After the first four races, Andrea Pisano from Osilia, navigated by Salvatore Musselli (Skoda Fabia R5 Rally2) is leading the 29th International Rally Golfo dell'Asinara with a time of 23'59”9.
The first day of competition has already provided emotions and surprises, with the 39-year-old from Team Magliona who, after the departure from Porto Torres, won the first passes on the Codrongianos and Usini specials, then also won the Codrongianos 2 and retained the lead after finishing the last race in third place. In the first pass on the treacherous Usini 1, the 11km of length had allowed Pisano to accumulate a 6"-7" advantage over his most aggressive pursuers, which was then lost due to the puncture 3-4km from the end of the second pass on Usini.
In second position, 1"8 behind, Giuseppe Testa from Molise and Marco Murranca from Sardinia, who thanks to the victory in Usini 2 with an excellent time of 7'39" (15" less than his first pass and 8" less than the record set by Pisano in the first lap) crumbled the 9"2 advantage that the first in the standings boasted over them. Third place, at 10"4, for Marino Gessa and Salvatore Pusceddu, who arrived at the Gulf of Asinara Rally with the ranks of leader of the Zone 10 Rally Cup and the Regional Championship. Completing the top 5 are Giuseppe Mannu from Osilia, navigated by Carlo Pisano from Sassari, and Antonio Dettori from Alghero, supported by navigator Marco Demontis. Eleventh overall and first among the “two-wheel drive”, Fabrizio Martinis and Valentina Boi (Peugeot 208 Rally 4) at 1'44”3. The day ended in Alghero's Piazzale della Pace, coinciding with the "Birralguer" beer festival.
The rally of Auro Siddi and Giuseppe Maccioni from Selargino has already finished, forced to retire due to an engine problem. Also out are Pisano-Sirigu, Masala-Cottu, who will return with the super rally, definitive withdrawal for Abate-Borzacchini, Tria-Piccinnu, Gorme-Mazzone. Caenazzo-Fodde was also definitively out, having stopped during Usini 1 due to a fire with no consequences for the crew on their Renault Clio, an inconvenience which caused the suspension and definitive cancellation of the test and the time imposed on the subsequent cars.
«Very positive impressions, I had never tried this car before, I hadn't even done a test, and being at the top with top-level rivals like Testa, Gessa and the others is a great thing. Lap after lap", explains Pisano, "we made some adjustments in our favor, it's a shame about the puncture 3-4km from the end of Usini 2, otherwise we could have improved the time set in the first lap even further. Tomorrow's tests are wider, less dirty, fast and very beautiful but unfortunately short, so there will be no way to accumulate important gaps. Maybe in the San Lorenzo, downhill, you can go very fast but you will need to be careful."
In the Historic Rally , Fabrizio and Marco Colombi (Bmw M3) are in the lead (in 18'57”9) after the first three stages (the two passes on the Codrongianus and the second on the Usini), since the Usini 1 of the Historic was canceled due to the fire on car 41 of the Moderno. Second Pietro Pes di San Vittorio and Stefano Cirillo (Opel Kadett Gsi) at 18”1, third Casalloni-Figoni (Peugeot 205) at 2'33”2).
Today, at 9.15am, the cars will leave the night reorganization in Alghero in the direction of the Sassari service park, from which they will then reach the special Bunnari (6.55km, 10.50am and 1.55pm), Osilo (4.56km, 11.30am and 2.35pm) and San Lorenzo (7.47km, 11.45am and 2.50pm), to be repeated twice with an intermediate regrouping at 12.10pm at the Seventh Descent to Mare di Sorso and access to the Sassari service park at 1.05pm. Starting from 3.30 pm, the arrival with a sea view and the awards ceremony will end in style at the port of Castelsardo.
