The WRC moves from the grassy Pampas of Argentina to the dramatic Mediterranean landscape of Sardinia for round seven of the series, a gravel rally which ranks among the most abrasive and demanding of the year.

Following the disappearance of Cyprus and Turkey from the 2007 calendar, Rally d'Italia Sardegna and next month's Acropolis Rally of Greece are the only Mediterranean gravel events this year and both have a reputation for being hard.

In Sardinia a fine sandy surface masks a hard base beneath and once the early starters have swept the loose gravel away, the rocky roads combine with relatively high spring temperatures to demand strong durability from the tyres. In total, the competitors will cover 342.86km of timed sections and 718.98km of public road driving, making a total rally distance of 1061.84km.


Special notes:

Italy's round of rallying's global tour is based in the port of Olbia on the picturesque Costa Smeralda coast, in the north east of Sardinia. It is the fourth consecutive loose-surface rally in this year's championship and competitors will speed through a spectacular mountain landscape.

The rally includes some technical, medium-width roads featuring a hard-packed base covered with a layer of fine, sandy gravel. The drivers running first on the road will be at a disadvantage because they will be sweeping the loose surface for the following cars.

However, some of the roads tend to get very rough when the crews drive through them for the second time, which they will do with all of the nine routes. Therefore a shrewd tyre choice and intelligent driving will be absolutely vital on this event.

Warm temperatures are the norm, but rain is a possibility, especially up in the hills, where the drivers will thread their cars up narrow passes to altitudes of more than 800 metres above sea level. Indeed, at the moment the forecast is for the rally to be held on a damp surface.

After the ceremonial start in the old harbour area of Porto Cervo on Thursday 17 May, the action begins with the 31km Crastazza stage at 0943hrs on Friday morning. There are six timed sections on each of the three days, and the winning car is scheduled to cross the finish line back in Porto Cervo at 1430hrs on Sunday 20 May.

The legs on Friday and Saturday are quite similar to those used in previous years. The first day takes competitors through the State Property Forest of Castrazza, in the province of Nuoro. For day two the action shifts to Terranova, and mixes familiar roads with new sections, before the final day includes one test that is completely new: Monte Nuragone.


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