The2018 Rally Italia Sardegna(formally known as theRally Italia Sardegna 2018) was amotor racingevent forrally carsthat was held over four days between 7 and 10 June 2018.[1]It marked the fifteenth running ofRally Italia Sardegna,and was the seventh round of the2018 FIA World Rally Championshipand its support categories, theWRC-2andWRC-3championships.[2]The event was based inAlgheroinSardiniaand consisted of twentyspecial stagestotalling 313.46 km (194.78 mi) in competitive kilometres.[3]
| 2018 Rally Italia Sardegna 15°Rally Italia Sardegna | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Round 7 of 13 in the2018 World Rally Championship
| |||
 | |||
| Host country |  Italy | ||
| Rally base | Alghero,Sardinia | ||
| Dates run | 7 – 10 June 2018 | ||
| Start location | Ittiri motocross track, Alghero | ||
| Finish location | Argentiera,Alghero | ||
| Stages | 20 (313.46 km; 194.78 miles) | ||
| Stage surface | Gravel | ||
| Transport distance | 1,072.92 km (666.68 miles) | ||
| Overall distance | 1,386.38 km (861.46 miles) | ||
| Statistics | |||
| Crews registered | 47 | ||
| Crews | 45 at start, 34 at finish | ||
| Overall results | |||
| Overall winner |  Thierry NeuvilleNicolas Gilsoul Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT3:29:18.7 | ||
| Power Stagewinner | Thierry NeuvilleNicolas GilsoulHyundai Shell Mobis WRT | ||
| Support categoryresults | |||
| WRC-2 winner |  Jan KopeckýPavel DreslerŠkoda Motorsport II3:42:33.3 | ||
| WRC-3 winner |  Jean-Baptiste FranceschiRomain CourbonÉquipe de France FFSA Rally4:07:40.2 | ||
Ott TänakandMartin Järveojawere the defending rally winners.[4]Thierry NeuvilleandNicolas Gilsoulwere the rally winners. Their team,Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT,were the manufacturers' winners.[5]TheŠkoda Motorsport IIcrew ofJan KopeckýandPavel Dreslerwon the World Rally Championship-2 category in aŠkoda Fabia R5,while the crew ofJean-Baptiste FranceschiandRomain Courbonwon the World Rally Championship-3.
Background
editChampionship standings prior to the event
editThierry NeuvilleandNicolas Gilsoulentered the round with a nineteen-point lead in the World Championship for Drivers and Co-drivers. In the World Championship for Manufacturers,Hyundai Shell Mobis WRTheld a thirteen-point lead overM-Sport Ford WRT.
Entry list
editThe following crews were entered into the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2, and the World Rally Championship-3. The final entry list consisted of fifteenWorld Rally Cars,twelve World Rally Championship-2 entries, and four World Rally Championship-3 entries.
Report
editPre-event
edit
TheCitroënpairing ofKris MeekeandPaul Naglewere entered into the rally, but were subsequently withdrawn when the team released Meeke from his contract.[7]The team did not enter another crew in their place.
Thursday
editDefending world championSébastien Ogier,driving aFiesta,took a slender 0.1 second lead overAndreas Mikkelsen.Championship leaderThierry Neuvillewas another 0.6 second behind.Elfyn Evanswas fourth, followed byHayden PaddonandEsapekka Lappi.TeammateTeemu Suninenwas seventh, while the shakedown winnerJari-Matti Latvalain eighth.Mads ØstbergandOtt Tänakwere in ninth and tenth respectively to complete the top ten.
Friday
editMuddy roads, caused by unpredictable rainy weather, made the first day ofSardegnavery tricky. In uncharacteristic conditions, defending world championSébastien Ogiertook a dramatic lead over the championship leaderThierry Neuvilleby 18.9 seconds afterAndreas Mikkelsenretired from the day due togearboxissue. Because of teammateTeemu Suninen's off-road andOtt Tänak'sradiatordamage caused by a heavy bump,Jari-Matti Latvalaclimbed up to the podium place, followed by his teammateEsapekka Lappi,another 4.4 seconds behind. TwoCitroëndriversMads ØstbergandCraig Breenwere in sixth and eighth respectively, sandwichedHayden Paddonin aHyundai i20.Elfyn Evansdropped out of top twenty after breaking a steering arm due to hitting a rock in hisFord Fiesta.[8]WRC-2category leaderStéphane Lefebvre,Jan KopeckýandNicolas Ciamincompleted the leaderboard.
