16/06/2011 - The 45th edition of the Rally of Salento and fifth round of the Italian Rally Championship opened with two stages on the International Karting circuit La Conco of Muro Leccese. Paolo Andreucci with Anna Andreussi at the notes have been awaited protagonist on top of the charts on the Peugeot 207 Super 2000, Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi followed on Abarth Grande Punto. The two stages were won by Paolo Andreucci and in both occasions Rossetti was second by a whisker: the two are now 1"1 seconds apart.

Good performance from Alessandro Perico and Elwis Chentre, both driving Peugeot 207 Super 2000, and Umberto Scandola on Ford Fiesta Super 2000.

On Friday the first real day of the rally. Six stages are on schedule, two of which to be run three times for a total of about 80km time trials. These are the stages of Specchia and Ciolo that, thanks to their challenging features, in the past editions emphasized differences. The start is scheduled at Conca's karting circuit at 9.00 (local time, GMT+2) while the finish line will be in the same circuit at 20.15.

The classification after two stages is the following:
1. Andreucci - Andreussi (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) in 7´ 20"03; 2. Rossetti - Chiarcossi (Abarth Grande Punto) at 1"1; 3. Perico - Carrara (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 3"2: 4. Chentre - Canova (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 3"5; 5. Scandola - D´Amore (Ford Fiesta Super 2000) at 5"1: 6. Cunico - Pollet (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 6"6; 7. Pisi - Cadore (Abarth Grande Punto) at 7"1; 8. Angrisani - Pollicino (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) at 10"1 ; 9. Perego - Pizzuti (Mini John Cooper) at 15"3; 10.Campedelli - Fappani (Citreon Ds3) at 15"6

The classification of the championship after four rounds:
Drivers: 1. Andreucci, points 100; 2. Rossetti 51, 3. Scandola, 48; 4. Perico, 45 ; 5. Chentre 37.
Costructors: 1. Peugeot, 154; 2. Ford, 54; 3. Abarth.

Italian Rally Junior Championship: 1. Nucita, 143; 2. Carella 93; 3. Campedelli 68; 5. Signor 55; 5.Andolfi, 50.

Italian Rally Production: 1. Angrisani 68 ; 2.Gianfico, 62; 3. Rendina 33 ; 4. Griotti 27; 5. Vallario, 25.
Italian Rally Production Constructors: 1. Mitsubishi 166; 2. Renault 84; 3. Subaru, 25.