WRC stars roll back the years in Italy

Two-time champion Marcus Grönholm led the field out of the town of Varzi and into the surrounding hills for a Friday evening loosener ahead of a full day’s sport on Saturday. The Finn wound back the years beautifully, with a fine run through the first stage to take eight seconds out of everybody in just six kilometres.

Sadly for him and his now FIA sporting delegate co-driver Timo Rautiainen, they went off the road at the right-hander after the finish, leaving their Subaru Impreza WRC too badly damaged to continue.

Vodafone Rally de Portugal WRC2 podium sitter Andreas Mikkelsen wound back the years to drive a Škoda Fabia S2000 similar to the one he used through Volkswagen Motorsport’s ‘training’ season in the 2012 WRC.

The Norwegian loved listening to the rasping two-litre motor, saying: “It’s been a great week. The car brings back so many memories – it’s incredible that it was 20 years ago now. It’s cool to go from the S2000 car straight to the test with the awesome Fabia RS Rally2 in Sardinia the next day.”

Alister McRae thrilled crowds with his attendance in a Subaru Impreza prepared by Italian firm Best Impreza. The Scot said: “I think everybody remembers what Colin did with one of these cars when he won the [World Rally] championship in 1995. This Best Impreza is an amazing thing to drive – you don’t stop smiling from the moment you push the starter!

“This has been an amazing weekend, one we’re not going to forget in a while.”

Rallying’s focus remains very much Italian this week, with the latest round of the WRC starting on Sardinia on Thursday.

Image credits: Logiman Mythical Cars Rally/Gianmarco