After the Rally of Sardinia

 It was time for the truth. In recent months Spanish fans have been watching the development of the new Countryman WRC with uncertainty, but many hopes. Now the uncertainty is over and this next weekend will see the debut of the Mini in the Rally of Sardinia with Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke behind the wheel of the two official units of Prodrive.
The Italian race has always been characterized by its hardness and its usual dust that will hurt, unless it rains, the pilots leaving in more backward positions. This visibility problem will be offset in part by what is cleaning up the track with the passage of the first pilots and that will certainly be the key to determine the victory.
Especially once the Federation finally has taken any decision connection to change the order of output. This will put to Sebastien Loeb in the pipeline during the first phase, day in which predictably lost long time, being forced to go back over the next two days.

However it will not be the only driver who has problems during the first day. And it is that depending on the pace of the Mini Countryman, both deaf and Meeke may be found with much slower drivers in the stretch. This would entail eating a dense dust left by the pilot in front or even having to try to exceed you without wasting too much time.
Once solved the issue of the puncture, so it seems, the other "external" to take into account element is meteorology. It seems that the time will remain stable throughout the week with Sun and good seasons during the three stages. This no doubt will make that fans return to populate the gutters of the Italian race which, unfortunately for me, replaced the San Remo.

There will be news on the course with regard to the latest editions as two years ago that is not dispute the test. The sections will be displaced towards the interior with special faster to which we are accustomed in previous editions, but the same jumps and narrow tracks that make the Italian race one such rally in which the error is not allowed.
In addition to the World Rally Cars, in Sardinia also will meet young people from the Academy and above all it will be the first European event of the SWRC. As for the Academy, will be to take into account the regularity and above all care with the mechanics of the Ford Fiesta R2, which already proved Portugal to be too loose with the aggressive driving.

The general classification comes, as I have said before, with Loeb as leader and Mikko Hirvonen second. For the first time in the season we will see the Finnish without first leaving during the Friday, and therefore without saying goodbye to the rally in the first round. Second pilots of the teams will also be a goal to follow because during the last tests have passed their theoretical bosses of rows.
Of which no me fio too is Petter Solberg. The Norwegian following several zeros in the first four rallies has pledged to attack in depth in the remainder of season. It remains to be seen if it does not end in a ditch. As for the Championship of brands, Citroen begins to approach the level shown in recent years, Ford is now which must react before reaching the tarmac rallies.