SS1: Basso fastest on Sanremo opener

Giandomenico Basso leads Rallye Sanremo after winning the opening stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier, the 13.06-kilometre Coldirodi test.

Basso, who drives a turbocharged M-Sport Ford Fiesta RRC, was 9.4s faster than former IRC champion Juho Hänninen who is running first on the road in a normally aspirated factory ŠKODA Fabia S2000.

Paolo Andreucci was 4.2s adrift of Basso in his Peugeot 207 S2000 with Jan Kopecký 2.4s further back for ŠKODA Motorsport. Alessandro Perico was another 2.4s behind Kopecký. However, there was early frustration for ŠKODA Italia driver Umberto Scandola, who dropped 40s going off the road.

The stage was held in mainly dry conditions although some damp patches were reported. Click here for live IRC results.