Our team prepares for WRC round six
The 2020 WRC season continues onto Rally Italia Sardegna, an event we have won three times in the past, and at which we are aiming for another competitive performance in this year’s edition.
A 1-2 result in Estonia and a double podium in Turkey has reduced the gap in the manufacturers’ championship to just nine points. Our three crews – Thierry/Nicolas, Ott/Martin and Dani/Carlos – all have victories to their name on Sardinian gravel, and will be aiming to repeat that success.
“We know the championship fight is incredibly close during this pandemic-affected season, so we have to approach Sardinia with the target of another competitive performance,” said our Team Principal Andrea. “Thankfully, we have three crews who have all demonstrated their ability to be fast there.”
Elements of mystery
Taking place later than its usual summer date, weather conditions are likely to be cooler, adding a new unpredictable variable to the event. The 16-stage itinerary covers three full days of action over a competitive distance of 238.84km.
Thierry, who triumphed in Sardinia in 2016 and 2018, is looking for another strong event after a second-place finish in Turkey. “There are nice beautiful roads with flowing, narrow stages,” said Thierry. “The natural characteristic of the stages suits my pace notes system and my driving style.”
Our Estonians were victorious in 2017 but suffered misfortune in the Power Stage last year. The crew will be looking to recapture their winning form and get their title ambitions back on track. Ott said: “Sardinia is normally a hot and tough event; this year the rally is taking place a bit later in the season so we might face some difficult conditions. Wet weather can change the full concept of the rally, so we have to expect a range of situations.”
Back on the scene
Dani and Carlos took a memorable maiden victory with our team in Sardinia in 2019. They return for their first WRC event since Rally México.
“I will never forget the feeling of taking that victory with Hyundai Motorsport and I hope we can repeat it this year,” said Dani. “The stages are normally quite slippery on the first pass because there is a lot of loose gravel on the surface; this can benefit those crews starting further back on the order.”
Action at Rally Italia Sardegna begins on Friday with a repeat loop of Tempio Pausania (12.08km) and Erula-Tula (21.78km), followed by Sedini-Castelsardo (14.72km) and Tergu-Osilo (12.81km). The latter two stages are run again as the conclusion to Saturday’s schedule after two passes of Monte-Lerno (22.08km) and Coiluna-Loelle (15km). Sunday’s four stages cover Cala Flumini (14.06km) and Sassari-Argentina (6.89km), each competed twice.
