Cividale Del Friuli (UD), Saturday 27 August 2016 - Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai, Ford Fiesta R5, lead the first day of the 52nd Rally of Friuli Venezia Giulia scoring some important points for the drivers and constructors championships. Behind BRC crew, Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi on Peugeot 208 T16 R5 are 6''4s adrift. The Tuscan driver of Peugeot Italia, despite posting times similar to Basso's, reported not having found the right feeling with the car. The third absolute place was obtained by Simone Campedelli and Danilo Fappani, Ford Fiesta R5 powered by GPL run by Orange1. Alessandro Perico and Mauro Turati had a good comeback to the Italian championship on the Peugeot 208 T16 R5 and obtained the fourth time. The crew ended ahead of the Ford Fiesta R5 of Alessandro Bosca, and those of two drivers entered in the Asphalt Trophy: Antonio Rusce and Simone Tempestini. Behind them, Tassone did not take too many risks in this first leg on the Peugeot 208 T16 R5, keeping a safety margin that earned him the ninth place, behind the German Von Thurn Und Taxis on Skoda Fabia R5, but ahead of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X of Gassner.
The 2WD classification is currently led by Luca Panzani and Sara Baldacci, on Renault Clio R3T. The Tuscan driver took the lead after Ivan Ferrarotti suffered a puncture on his Renault Clio R3C and went off in SS. 6.
In the women trophy, Corinne Federighi won Day 1 on the Renault Clio R3C, as she ended her effort with only half a second of advantage on Beatrice Calvi, Peugeot 208 R2. In the Suzuki Rally Trophy, the victory of Day 1 went to Claudio Vallino, with Jacopo Lucarelli and Lorenzo Coppe closing the top three. In the Renault trophy, the first of the Clio R3T was that of Federico Gasperetti while Riccardo Canzian had the edge among the Twingo R1s.

Skoda Italia Motorsport's Scandola and D'Amore had an unlucky start and hit a wall with the rear left of their Fabia R5 in the first stage and had to retire. They will have the chance to start tomorrow for the decisive leg.

Day one awarded the first points for the Italian Rally Championship. Giandomenico Basso secured 7,5 points, Paolo Andreucci 6 punti and Simone Campedelli 5. Thanks to this result, Basso installed himself in the second place of the Italian Rally Championship.

Tomorrow, Sunday 28 August, the 2016 edition of the race organized by Scuderia ACU will reach its conclusion with the two loops on the stages "Trivio Prepotto" (16,89 km) and on the longest "Mersino" (21,72 km). Finish line and prize ceremony will take place in Cividale del Friuli, close to service park at 16.00.
CLASSIFICATION 52nd RALLY FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA - DAY 1: 1. Basso-Granai (Ford Fiesta R5); in 44'53.5; 2. Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 6.4 ;3. Campedelli-Fappani (Ford Fiesta R5 gpl) at 22.2; 4.Perico-Turati (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 35.4; 5.Bosca-Aresca (Ford Fiesta R5) at 1'09.0; 6. Rusce-Farnocchia (Ford Fiesta R5) at 1'52.6; 7. Tempestini-Bernacchini (Ford Fiesta R5) at 2'14.8; 8. Von Thurn Und Taxis-Degandt (Skoda Fabia R5) at 2'34.8; 9.Tassone-De Marco (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 2'54.6; 10.Gassner-Mayrhofer (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) at 3'21.7.

DRIVERS STANDINGS DAY ONE: Andreucci 63,50 pt; ; Basso 62,25; Scandola 56; Campedelli 34,50; Tempestini 24,50; Perico 23; Baccega 10,25; Rusce 8,50; Ciava 5,75; Tassone 4.

CONSTRUCTORS DAY ONE: Ford 85,25 pt; Peugeot 71 ; Skoda 57,5.

2WD DAY ONE CLASSIFICATION: Ferrarotti 73,50 pt; Panzani 70,75; Testa 54,00; Gilardoni 39,75.

RALLY ASPHALT TROPHY DAY ONE: 1 Perico 36; Tempestini 29,50; Baccega 22; Rusce 19,75; Campedelli 18,5 Ciava 17; Michelini 14,00 ; Tassone 9.