9th= Neuville/Klinger, Peugeot, +2m24s9;
10th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m32s7

 I SS7 - Tyre dramas for Abarth @ 08:46 AM - The Abarth's lose all their last night advantage again with a wrong tyre choice, dry tyres on the wet. But next stage is reported to be dryer again. They lose around 20sec each and the lead to Andreucci. Punctures for Longhi & Perico. Wilks crashed out. Results after SS7:
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 1h37m20s6;
2nd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +3s5;
3rd= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat Abarth, +26s5;
4th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +35s5;
5th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +46s9;
6th= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +47s8;
7th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +54s7;
8th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m48s2;
9th= Cunico/Pollet, Peugeot, +1m54s1;
10th= Magalhaes/Magalhaes, Peugeot, +2m06s3

Fri September 24, 2010

 DS3 R3 international debut in Italy! Having swept to class victory in Ireland and France, the Citroën DS3 R3 now moves to Italy from September 24-25 for the 52nd Rallye Sanremo....

 Honda ready for challenge of San Remo The Honda Civic Type R R3, built and run by JAS Motorsport in Italy, is contesting what will be practically a home event this weekend....

 Meeke where he secured his title 2009 The glamorous Italian Riviera town of Sanremo will become the venue for the last tarmac rally of this year's 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC)....

NEWS JUST IN

 I leg1 - Abarth shines in Night stage @ 10:05 PM - Abarth double win in 44km super long night stage. Basso is 15s quicker than anyone and takes the lead, coming from 4th. Meeke and Hänninen have spins and then are tied in time! Both drop 2 places. Superb time by oldtimer Cunico. Results after leg1 (SS6):
1st= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, 1h15m50s6;
2nd= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, +5s2;
3rd= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +17s5;
4th= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +46s9;
5th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +49s1;
6th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +56s4;
7th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +58s2;
8th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +1m28s2;
9th= Cunico/Pollet, Peugeot, +1m33s3;
10th= Perico/Carrara, Peugeot, +1m33s8

 I SS5 - Scandola does the usual @ 05:25 PM - Repeat of SS3, now regroup and 44km stage as SS6. Scandola crashed out of top10 before long stage. Shame, would have loved to see more of the 07 & 08 San Remo leader. Andreucci & Rossetti share stage win, Meeke back to 2nd overall, Boufier drops a place. Results after SS5:
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 44m31s8;
2nd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +7s8;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +10s;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +11s1;
5th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +13s1;
6th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +15s2;
7th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +24s5;
8th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +33s;
9th= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +44s6;
10th= Longhi/Baggio, Peugeot, +59s7

 I SS4 - Meeke lost lead to Andreucci @ 04:59 PM - Meeke lost 11sec and drops to 3rd, with Andreucci gaining 2 places for the lead. Travaglia had puncture. Big Skoda fight between Loix-Kopecky-Wilks. This stage was run for the first tiome, and longest of this loop. Results after SS4:
1st= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, 37m21s3;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +3s9;
3rd= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, +6s3;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +8s2;
5th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +11s5;
6th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +13s1;
7th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +16s4;
8th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +18s;
9th= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +27s3;
10th= Scandola/d'Amore, Ford, +39s

 I SS3 - Meeke replies @ 04:45 PM - Repeat of SS1, Meeke liked this stage before, Andreucci only 7th quickest and such Meeke extends lead. Results after SS3:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 24m24s2;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +4s9;
3rd= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, +5s2;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +6s8;
5th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +8s2;
6th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +10s9;
7th= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +15s9;
8th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +16s6;
9th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +17s8;
10th= Travaglia/Granai, Fiat-Abarth, +26s2

 I SS2 - Andreucci as expected @ 02:00 PM - Andreucci wins stage and moves from 4th to 2nd. The DS3 R3T is slightly slower than the Civic R3 on both stages. Stage even drier than 1st one when rain was expected. End of loop, next loop has 3 stages, then comes the mega night stage as loop3. Results after SS2:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 15m44s7;
2nd= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, +1s8;
3rd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +2s9;
4th= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +3s8;
5th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +5s7;
6th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +7s7;
7th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +9s8;
8th= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +11s5;
9th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +14s8;
10th= Scandola/d'Amore, Ford, +16s

