08 May 2004 - 09:52 ERC: Rally Costa Smeralda, Italy Dati clinches third place!

The Mitsubishi drivers achieved a great performance in Sardinia, where they finished third and fifth overall and in the Group N after recovering many positions. Hatzitsopanis drove the first Lancer Evolution VIII tuned by RalliArt Italy in 14th overall position.

Emanuele Dati at the wheel of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Group N tuned by RalliArt Italy (with Pirelli tyres) and co-driven by Alessandro Giusti finished third overall and in the Group N the 23rd Rally Costa Smeralda (ERC coeff.5).

It's the second rostrum in this season for the driver from Massarosa and the third for RalliArt Italy. Luca Cantamessa and Piercarlo Capolongo, in the second Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII tuned by RalliArt Italy (but enterd by Gass Racing), had an excellent drive in the second leg and recovered two more positions, finishing 5th overall and only 1” slower than Sottile in the Production class.

RalliArt Italy drivers scored five fastest stage times (Dati in the S.S. 12, Cantamessa in the S.S. 9, 14, 15 and 16) thanks to Pirelli tyres. After the marvellous second “scratch” signed by Greek driver Hatzitsopanis (he ended 14th overall and 10th in the Group N) at the wheel of the first Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII Group N tuned by RalliArt Italy (and managed by Scuderia Ferraris Corse) in the Superstage 1, the Hellenic driver scored the 8th fastest time in the last stage.

Next event: Rally di San Marino, May 29-30 (gravel).

Press release
RalliArt Italy, [08/05/04 - 21:12]

Final results:
1.  A. Navarra / S. Fedeli        Subaru Impreza Sti     2:22'32.6
2.  P. Longhi / D. Fappani        Subaru Impreza Sti       +1'41.0
3.  E. Dati / A. Giusti           Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7   +2'33.4
4.  S. Sottile / M. Nari          Subaru Impreza Sti       +3'33.5
5.  L. Cantamessa / P. Capolongo  Mitsubishi Lancer Evo7   +3'34.5
6.  V. Eugeni / M. Businaro       Subaru Impreza Sti       +3'44.9
7.  P. Andreucci / A. Andreucci   Fiat Punto S1600         +5'14.6
8.  L. Ricci / A. Baruffa         Subaru Impreza Sti       +6'20.8
9.  A. Teiskonen / M. Teiskonen   Subaru Impreza Sti       +6'26.1
10. R. Travaglia / F. Zanella     Peugeot 206 S1600        +6'41.9

Drivers' Championship
1.  Navarra     48 pts
2.  Andreucci   47 pts
3.  Longhi      42 pts
4.  Basso       30 pts
5.  Dati        26 pts
6.  Cantamessa  22 pts