Wiegand plans bold tyre choice for Targa Florio opener

Sepp Wiegand hopes his decision to use the soft compound Michelin tyre for the opening stage of Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia tonight will give him an early edge on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier.

The 1.65-kilometre Citta’ Di Palermo test gets underway at 20:44hrs local time at the Sicilian capital’s old airport.

Wiegand, from Germany, said: “It’s a very short stage and can be really dirty so you will have more grip with the softer tyres. It’s only 1.6 kilometres and it’s possible the hard tyre will have no chance of warming up so maybe the softer tyre is the better choice but for tonight only. It’s my choice, my decision but I don’t know what the other drivers will have.”

ŠKODA Auto Deutschland driver Wiegand prepared for his Targa Florio debut with a test on Monday. “We find a good set-up and I feel very good with the car,” he added.