30 Септември 2003 - 16:12 Harri Rovanpera wins on Gallura's gravel Italian Rally Costa Smeralda

The crew of Harri Rovanpera and Risto Pietilanen at the wheel of a Peugeot 206 WRC entered by Grifone Rally Team, are the winners of the Rally Costa Smeralda. The 22nd edition started on Thursday night and has finished this afternoon through the beautiful Gallura's gravels. The race is valid for the penultimate appointment of the Italian Rally Championship, the Italian Gravel series on (the fifth stage of eight races) and the European Championship coeff. 5. Two days of great sport, 16 stages, the first leg with unknown stages, new for all the drivers.

On Thursday night the Finns started with a bad performance, because they had some problems with a turbine, final time about 44” from Andrea Navarra (Subaru Impreza WRC). Until the fourth SS of the first leg Andrea Navarra was at the head of the race, thanks to his wife Simona Fedeli, but later on in the fifth SS he had a small crash with a puncture and one broken lever of the suspension, so he lost about 30”, and the leadership was surrendered to the Greek Aris Vovos (Peugeot 206 WRC). Then he went off during the sixth stage, leaving Rovanpera free to conquer the leadership, fighting against Navarra's attacks.

Third step of the podium is for Gianluigi Galli, co-drivered by Chiara Bioletti (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII), also the winner of the Group N. He dominated the show of these two days. His performance level was always very high, he could outdo some powerful cars like the Ford Focus WRC. Giuseppe Grossi is one of the best Italian gravel driver, but this time he finished in fourth position, after two tough days. He had many difficulties to make the correct ways.

The 2WD has suffered the race, Paolo Andreucci (Fiat Punto Abarth) was always at the head of the result, in front of Renato Travaglia (Peugeot 206). A good performance after a puncture in the second leg yesterday, and the Italian Championship's leader Giandomenico Basso (Fiat Punto Abarth), who also had a puncture in the first leg.

Stefano Bizzari (Renault Clio S1600) also lost second place overall during the first special stage today, because of a double puncture (6 minutes lost), while Andrea Dallavilla (Fiat Punto Abarth), had set-up problems and then overturned. Yesterday Piero Longhi retired after competing for the lead. he stopped during the last stage of the first leg, because of a broken a suspension on his Subaru Impreza STI, and also Andrea Aghini (Peugeot 206) has destroyed a wheel during the SS8 in the same day.

Among the local crews, the winner is Luca Soddu (Mitusbishi Lancer EVO VI) after the great performance of Paolo Liceri (Subaru Impreza STI), stopped because of a broken engine during SS15.

Among the Factory Trophies, Basso (Fiat Punto) lead the way, followed by Sottosanti (Fiat Stilo), Vita (Mitsubishi EVO VII Cup), Brancadori (MG Rally), Martinis (Opel Astra OPC), Landini (Club 106N) and Eugeni (Subaru Cup).

Press release

Rally Costa Smeralda - final results

1. Rovanpera-Pietilanen, Peugeot 206 WRC 2:20'47”4
2. Navarra-Fedeli, Subaru Impreza WRC +53”0
3. Galli-Bioletti, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII +2'38”3
4. Grossi-Pavesi, Ford Focus WRC +5'04”0
5. Cantamessa-Capolongo, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII +6'49”3