Category 3 leader Zippo and Denis Piceno are lying third overall in the no4 Audi quattro, just 0.2 seconds behind the no1 Lancia and over 7 minutes ahead of his nearest Category rival, the no35 Porsche 911 of Jean Paul Palermo and Mattia Pastorino.

The battle for the honours in Category 2 is close with the no24 Porsche 911 Carrera RS of Maurizio Pagella and Roberto Brea finishing the day at the head of the field. However, it was the no23 Porsche of Paolo Pasutti and Giovanni Campeis who set the fastest time on the first five stages only to have an issue on the sixth and final stage of the day, dropping 30 minutes on their rivals and from first to last in class.  

Laszlo and Edit Mekler finished the day 53.3s adrift of the leading Porsche in the no22 Alfa Romeo GTAm 1750, with the no18 Porsche 911 RS of Anders Johnsen and the no37 Ford Escort RS1800 of Ernie Graham split by just 1.5 seconds.

Reigning Category 1 champions Antonio Parisi and Giuseppe D’Angelo have got their title defence off to a solid start finishing the day 4m36s ahead of the no38 BMW 2002Ti of Carlo Fiorito and Marina Bertonasco.

Day two of the Sanremo Rally Storico will feature eight special stages, with the first stage due to start at 08h18 on Saturday 10 April.

CLICK HERE for the results from the Sanremo Rally Storico

For more information on the 36th Sanremo Rally Storico CLICK HERE