IRC Rallye Sanremo preview: The challenge

A thrilling contest is in store when Rallye Sanremo hosts the final all-asphalt event of the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season next week.

Based in the Italian Riviera town on the shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea, the event is a modern-day classic with the dramatic action contained within a 29-hour window on the tricky and narrow
mountain roads of Italy’s Liguria province overlooking Sanremo.

An established and popular fixture on the IRC calendar, Rallye Sanremo hosted one of four IRC pilot events in 2006 before becoming a founding round of the first IRC season in 2007.

Friday’s (23 September) itinerary features seven stages over a competitive distance of 116.09 kilometres with the first stage, Coldirodi, getting underway shortly before 14:00hrs local time.
Following two more stages crews return to Sanremo for the seafront service before tackling a further three runs, including repeats of Coldirodi and Bignone.

After a three-hour regroup and service in Sanremo; famed for its casino, delightful bars and tempting restaurants; the challenge intensifies with the Ronde stage, a 44-kilometre ultimate
test of car and crew, which is effectively an amalgamation of the Coldirodi, Apricale and Bignone tests. Run at night, the route is often subjected to changeable weather conditions with rain a constant
menace, meaning tyre choice is crucial for recording a top stage time.

The action resumes on Saturday morning (24 September) with two loops of three stages in the hills of Langan, Teglio and D’oggia totalling 109.68 competitive kilometres and split by a service halt in
Sanremo. The first crew is due to reach final service and the finish in Sanremo at 18:13hrs local time on Saturday.

The Rallye Sanremo stages are characterised by fast and flowing sections, frequent changes of rhythm, and blind and open corners with rapid climbs and descents commonplace. The ability to find the optimum line and maintain a high level of speed are essential for recording competitive stage times.

Road surfaces are predominantly smooth, albeit with some sections of broken asphalt. The tests on day two are known for providing better grip than on day one. The undulating nature of the roads places a great strain on the cars with the engine, transmission and brakes all being subjected to heavy punishment.

In addition to the main IRC, Rallye Sanremo forms the ninth rounds of the IRC Production Cup and the IRC 2WD Cup. However, the event no longer forms part of the Italian Rally Championship schedule as part of a rotation system.

All crews competing on Rallye Sanremo will be eligible for the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy, which is presented to the driver whose performance best embodies the spirit of the rallying legend. A panel of experts consisting of the IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Gilbert Roy, the Director of Editorial and Programme Development at Eurosport Events, and Jim McRae, Colin’s father, choose the winner on each round of the IRC.