16/11/2012 - Arzachena 16 November 2012 - Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi, Peugeot 207 Super 2000, ended on top the first leg of the 31st Rally Costa Smeralda, that is the last round of the Italian Rally Championship and of the Rally Terra Trophy, series organized by ACI CSAI. The driver from Tuscany, already 2012 Italian Champion, pulled away since the first stage increasing his lead from stage to stage all the way up to the 36''3 gap that separates him now to Umberto Scandola, Skoda. Good news for Peugeot go beyond the temporary leadership of the standings as the Franch brand won today the Italian Constructors Championship. The retirement of the second Skoda in the race, that is the one driven by the Sardinia driver Giuseppe Dettori killed all the remaining championship hopes for Skoda.

Umberto Scandola did not seem to find a good feeling with todays layouts. His Skoda did not seem to have the usual pace either and the gap at the end of the day is quite heavy.
The temporary third place is in Stefano Albertini's hands on Peugeot 207 Super 2000, who is confirming himself as one of the main realities of the Italian rally. First place in the Rally Terra Trophy for Mauro Trentin, Peugeot 207, who already won the series. The protagonists of the Rally Terra Trophy hold the places after the top four: in fact, Luigi Ricci, Subaru, the two Mitsubishis of Fabio Gianfico and Valter Pierangioli follow in order. The top ten is currently closed by the Subaru driven by Orecchioni, who is also the first of the Sardinia's drivers and the Mitsubishis of Biolghini and Ruju.

The second leg of the rally is scheduled for tomorrow where two stages will be repeated three times each. They are the San Giovanni, 8.12 kilometers and Gallura, 15.50. The whole day will involve a total of 195.86 kilometers, 70 of which on hard dirt roads. The finish line is set in Arzachena at 16.30, live coverage on Rai Sport 1.

Standings - 1. Andreucci - Andreussi ( Peugeot 207 Super 2000) in 26"18; 2. Scandola - D'Amore ( Skoda Fabia Super 2000) at 36"3 ; 3. Albertini - Scattolin (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 1'01"8; 4. Trentin - De Marco (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 1'33"3; 5. Ricci -Pfister ( Subaru Impreza ) at 1'52"5; 6. Gianfico - Tolino ( Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) at 2'10"2; 7. Pierangioli - Capolongo ( Mistubihi Lancer Evo X) at 2'22"1; 8. Orecchioni - Tali ( Subaru Impreza) at 2'41"6 ; 9. Biolghini - Morina ( Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) at 3'26"9 ; 10. Ruju - Accorrà (Mitsubishi Evo VIII) at 4'31"9

Classifications before the 31st Rally Costa Smeralda.

CIR drivers: Andreucci 138; Scandola 112; Basso 75; Perico 66; Albertini 64; Gamba 63; Campedelli 52; Nucita 20; Rendina 18 ; Pajunen 14.
Junior: A. Nucita 266 ; Andolfi 215; Campedelli 200; Pajunen 192 ; Campedelli 200; Tassone 184; Cunial 151; Carella 113
Constructors 2012: 1.Peugeot 193 2.Skoda 159 3.Ford-73
Production: 1.Rendina-75; 2.Ferrarotti-25

Rally Terra Trophy drivers; 1. Trentin 100; 2. Ricci 48; 3. Dettori 38; 4. Pierangioli 38; 5. Tonso 35