 I SS1 - Meeke 1st leader in tight battle @ 01:06 PM - All tight after SS1, strong times by Meeke, Hänninen, Basso. Mikkelsen already crashed out in his Fiesta and Navarra's Fiesta also seems in problems. Crews expected rain, but stage was mainly dry. Results after SS1:
1st= Meeke/Nagle, Peugeot, 8m36s6;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +2s1;
3rd= Basso/Dotta, Fiat-Abarth, +2s8;
4th= Andreucci/Andreussi, Peugeot, +4s3;
5th= Bouffier/Panseri, Peugeot, +6s9;
6th= Rossetti/Chiarcossi, Fiat-Abarth, +8s;
7th= Kopecky/Stary, Skoda, +9s3;
8th= Wilks/Pugh, Skoda, +10s1;
9th= Loix/Miclotte, Skoda, +11s4;
10th= Scandola/d'Amore, Ford, +13s7

Thu September 23, 2010

 Driver lacking, not car, says Panizzi Three-time Rallye Sanremo winner Gilles Panizzi has played down his chances of success on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier this week but insists his pessimism has nothing to do with the level of competitiveness of his car compared to the IRC-pacesetting Skoda Fabia ...

 Nagle predicts titanic San Remo battle Co-driver Paul Nagle, who partnered Kris Meeke to Intercontinental Rally Challenge title glory in 2009, reckons that up to 12 drivers are capable of winning Rallye Sanremo, round 10 of the 12-event series, which gets underway in Italy tomorrow (Friday). ...

 Rally Radio broadcasting from San Remo Rally Radio from the IRC will broadcast world-wide from Rallye Sanremo, Round 10 of the IRC Series, with Julian Porter presenting, and Colin Clark heading the Stage End reporting team....

Fri September 17, 2010

 207's face strong opposition in Italy No fewer than 32 S2000 cars have been entered for the forthcoming Rallye Sanremo, round 10 of the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). Their numbers include 15 Peugeot crews, five of whom are backed by Peugeot subsidiaries and benefit from the very latest Evolution versio...

 Rallye San Remo Preview Here the general, compulsory Rallye San Remo 2010 preview....

 Panizzi joins PROTON for San Remo The PROTON R3 Rally Team will include one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Sanremo Rally when it starts the legendary Italian asphalt event next week. Three-time Sanremo winner Gilles Panizzi, who shares this distinction with Miki Biasion and Didier Auriol, wi...

 Meeke eager for wins in San Remo & RAC Kris Meeke has vowed to do all he can to win the Intercontinental Rally Challenge events in Sanremo and Scotland, even though his hopes of defending his IRC Drivers' title are all but over....

 Anticipation grows ahead of San Remo The prospects for Rallye Sanremo, round 10 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, are mouth-watering after entries for the Italian event peaked at more than 90 cars....

Mon September 13, 2010

 IRC and CIR meet in San Remo Both Championships will offer quite a challenge forbidden to people with heart problems. ...

Sun September 5, 2010

 San Remo to be World Challenge Entry to the international rallying classic, that’s going to take place from 21st to 25th September on the Ligurian west coast, is already open. The sixth round of Italian Rally Championship and the tenth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge is also part of the South-Wes...

Tue August 10, 2010

 WRCars shown in San Remo Sometimes they come back. Seven years after their last exhibitions on the asphalt of the Ligurian west coast, the World Rally Cars are back in the places were they were major protagonists. Opening the door to the “queens” of world rallying was Sergio Maiga and his staff brilliant...

 San Remo - Tuscany on hold Two legs all of them on the asphalt of the Liguria hinterland west coast: the 52nd edition of Rallye Sanremo will be like this again....