Ex-champion Cavigioli plans 2WD title bid

Marco Cavigioli will return to the IRC 2WD Cup on Rally d’Italia-Sardegna this week – and still believes he has enough events left to repeat his two-wheel drive title success of 2008.

The experienced Italian has missed the first four rounds of the season but is planning to contest the remaining eight events, starting with the Olbia-based gravel rally, which runs from 4-6 June.

“The IRC has many attractions but one of the best things is that you don’t have to commit from the start of the season but can contest the events that suit you,” said Cavigioli, who will link-up with regular co-driver Enrico Cantoni. “The IRC is also very cost effective for the private competitor but I’m not just coming back because of an economical decision – the rallies are good and the competition is also strong.”

Cavigioli will use his Island Motorsport-run, diesel-powered Fiat Abarth Grande Punto JTD in Sardinia and the remaining gravel events but will compete on the asphalt rallies in a Fiat Abarth 500 R3T.

“The [500] is not so developed for gravel, so we will continue with the Punto for those events,” said Cavigioli. “I have missed not competing and also missed driving my Punto, which now has more power, up to 230bhp, and a new electronic management system.”

He continued: “My aim is to win the 2WD Cup but I realise the opposition will be hard with people like Kaspar Koitla in his Honda Civic, who will be very fast. But I will try.”