Problems for Scandola promote Perico

Alessandro Perico will start the final three stages of Rallye Sanremo as the highest-placed Italian driver after Umberto Scandola suffered problems with the steering of his M-Sport Ford Fiesta S2000.

Scandola started stage 10, the 15.47-kilometre Colle d’Oggia run, in seventh position but was almost 2m40s off Freddy Loix’s fastest time. He slips to eighth in the overall classification, one position behind Perico.

“We had problems with the steering, it appeared a few kilometres after the start,” said Scandola, who is contesting his first Intercontinental Rally Challenge event of 2011.

Fellow Italian Giandomenico Basso was also in trouble in his PROTON Motorsports’ Satria Neo S2000 after a suspected alternator problem developed. He falls back to 12th overall, 5.5s behind Swiss privateer Grégoire Hotz.

There has been some good news for Italian crews this morning with Davide Medici continuing to lead the IRC 2WD Cup from countryman Stefano Albertini.