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SS1: Mikkelsen takes the lead

Atkinson and Wilks in trouble

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23 September 2011 - 14:53

Rallye Sanremo has got off to a dramatic start with Peugeot UK’s Guy Wilks and PROTON Motorsports’ Chris Atkinson (pictured) both hitting trouble on the opening stage of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

While the cause of Atkinson’s stoppage is currently unclear, Wilks is reported to have hit a bridge and retired his 207 Super 2000.

Andreas Mikkelsen has maintained the pace he set in pre-event shakedown by going fastest on the 13.06-kilometre Coldirodi stage in his ŠKODA UK Motorsport Fabia to open a slender lead of 2.9s.

Bryan Bouffier was second fastest in his Peugeot France 207 with Thierry Neuville third quickest in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxmbourg 207. IRC title leader Jan Kopecký was fourth quickest with Umberto Scandola the leading Italian in fifth at the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta.

The top nine drivers were covered by 8.5s.

Overall positions after SS1

Pos.	Driver	Car	Time
1	Mikkelsen Andreas / Floene Ola	Škoda Fabia S2000	8m27.3s
2	Bouffier Bryan / Panseri Xavier	Peugeot 207 S2000	+2.9s
3	Neuville T. / Gilsoul Nicolas	Peugeot 207 S2000	+3.0s
4	Kopecký Jan / Starý Petr	Škoda Fabia S2000	+3.5s
5	Scandola Umberto / D’Amore Guido	Ford Fiesta S2000	+4.9s
6	Magalhães Bruno / Grave Paulo	Peugeot 207 S2000	+5.0s
7	Loix Freddy / Miclotte F.	Škoda Fabia S2000	+5.4s
8	Basso Giandomenico / Dotta Mitia	Proton Satria Neo S2000	+7.6s
9	Campana Pierre / De Castelli Sabrina	Peugeot 207 S2000	+8.5s
10	Gardemeister Toni / Suominen Tapio	Škoda Fabia S2000	+16.5s
11	Kruuda Karl / Järveoja Martin	Škoda Fabia S2000	+20.8s
12	Perico Alessandro / Carrara Fabrizio	Peugeot 207 S2000	+22.9s
13	Albertini Stefano / Scattolin Simone	Renault Clio R3	+29.0s
14	Hotz Grégoire / Ravasi Pietro	Peugeot 207 S2000	+31.4s
15	Vescovi Roberto / Guzzi Giancarla	Citroën DS3 R3T	+34.6s