sardegna

Thierry Neuville has said adopting a risk averse approach to secure his first win of the 2023 season on Rally Italia Sardegna was not an option because slower speeds amounts to a “horrible” feeling.

The first chapter of a new FIA-led initiative that is designed to unearth the next generation of rally champions has been deemed a huge success by the individual who has been tasked with overseeing its smooth operation.

Esapekka Lappi led a Hyundai Motorsport one-two on this morning’s Rally Italia Sardegna shakedown stage from Thierry Neuville in the second i20 N Rally1.

Eight-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier has revealed Rally Italia Sardegna is one of the events he has “learned to love” in all the years he has been involved with the sport.

Ott Tanak’s Rally Italia Sardegna success has been labelled “a wonderful reward” for the endeavour of everyone working at Hyundai Motorsport by the squad's Deputy Team Director, Julien Moncet.

Toyota returnee Esapekka Lappi was prevented from building on his small Rally Italia Sardegna lead as organisers took the decision to cancel the final two Friday stages on safety grounds.

Suzuki's Michal Kosciuszko came through to take his maiden win in the FIA Junior World Rally Championship category on the Rally d'Italia Sardegna last weekend, the third round in the series.

Henning Solberg will take in his second event of the season under the Munchi's Ford World Rally Team banner this weekend in Sardinia and the Norwegian reckons another top-five finish should be possible.

Petter Solberg's hopes of being able to battle for the lead on the Rally d'Italia Sardegna vanished on the second loop on Friday afternoon when brake problems left him with 'no chance' of staying in touch with the leaders.