[ERC] Rally di Roma Capitale 2023

[dimviii]

ss9

First passage on the new special stage for everyone, being the novelty of the 2023 course: a very technical stage which includes a downhill stretch on concrete where, for safety reasons, the competitors are slowed down with a virtual chicane.
What is the virtual chicane: very simple to explain: the competitors will arrive at speed on a 220-metre stretch, marked by approach signs and on-board tracking. Within this stretch the competitors will have to slow down until they reach 50 km/h, at which time the on-board tracking will give them the ok and they will be able to accelerate again normally. On paper it's simple, it's just a hard brake until the onboard tracker tells them they've reached the correct speed. The important thing is to do all this within the 220m zone, otherwise you will pay a penalty.
We report Yoann Bonato's statement on the previous test which perfectly explains this new type of chicane (already in use for years in international rallies in various countries):
"Now I'm waiting for the virtual chicane. It will be the first time I brake in a special stage without going into a bend"

[Fast Eddie WRC]

What happened to Lukyanuk?

[RS]

What happened to Lukyanuk?

Normalish time on SS11 so i guess another puncture.

[dimviii]

yes another puncture

[RS]

Loads of punctures on ss12

[RS]

Live stream down?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

SS12: WINNERS AND LOSERS

So what ON EARTH just happened?

It seems between 16-18km in the stage was a black spot for several drivers, some of who sat in higher positions ahead of the stage.

- Bonato's stop to change a damaged wheel proved possibly the most costly, as the Frenchman dropped from a podium position in 3rd, all the way down to 6th.

- It was a similar story for MRF Italian duo Simone Campedelli and Andrea Mabellini, 5th and 6th respectively, but now lying in 13th and 12th respectively.

- Filip Mareš, who held 7th before the stage began, was also delayed with the same issue and dropped to 11th, whilst Lauri Joona, Simone Tempestini and Alberto Battistolli, all of whom held positions within 10th-15th, have dropped to 19th, 20th and 22nd respectively after they suffered issues in the same area of the stage

- Meanwhile, those that completed the stage have been propelled into the top half. Hayden Paddon finds himself securely on a podium spot from 4th to continue his successful run of ERC 2023 top-three finishes, whilst reigning ERC Champion Efren Llarena sits just behind him in 4th from 8th.

- Wagner will try to secure 5th place, having sat outside the TOP 10 this morning!

- Miklos Csomós and Mathieu Franceschi both claim Top 10 places as their own, although Franceschi has retired with mechanical failure.

Catch your breath guys, Power Stage coming up soon!

[RS]

Bigger gaps for last few guys? Nice to see more of them on the stage.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Glad for Crugnola to finally win the rally. He deserves it here and especially after a lot of bad luck in the past.

[Sal yet again]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atVXebKj2eg

Great video showing Sesks off in from outside the car at around 04:25