Italian Rally News

[AL14]

Some thought about my day at Rally del Ciocco.

1) The rally. Il Ciocco shows another time why he deserves a safe place in the italian championship. Spectators come in high quantity every year. you see a pretty good organization (no one is stucked on access roads etc), and there are not stages repeated three times and that kind of stuff. A pity the stages are almost all the same every year. But that's it I don't think they have too much possibility to change the itinerary in a more drastic way.

Now let's go with top 5 drivers.

Tempestini: in the last 3 years this guy has spent more time driving a rally car than a normal one. Neverthless he is still not impressing anyone. I didn't expect him to be at the pace of guys who have driven these roads dozens of times but not to be so slower. Ok it's just the first rally of the year, maybe the surface is not his favourite, but there must come a moment when these kind of stuff will not count if he wants to impress.

Perico: he's doing his job. Not that it is an easy one. He is a very good tarmac driver, he's not the same pace of the other three but he's playing on a different league. Very nice that sometimes he manages to be amongst them in terms of timing.

Scandola: he has been a bit unlucky but also a bit under what we would expect from him. Actually I find it hard to criticise him. He was by far the most spectacular driver today. From where I want he showed great speed, control, skills and yes he was amazing to spectate. He looked faster than he actually was.

Basso: Very pleased to see "Giando" in great shape. Only 14s from Andreucci in Paolo's home rally is not easy outcome. Looked on the limit when I saw him. Great drive.

Andreucci: Guys, I don't know what to say about him. 50 years and still kicking asses, more hungry than a young gun. He is a pleasure for the eye. He wasn't spectacular, was actually quite smooth and clean but this man is a real champion. You could really see a different style, different lines, I would say different planet. I suspect he wasn't even pushing too much.
I think his attitude, at his age, and his love for what he does is an example for everyone.It is a tragedy he could not measure himself with the world best rally drivers.

Next to me there was a guy filming with a pretty professional camera. Hope he will upload some videos on youtube so that you can see what I'm talking about.
See you tomorrow for day2.

P.S. I say it again. This shit of having to rankings and two races in one weekend is not rally and someone should put an end to this farce.