Motorsport - Rally: "Ciocco", Basso in the lead

Rain throughout the entire day yesterday of the 48th edition of the Rally of "Ciocco and Serchio Valley", inaugural race of the Italian absolute rally championship "Sparco", put the skill of the pilots and the reliability of their vehicles to the test. Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai, with the Skoda Fabia Rs Rally 2, with Pirelli tyres, finished in the lead in the first part of the rally which included six special stages.

Nice comeback in the final phase yesterday Andrea Crugnola, with the navigator Ometto, on Citroen C3 Rally 2, prepared by Fpf and fitted with Pirelli tyres. Crugnola is now in the standings just 4”3 behind Basso. In third place at 18”, Bostjan Avbelj with Andrejka on the notes, on a Skoda Fabia Rs Rally 2 by Munaretto with Pirelli tyres.

In the shakedown, held on Friday evening, along the two kilometers of the "Il Ciocco" stage, the best time of 1'35”5 was achieved by three drivers tied: Basso, Avbelj and Gryazin. In the first special stage, yesterday morning, in the 2.02 kilometer power stage, held on the classic track created inside the Ciocco estate, Nikolay Gryazin, the Russian with Bulgarian passport, protagonist of the WRC2 world championship, prevailed, ahead of Alessandro Re, distanced by not even a second and Bostjan Avbelj at 1”1.

In the "Fabbriche di Vergemoli n.1" of 14.14 km, best time by Bostjan Avbelj with only Giandomenico Basso able to keep up the pace, then distanced by less than two seconds. The special test 2 was then interrupted after the Toyota of Thomas Paperini and Gabelloni went off the road with their consequent withdrawal. In the "Coreglia n.1", of 7.49 kilometers, redemption by Gryazin, best time ahead of Basso. In the "Ciocco 2", first Gryazin ahead of Avbelj and Basso. In the "Fabbriche di Vergemoli 2", of 14.14 kilometers, first joint Crugnola and Basso. Finally in the "Coreglia 2", best time by Gryazin ahead of Crugnola Basso.

This morning the last special stages. At 9.26 the "Puglianella n.1" of 7.29 km; at 9.46 the "Careggine" of 19.75 km; at 10.45 the "Ciocco n.3" of 2.02 km; at 13.07 the "Puglianella n.2" of 7.29 km; finally, at 13.27, the "Careggine n.2" of 19,75 km.

Dino Magistrelli