Saturday
editAfter a fifteen-stage fight, title rivalsSébastien OgierandThierry Neuvilleonly separated by 3.9 seconds on the top.Jari-Matti Latvala,eighth overall, originally ended the day in third, but analternatorproblem forced him to retired from the day, which made his teammateEsapekka Lappisnatch the podium place.[9]Hayden PaddonandMads Østbergpresented us another great fight. Eventually, theHyundaiedged theCitroënby only 2.1 seconds.Craig Breenwas in sixth, over a minute further behind, withWRC-2category leaderJan Kopeckýin seventh.Ott Tänak,who was running under Rally2 regulations, recovered to ninth after yesterday's engine damage, followed byMartin Prokopcompleted the top ten.
Sunday
editThe fastest times of the morning stages were all taken by the championship leaderThierry Neuville,which reduced the gap between the rally leaderSébastien Ogierto just 0.8 second. In thePower Stage,theHyundaistar took another stage win and overtook the defending world champion to snatch the victory from Ogier. The difference between two title rivals was only 0.7 second,the third tightest winning margininWRChistory, which shared with2017 Rally Argentina.[10]Esapekka Lappiran out of the podium place in aYaris,followed byHayden Paddonin fourth overall. TwoCitroëndriversMads ØstbergandCraig Breenwere in fifth and sixth respectively, ahead ofJari-Matti Latvala,who was running under Rally2 regulations.WRC-2category leaderJan Kopeckýwas in eighth afterOtt Tänakreceived a forty-second penalty due to a four-minute late, whileTeemu Suninencompleted the top ten.
Classification
editTop ten finishers
editThe following crews finished the rally in each class's top ten.[a]
Other notable finishers
editThe following notable crews finished the rally outside top ten.[a]
| Position | No. | Driver | Co-driver | Entrant | Car | Class | Time | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | Class | Stage | ||||||||
| 14 | 14 | 3 |  Elfyn Evans
|
Daniel Barritt
|
M-Sport Ford WRT
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | WRC | 3:47:15.2 | 1 | |
| 18 | 18 | 4 |  Andreas Mikkelsen
|
Anders Jæger-Synnevaag
|
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | WRC | 3:55:07.0 | 2 | |
| Source:[11][12] | ||||||||||
Special stages
edit| Overall classification | |||||||
| Day | Stage | Name | Length | Winner | Car | Time | Class leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 June | — | Olmedo [Shakedown] | 3.97 km |  Jari-Matti Latvala
|
Toyota Yaris WRC | 1:53.9 | — |
| SS1 | Ittiri Arena Show | 2.00 km | Sébastien Ogier
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 2:02.7 | Sébastien Ogier
| |
| 8 June | SS2 | Tula 1 | 22.12 km | Andreas Mikkelsen
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 18:28.1 | Andreas Mikkelsen
|
| SS3 | Castelsardo 1 | 14.37 km | Andreas Mikkelsen
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 10:43.3 | ||
| SS4 | Tergu – Osilo 1 | 14.14 km |  Ott Tänak
|
Toyota Yaris WRC | 8:58.4 | ||
| SS5 | Monte Baranta 1 | 11.46 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 8:12.8 | ||
| SS6 | Tula 2 | 22.12 km | Sébastien Ogier
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 19:24.0 | Sébastien Ogier
| |
| SS7 | Castelsardo 2 | 14.37 km | Teemu Suninen
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 10:34.8 | ||
| SS8 | Tergu – Osilo 2 | 14.14 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 8:53.5 | ||
| SS9 | Monte Baranta 2 | 11.16 km | Jari-Matti Latvala
|
Toyota Yaris WRC | 8:07.2 | ||
| 9 June | SS10 | Monte Lerno 1 | 14.95 km | Ott Tänak
|
Toyota Yaris WRC | 7:51.4 | |
| SS11 | Monti di Alà 1 | 28.52 km | Sébastien Ogier
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 16:38.9 | ||
| SS12 | Coiluna – Loelle 1 | 28.89 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 17:59.1 | ||
| SS13 | Ittiri Arena | 1.42 km | Esapekka Lappi
|
Toyota Yaris WRC | 1:29.0 | ||
| SS14 | Coiluna – Loelle 2 | 14.95 km | Sébastien Ogier
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 7:42.8 | ||
| SS15 | Monte Lerno 2 | 28.52 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 16:27.3 | ||
| SS16 | Monti di Alà 2 | 28.89 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 17:49.1 | ||
| 10 June | SS17 | Cala Flumini 1 | 14.06 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 8:40.7 | |
| SS18 | Sassari – Argentiera 1 | 6.96 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 4:55.4 | ||
| SS19 | Cala Flumini 2 | 14.06 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 8:28.9 | ||
| SS20 | Sassari – Argentiera 2 [Power stage] | 6.96 km | Thierry Neuville
