The first, intense and challenging stage of the 23rd Rally Italia Sardegna concluded this evening with Belgians Neuville and Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) in the lead. The 2024 world champion set the fastest time on both runs of the Filigosu today and took the lead by winning the final stage of the day, the Monti di Alà 2. But Hyundai had already taken center stage this morning, with Fourmaux, who had won the Tula-Erula 1 and 2 and led from today's second stage (Ogier had been in the lead after the first), to the penultimate stage. At the moment the Frenchmen Fourmaux-Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) are 0.4 seconds behind Neuville, and in third place, 12.3 seconds behind, are Solberg-Edmondson (Toyota Gr Yaris Rally1), who won the Monti di Alà 1 and appear, at the moment, to be the most competitive of the three crews in the running for the drivers' title. The other two are behind Ogier-Landais (Toyota Gr Yaris Rally1, fourth at 37.4. Pajari-Salminen (Toyota Gr Yaris Rally1) are fifth at 40.2, ahead of Evans-Martin (Toyota Gr Yaris Rally1) at 1'08.9. First of the Italians, in 14th place overall, are Daprà-Guglielmetti (Skoda Fabia Rs Rally2, at 5'53.3). The errors “in the landing” after the spectacular jumps of the Tula-Erula betrayed Rossel, who damaged the front of the Lancia) and the Schwarz-Coronado crew, taken to hospital for safety checks.
The Sardinians
Leading the Sardinian field, in 27th place overall and 1st in Rally3, were Bitti-Pirisinu (Renault Clio Rally3, 18:13), who however had gearbox problems. Dettori-Pisano (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, 22:19.9) slipped to 34th place due to mechanical problems encountered in Alà, after a rollover in the previous stage. The other Sardinians: Pozzo-P. Cottu (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) in 35th place, 23:34.7; Marrone-Fresu (Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2) in 42nd, 30:48.3; Tali-Libera (Ford Fiesta Rally2) in 43rd, 31:19; in 44th Mara-V. Cottu (Peugeot 208 Rally4) at 32'41"9; in 48th Tilocca-Musu (Ford Fiesta Rally3) at 45'54"1; in 50th place Ledda-Mele (Opel Corsa Rally4) at 51'11"1; in 56th place Fosci-Tendas (Renault Clio Rally5) at 1h45'36"3.
Tomorrow, three more stages will be run twice, for a total of 120 km of time trials. They are Lerno-Monti di Alà (24.14 km, 8:01 and 14:31, both live on Rai Sport and Sky), Coiluna-Loelle (24.83 km, 9:11 and 15:41), and the new Solorché (12.86 km, 10:07 and 16:37).