Several of the leading EHRC contenders failed to make it to the end of the day.  In Category 3 the no4 Audi quattro of ‘Zippo’ and Nicola Arena had an accident on SS2, the Audi’s front right wheel pointing in the wrong direction, but the crew were OK.  The no2 Lancia Delta Integrale of ‘Lucky’ and Fabrizia Pons also failed to make it to the end of the day after an oil pump failure. 

The no3 Porsche 911 of double category 4 winners Lucio Da Zanche and Daniel De Luis also retired after the opening stage of the rally, the car suffering from technical issues.  

Valter Jensen and Eric Pedersen’s no18 BMW M3 also had issues on the opening day when the car ran out of fuel.  The BMW’s fuel gauge was recalibrated on Friday evening and the Norwegians will re-join the rally for the second leg. 

The battle in Category 2 is going to be the one to watch during the second leg. The no15 Porsche of Paolo Pasutti and Giovanni Campeis is the top EHRC car, 21 seconds ahead of the second and third placed cars of Ernie and Karen Graham (no24 Ford Escort RS1800) and Vojtech Stajf and Vladimir Zelinka (no23 Opel Kadett C-GTE), who are just 1.5 seconds apart.

Antonio Parisi and Giuseppe D’Angelo are out in front in Category 1 in the no31 Porsche 911 S, 2 minutes 50 seconds ahead of the no77 BMW 2002 Ti of Carlo Fiorito and Marina Bertonasco.  

CLICK HERE for the results from Leg 1 of the Rally Elba Storico, Round 7 of the 2021 FIA European Historic Rally Championship.