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 4:52.9 | Thierry Neuville
| |
| World Rally Championship-2 | |||||||
| 7 June | — | Olmedo [Shakedown] | 3.97 km | Ole Christian VeibyStéphane Lefebvre
|
Škoda Fabia R5 Citroën C3 R5 |
2:03.8 | — |
| SS1 | Ittiri Arena Show | 2.00 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 2:08.2 | Ole Christian Veiby
| |
| 8 June | SS2 | Tula 1 | 22.12 km | Pierre-Louis Loubet
|
Hyundai i20 R5 | 19:11.2 | Stéphane Lefebvre
|
| SS3 | Castelsardo 1 | 14.37 km |  Hiroki Arai
|
Ford Fiesta R5 | 11:11.2 | Hiroki Arai
| |
| SS4 | Tergu – Osilo 1 | 14.14 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 9:19.7 | Ole Christian Veiby
| |
| SS5 | Monte Baranta 1 | 11.46 km | Stéphane Lefebvre
|
Citroën C3 R5 | 8:38.9 | ||
| SS6 | Tula 2 | 22.12 km | Jan Kopecký
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 20:13.5 | Stéphane Lefebvre
| |
| SS7 | Castelsardo 2 | 14.37 km | Stéphane Lefebvre
|
Citroën C3 R5 | 11:04.0 | ||
| SS8 | Tergu – Osilo 2 | 14.14 km | Jan Kopecký
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 9:22.6 | ||
| SS9 | Monte Baranta 2 | 11.16 km | Stéphane Lefebvre
|
Citroën C3 R5 | 8:25.0 | ||
| 9 June | SS10 | Monte Lerno 1 | 14.95 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 8:24.9 | |
| SS11 | Monti di Alà 1 | 28.52 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 17:47.6 | Jan Kopecký
| |
| SS12 | Coiluna – Loelle 1 | 28.89 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 19:18.7 | ||
| SS13 | Ittiri Arena | 1.42 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 1:31.1 | ||
| SS14 | Coiluna – Loelle 2 | 14.95 km | Jan Kopecký
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 8:17.5 | ||
| SS15 | Monte Lerno 2 | 28.52 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 17:37.9 | ||
| SS16 | Monti di Alà 2 | 28.89 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 19:05.2 | ||
| 10 June | SS17 | Cala Flumini 1 | 14.06 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 9:15.9 | |
| SS18 | Sassari – Argentiera 1 | 6.96 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 5:17.4 | ||
| SS19 | Cala Flumini 2 | 14.06 km | Ole Christian Veiby
|
Škoda Fabia R5 | 9:09.0 | ||
| SS20 | Sassari – Argentiera 2 | 6.96 km | Stéphane Lefebvre
|
Citroën C3 R5 | 5:13.2 | ||
| World Rally Championship-3 | |||||||
| 7 June | — | Olmedo [Shakedown] | 3.97 km | Jean-Baptiste FranceschiTaisko Lario
|
Ford Fiesta R2T Peugeot 208 R2 |
2:22.4 | — |
| SS1 | Ittiri Arena Show | 2.00 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 2:32.8 | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
| |
| 8 June | SS2 | Tula 1 | 22.12 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 21:59.3 | |
| SS3 | Castelsardo 1 | 14.37 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 12:42.4 | ||
| SS4 | Tergu – Osilo 1 | 14.14 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 10:31.2 | ||
| SS5 | Monte Baranta 1 | 11.46 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 9:46.5 | ||
| SS6 | Tula 2 | 22.12 km | Taisko Lario
|
Peugeot 208 R2 | 22:43.6 | Taisko Lario
| |
| SS7 | Castelsardo 2 | 14.37 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 12:18.7 | ||
| SS8 | Tergu – Osilo 2 | 14.14 km | Taisko Lario
|
Peugeot 208 R2 | 10:07.6 | ||
| SS9 | Monte Baranta 2 | 11.16 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 9:22.7 | ||
| 9 June | SS10 | Monte Lerno 1 | 14.95 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 9:26.5 | |
| SS11 | Monti di Alà 1 | 28.52 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 19:53.4 | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
| |
| SS12 | Coiluna – Loelle 1 | 28.89 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 21:26.3 | ||
| SS13 | Ittiri Arena | 1.42 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 1:43.5 | ||
| SS14 | Coiluna – Loelle 2 | 14.95 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 9:14.9 | ||
| SS15 | Monte Lerno 2 | 28.52 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 19:35.3 | ||
| SS16 | Monti di Alà 2 | 28.89 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 22:06.3 | ||
| 10 June | SS17 | Cala Flumini 1 | 14.06 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 10:38.3 | |
| SS18 | Sassari – Argentiera 1 | 6.96 km | Taisko Lario
|
Peugeot 208 R2 | 6:16.4 | ||
| SS19 | Cala Flumini 2 | 14.06 km | Jean-Baptiste Franceschi
|
Ford Fiesta R2T | 11:11.7 | ||
| SS20 | Sassari – Argentiera 2 | 6.96 km | Taisko Lario
|
Peugeot 208 R2 | 6:22.3 | ||
Power stage
editThePower stagewas a 6.96 km stage at the end of the rally. Additional World Championship points were awarded to the five fastest crews.
