WRC Regroup: Sweden Special
Rally Sweden and Norwegian ski-jumping special
New look for Rally Italia Sardegna
The route of this year's Rally Italia Sardegna [9 - 12 June] features a number of changes compared to 2015, including the introduction of two brand new stages and the return of some Sardinian classics.
The Italian WRC counter moved to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia in 2004. It will be based for the third year in a row in the coastal city of Alghero in the north-west of the island with stages in the surrounding provinces of Sassari and Olbia-Tempio.
The stage action will kick off on Thursday night with the 2km Ittiri Arena Show Super Special, a modified version of the popular test that was run twice during Saturday's leg in 2015. Last year's opener, the Citta’ di Cagliari stage in the south coast capital city has been dropped.
Friday's schedule features 102 timed kilometres and a loop of four stages that is repeated after a mid point service in Alghero. Based in the Logudoro and Anglona regions, the day will start with the Ardara-Ozieri (7.5km), run in the reverse direction to 2015, followed by the all new Tula (15km). After a refuel crews will tackle Castelsardo (14km) and Tergu-Osilo (14.88km) both back in the itinerary after sitting out 2015.
Saturday will be the longest and toughest of the event with a total of six stages totalling 177kms in the Monte Acuto region. After the familiar Monti di Alà (21.20km) and Coiluna-Loelle (22.50km) stages crews will tackle an extended version of Monte Lerno, at 44km the longest stage of the event. Crews will run a second loop of the same stages in the afternoon after a mid point service.
Sunday's final leg features two stages, run twice without a service, that total 43.54 competitive kilometres. The loop will start with the all-new Sassari-Argentiera (10km) and then the 11.77km Cala Flumini stage which will be the live TV Power Stage again this year.
After a total of 19 stages and 325 timed kilometres, crews will head to Alghero’s harbour side - and then typically the harbour itself [below] - after the prize ceremony at 1345hrs.
