Meeke takes early Madeira lead

News after SS1

5 August 2010 - 21:38

Kris Meeke has made an impressive start to Rali Vinho Madeira by winning the opening special stage along Funchal’s seafront.

Cheered on by thousands of spectators in baking sunshine, Meeke was three-tenths of a second faster than Bruno Magalhães through the 2.18-kilometre course as Peugeot 207 drivers filled the top two positions.

Jan Kopecký was third fastest in the first of the three factory Škoda Fabias with IRC leader Juho Hänninen fourth and Luca Rossetti fifth in his Abarth Grande Punto.

Freddy Loix, who is nursing an injured left shoulder, was sixth quickest, 2.5s off the pace in his Fabia.

Crews are now heading to overnight parc ferme in the outskirts of Funchal prior. Friday’s action gets underway at 09:01hrs local time and covers 12 stages.

Overall positions after SS1:

Pos.	Team	Car	Time
01	Meeke Kris / Nagle Paul	Peugeot 207 S2000	1m37.2s
02	Magalhaes Bruno / Magalhaes Carlos	Peugeot 207 S2000	+0.3s
03	Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	+0.7s
04	Hänninen Juho / Markkula Mikko	Škoda Fabia S2000	+1.1s
05	Rossetti Luca / Chiarcossi Matteo	Fiat Grande Punto S2000	+2.3s
06	Loix Freddy / Miclotte Fréderic	Škoda Fabia S2000	+2.5s
07	Sousa Bernardo / Silva Nuno	Ford Fiesta S2000	+3.1s
08	Fontana Corrado / Arena Nicola	Peugeot 207 S2000	+3.7s
09	Campos Miguel / Monteiro Aloisio	Ford Fiesta S2000	+5.0s
10	Nunes Miguel / Calado Victor	Peugeot 207 S2000	+5.2s
11	Sá Vítor / Rodrigues Nuno	Peugeot 207 S2000	+6.0s
12	Moura Ricardo / Costa Antonio	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX	+6.6s
13	Fontana Luigi / Casazza Renzo	Peugeot 207 S2000	+6.6s
14	Pascoal Vítor / Castro Mário	Peugeot 207 S2000	+6.7s
15	Silva Joăo / Janela José	Renault Clio R3	+8.4s

Rossetti stunned by shakedown pace Rossetti starts first on Friday in Madeira

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