| Pos. | Driver | Co-driver | Car | Time | Diff. | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thierry Neuville
|
Nicolas Gilsoul
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 4:52.9 | 0.0 | 5 |
| 2 | Sébastien Ogier
|
Julien Ingrassia
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 4:54.4 | +1.5 | 4 |
| 3 | Ott Tänak
|
Martin Järveoja
|
Toyota Yaris WRC | 4:54.5 | +1.6 | 3 |
| 4 | Andreas Mikkelsen
|
Anders Jæger-Synnevaag
|
Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC | 4:55.4 | +2.4 | 2 |
| 5 | Elfyn Evans
|
Daniel Barritt
|
Ford Fiesta WRC | 4:57.2 | +4.3 | 1 |
Penalties
editThe following notable crews were given time penalty during the rally.[a]
Retirements
editThe following notable crews retired from the event.[a]Under Rally2 regulations, they were eligible to re-enter the event starting from the next leg. Crews that re-entered were given an additional time penalty.
Championship standings after the rally
edit
Drivers' championshipsedit
|
Co-Drivers' championshipsedit
|
Manufacturers' and teams' championshipsedit
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Notes
editReferences
edit- ^"Rally Italia Sardegna".wrc.WRC Promoter GmbH.Archived fromthe originalon 29 June 2018.Retrieved6 June2018.
- ^"Rally Aus retains WRC finale in 2018".speedcafe.22 September 2017.Retrieved17 April2018.
- ^"Rally Calendar Overview".wrc.WRC Promoter GmbH.Archived fromthe originalon 29 December 2017.Retrieved3 January2018.
- ^"Tänak claims first win".wrc.WRC. 11 June 2017.Retrieved2 July2017.
- ^"Breaking News: Neuville's Italy Stunner".wrc.WRC. 10 June 2018.Retrieved10 June2018.
- ^"Rally Italia Sardegna 2018 Entry List".rallyitaliasardegna.rallyitaliasardegna. 17 May 2018.Retrieved19 May2018.
- ^Beer, Matt (24 May 2018)."Citroen drops Meeke over" excessive "amount of crashes".motorsport.Motorsport Network.Archived fromthe originalon 25 May 2018.Retrieved24 May2018.
- ^"Friday In Italy: Mud-master Ogier Leads".wrc.WRC Promoter GmbH.8 June 2018.Retrieved8 June2018.
- ^"Saturday In Italy: Leading Duo Turn Up The Heat".wrc.WRC Promoter GmbH.9 June 2018.Retrieved9 June2018.
- ^"Sunday In Italy: Neuville Snatches a Thriller".wrc.WRC Promoter GmbH.10 June 2018.Retrieved10 June2018.
- ^ab"Rally Italia Sardegna Results".wrc.World Rally Championship.10 June 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 11 June 2017.Retrieved10 June2018.
- ^ab"15. Rally Italia Sardegna 2018".ewrc-results.10 June 2018.Retrieved10 June2018.
External links
edit
- Official website(in Italian and English)
- 2018Rally Italia Sardegnaine-wrc website
- Theofficial websiteof theWorld Rally Championship