By Paul Evans
Elfyn Evans made a good start to Rally Italy today, setting the seventh fastest time on the opening stage in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC – a mere 1.8 seconds off the fastest time.
Around 20,000 people packed into the former motocross track in Ittiri, not far from the host town of Alghero, to watch the FIA World Rally Championship stars in early action.
It was a tricky little stage, with a big artificial jump and a very deep watersplash, but it was no trouble for Evans and co-driver Scott Martin as they set a good time.
“All okay, it wasn’t a bad run to be honest,” said Evans. “It will be tough out there but it’s the same for everyone!”
Tomorrow is a different matter entirely, with eight very rough and rock-lined stages in the northeast part of Sardinia. And worst still, the forecast predicts that temperatures will hit 40°C on Friday – unseasonably high for this time of year, which will result in ferocious temperatures inside the cars.
Rally Italy – leading positions after SS1
1. Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroën C3 WRC) 2m00.7s
2. Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (Citroën C3 WRC) +0.1s
3. Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Toyota Yaris WRC) +0.3s
4. Kris Meeke/Seb Marshall (Toyota Yaris WRC) +0.4s
5. Teemu Suninen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Fiesta WRC) +1.6s
6. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +1.8s
7. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Ford Fiesta WRC) +1.8s
8. Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +2.0s
9. Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger-Amland (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +2.1s
10. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (Toyota Yaris WRC) +4.0s