Rally Italia Sardegna - Program

The seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia for the fifth consecutive gravel event of the season. Run in October last year, the event looks set to provide more gruelling action for the crews as high summer temperatures will put yet more strain on man and machinery.

This year the event takes its ceremonial start to the city of Sassari on Thursday, prior to two days of intense action amid superb scenery, providing a spectacular backdrop for Italy’s round of the Championship. One night stage run on Friday evening will add a further challenge, rounding off the action on the shorter of this two-day rally.

In addition to the WRC contenders, the FIA WRC 2 and WRC 3 crews will also be vying for honours on the final event before a five-week break for the series.

CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012

The route for the 2013 Rally Italia Sardegna will be largely familiar to the crews, with just 27.76 kilometres of completely new roads. The Qualifying Stage is however completely new this year.

RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA

— Round: 7/13
— Base and service park: Olbia
— Surface: Gravel
— Weather: Mediterranean summer climate, with generally hot temperatures that can reach 30°C.
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 5.50am/8.57pm
— Local time: GMT+2
— Currency: Local currency is the Euro.
— Website: www.rallyitaliasardegna.com
— Technical information: Spare parts (gearbox, differentials, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with the Portugal and Acropolis rallies.
— Tyres: 35 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres to be chosen from 24 hard compound and 16 soft compound tyres.
— Reconnaissance: Tuesday, 18 and Wednesday, 19 June from 8am to 8pm.
— Free practice and qualifying stage: Thursday, 20 June from 8am on a 3.86 km-long stage at Monte Pinu (17.84km from the service park).
— Route: 16 special stages (8 different stages). 306.00km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,102.43km.

RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA ITINERARY

THURSDAY 20 JUNE
8.00am: Free practice
11.00am: Qualifying stage (3.86km)
1.00pm: Selection of starting positions (Service Park)
1.30pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference (Geovillage Hotel – Olbia)
7.30pm: Ceremonial start (Piazza Italia – Sassari)

FRIDAY 21 JUNE
6.30am: Start (Service Park)
7.58am: SS1 – Monte Lerno 1 (31.08km)
10.46am: SS2 – Castelsardo 1 (14.00km)
11.34am: SS3 – Tergu-Osilo 1 (14.93km)
12.34pm: Service A (Sassari – 15 min)
1.49pm: SS4 – Castelsardo 2 (14.00km)
2.37pm: SS5 – Tergu-Osilo 2 (14.93km)
4.45pm: SS6 – Monte Lerno 2 (31.08km)
6.25pm: Service B (Olbia – 30min)
7.23pm: SS7 – Gallura 1 (13.55km)
8.13pm: Regroup (Arzachena – 50 min)
9.28pm: SS8 – Gallura 2 (13.55km)
10.30pm: Flexi Service C (Olbia – 45 min)

SATURDAY 22 JUNE
7.00am: Service E (Olbia – 15 min)
8.06am: SS9 – Monte Olia 1 (19.27km)
8.36am: SS10 – Terranova 1 (14.82km)
9.19am: SS11 – Monti da Ala’ 1 (22.25km)
10.27am: SS12 – Coiluna-Loelle 1 (22.35km)
1.04pm: Service E (Olbia – 30 min)
2.25pm: SS13 – Monte Olia 2 (19.27km)
2.55pm: SS14 – Terranova 2 (14.82km)
3.38pm: SS15 – Monti da Ala’ 2 (22.25km)
4.46pm: SS16 – Coiluna-Loelle 2 (22.35km)
6.41pm: Service E (Olbia – 10 min)
7.30pm: Podium (Molo Brin – Museo Archeologico – Olbia)
8.15pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Geovillage Hotel – Olbia)