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WRC - 2015 Rally Italia Sardegna - Preview

08.06.15
Rally Italia Sardegna, the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, returns to the west coast resort of Alghero for the second consecutive year, this time to a new headquarters at the Lu Qualté. Italy’s round of the series, originally based in Sanremo, has been part of the Championship since 1973 but moved to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia and formerly the town of Olbia in 2004.

The fourth consecutive gravel event this season will pose yet another challenge for the 61 crews scheduled to take the start. Fast but narrow roads leave little room for error and, while the roads have a hard base, their sandy surface will reveal rougher and more rutted conditions during the second passage through the stages. High early summer temperatures will also take their toll on man and machinery.

Rally Italia Sardegna will be broadcast live on the international feed, covering the super special stage in Cagliari (SSS1) and the closing Power Stage (SS23).

 

THE 2015 ROUTE

The event kicks off in the southern city of Cagliari where crews will tackle a super special stage, this year run over two laps. Friday’s opening day around Oristano is new with some of the roads never driven before and others unused since 2011. Saturday presents one of the longest challenges in the WRC with over 200 kilometres of competitive stages. Stages 11/16 and 15 were not used last year, but the rest of the day’s stages have previously run in some configuration. The day also includes two runs over the 42.22 kilometre Monte Lerno stage and its stomach-churning ‘Micky’s Jump’. The final day of competition includes two runs through the new Olmedo Monte Baranta stage before the event reaches its climax on the Cala Flumini Power Stage.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:1,548.65 km
Stage distance:394.63 km (25.4%)
Number of stages:23

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Centre is located at the Media Centre at the Lu Qualté, Largo San Francesco, 07041 Alghero. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 9 June14:00 – 21:00 hrs 
Wednesday 10 June08:00 – 21:00 hrs
Thursday 11 June06:30 – 21:00 hrs
Friday 12 June 07:30 – 14:00 hrs  

RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 10 June
Mandatory rally by rally photographers briefing, 17:00 hrs
Photographers’ Room
Autograph session (P1 and P2 crews), Service Park19:30 hrs
Street Parade (P1 and P2 crews), Alghero20:00 hrs
Thursday 11 June
Shakedown (P1 and P2 drivers)07:00-08:30 hrs
Shakedown (P1, P2 and P3 drivers)08:30-10:30 hrs
Shakedown (Non-Priority drivers)10:30-11:30 hrs
Meet the Crews, WRC Stage, Service Park12:00 hrs
FIA Press Conference, Press Room13:00 hrs
SSS1, Cagliari19:30 hrs
Friday 12 June
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone12:41 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone21:35 hrs
End of day ‘Meet the Crews’, WRC Stage, Service ParkDuring the 45' service
Saturday 13 June
First car arrives for mid-day service and Media Zone13:33 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone21:40 hrs
Meet the Crews, WRC Stage, Service ParkDuring the 45' service
Sunday 14 June
Regroup, Alghero Sella e Mosca10:57 hrs
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone13:17 hrs
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony13:45 hrs
FIA Press Conference, Press Room15:00 hrs 

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 11 JuneFabio Andolfi, FIA WRC 3 Championship
TBC, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Karl Kruuda, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Kris Meeke, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Lorenzo Bertelli, FWRT
Elfyn Evans, M-Sport World Rally Team
Hayden Paddon, Hyundai Motorsport N
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport
Sunday 14 JuneWinning FIA WRC 3 Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative 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 on the WRC Stage at the earliest opportunity during the 45’ 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 service at the teams’ service areas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2015/standings

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2015/stage-chart-4