Medici makes amends with IRC 2WD Cup win

Davide Medici said his maiden victory in the IRC 2WD Cup on Rallye Sanremo yesterday has made up for a miserable season in his native Italy.

The Clio Super 1600 driver headed home new title leader Stefano Albertini with Pierre Antoine-Guglielmi, the IRC 2WD Cup winner on Tour de Corse-E.Leclerc earlier this season, third to make it a Clio podium lockout.

Afterwards Medici said: “I’m very happy with this result. Before the rally I had hoped to achieve this victory but I knew it would be very difficult with so many fast drivers to compete against. I have had a frustrating season this year so this win is very important and very satisfying.”

Albertini, the winner of the last two IRC 2WD Cup rounds, reported losing ground when he was handed a slower than expected notional time for the halted Ronde night stage, while set-up issues on day two added to his frustrations. However, he was able to move ahead of Jean-Michel Raoux to the top of the drivers’ standings after the Frenchman failed to hit top form on his Sanremo debut.

Honda’s challenge unravelled when Sandro Sottile, the IRC 2WD Cup victor in Sanremo for the past two seasons, crashed on stage four and Estonian Martin Kangur retired following a spate of mechanical problems on Friday’s final three stages.

Harry Hunt, the defending IRC 2WD Cup champion, battled back from a tough opening day to claim ninth with Elwis Chentre 10th in a SKODA Fabia R2.

Chentre’s performance, and that of his team-mate Jaromir Tarabus ensured the Czech marque claimed maximum IRC 2WD Cup manufacturers’ championship points for the first time this season.

Michele Tassone was the leading Abarth 500 finisher in 16th.