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Olbia return for Rally Italia Sardegna

Rally Italia Sardegna, the seventh round of the season, has a new route this year that takes competitors back to the north east of the island and the Port of Olbia.

Italy's round of the WRC moved to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia in 2004, and was originally based in Olbia before a switch to the west coast town of Alghero in 2014.

Last year the rally was run entirely from Alghero with all the action focused in the north of the island. But for year's event, which runs from 8-11 June, organisers have added an overnight stop in Olbia to allow the return of two rough and rocky Sardinian classics: Terranova and Monte Olia.

Like in 2016, the rally's base and service park will be located on Alghero's historic harbourside and the competition will start from there on Thursday evening before a 2km stage at the former motocross track at Ittiri. From there, cars will head to an overnight park fermè at Brin pier in Olbia ready for the next day's competition.

Friday's itinerary features a loop of four stages that are run twice for a total of 131.82 competitive kilometres. After the returning Terranova (21km) and Monte Olia (15km), drivers will tackle the familiar Tula (15km) and Tergu-Osilo (14.91km) before heading back to service in Alghero. Cars will repeat the same loop in the afternoon, before heading back to Alghero.

Saturday will be the rally's longest and toughest day with 145.20kms divided over six well-known challenges in the Monte Acuto region. A morning loop of Coiluna-Loelle (14.60km), Monti di Alà (28.90km) and Monte Lerno (29.10km) will be repeated in the afternoon after a 30-minute service in Alghero.

Sunday's finale features two repeated stages covering 42.04km amid stunning scenery on the coast, north of the host town. Cala Flumini (14.06km) and Sassari-Argentiera (6.96km) will be run twice without an opportunity for service. The second pass of Sassari-Argentiera will count as the Live TV Power Stage.

Zdroj: wrc.com