As many as eight standard-bearers of the MRC Sport they were at the start of the 29th edition of the International Rally Golfo dell’Asinarawhich on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June saw 72 crews, 66 in the modern and 6 in the historic, compete on a 73.50 km timed route, divided into ten special stages (five tests to be repeated twice). The event, organized by the Automobile Club Sassari, was valid as the second round of the Coppa Rally di Zona 10 and the Regional Rally Championship Delegazione Sardegna and touched Sassari, Alghero and Porto Torres with the finale in Castelsardo.
Triumph for Joseph Headwho was driving a Skoda Fabia with Marco Murranca in the right seat. With a time of 45’31”, the leader of the Italian Rally Trophy and winner of the 2023 Rally Cup National Final, also won three of the ten special stages, writing his name in the event’s roll of honor. “This success is the result of the strength of spirit of my navigator, Marco Murranca – commented the driver from Molise – who worked so hard to ensure I could participate in this event. I would like to thank MRC Sport and the preparer Colombi, as well as Pirelli for the technical support”.
Eighth place in the general classification for Maurizio Diomedialso driving a Skoda Fabia with Giuseppe Pirisino to the notes. “After a year and a half of inactivity it was not easy to return to racing – he said – especially without having had the opportunity to test the car before the rally, as happened this time. Basically the priority was to do kilometers and find the feeling with the car. The high temperatures did not help us, as they did not help the other crews. However, beyond the eighth place there was a significant progression of times and performances throughout the race. Next time we will go there properly prepared”.
Eleventh overall and first among the “two-wheel drives” Fabrizio Martinis and the wife Valentina Boi on Peugeot 208 Rally4. “The race started well from the first test on Saturday – said Martinis himself – I tasted the Sardinian asphalt, which is notoriously rather slippery, but I got used to it almost immediately. The second test was very technical, we remained very concentrated the whole time and we snatched a ninth overall time. In the second round of specials we lowered the times even more. In the 6 tests on Sunday we also did some set-up experiments, continuing to improve, without however risking more than necessary. We wanted to get to the end, especially Valentina, for whom it was the home race”.
Nineteenth overall and first in R2 class Alberto Continiwho was driving a Peugeot 208, assisted by Chiara Nonnis. “It went well – on Saturday in the first lap of practice we understood where we were and in the second we improved. Sunday the first lap was good, in the second we had some problems with the car, but by then the game was over. We had a lot of fun also doing a good time on the first pass of the San Lorenzo. I thank Chiara, who was at her second rally, but she was able to adapt immediately. Thanks also to my friends who supported us in these two torrid days, the MRC Sport team and our sponsors”.
Alessio Cuccheddu It was with Marco Garrucciu on Peugeot 208. This is his report: “The rally started well: I immediately achieved the first group time in the first test. Unfortunately, in the second, 600 meters from the finish, we went a little straight on a very dirty surface, without suffering mechanical damage, which however cost us the entire rally in terms of the ranking, losing more than 6 minutes due to the fact that the car remained balanced with the wheels in a ditch, managing to get out only thanks to the help of the public. Despite this, on Sunday we set off again and we did very well, obtaining excellent times test after test. As the icing on the cake, in the last test, we realized that we had a puncture at Osilo 2 and we tried to give our best anyway, even though the car was difficult to handle. It’s a shame because I could have competed for a good ranking. In conclusion, a bit of regret for the various negative events, but rallies are also this and we know it well. I return home with more km and experience, congratulating my opponents. Head to the next rally. I thank my loved ones who always give me support, the whole MRC, the team that provided me with the car and all its mechanics and last but not least my navigator, on this occasion, Marco Garrucciu, also from the MRC family, with whom I immediately established a friendship and a good feeling on the car”.
John Apple he finished 31st in the overall standings and first in the N3 class. With him on the notes for the Seat Ibiza was Gabriel Walls. “The race went very well, apart from the torrid heat that made us suffer a bit – explained the driver from Palau – the car was perfect, we didn’t have any problems. We gained a lot of experience. After all, it was the first rally for my navigator and only the third for me”.
Nicola Fadda It was with Nicoletta Deidda on Renault Clio Rs. “It went quite well, even if it was quite tough because of the heat in the cockpit that touched 50 degrees – was his conclusion – however it was a nice experience, concluded with a third place in the N3 class. We could have done something better, but we had some mechanical problems that, although resolved almost immediately, made us lose precious time. See you now at Terra Sarda with more experience and even more enthusiasm”.
Salvatore Catgiu It was with Nicola Sanna on Citroen C2. Here is his story: “After a year of stop, finally, we are back in the car. For the tests we faced, we were happy; Saturday was a day to gain confidence, instead on Sunday in the first lap we increased the pace and found our rhythm again. Unfortunately in the PS8 at the start we had some problems, and we had to abandon! As always, I thank all my family: mum, dad, my brother and my cousin, all my uncles, who continue to support me in this magnificent sport, the MRC team and Giacomo (the president De Luca, ed.) in particular for the continuous support, all the AP Rally composed of Paolo and Annico for the assistance, to Federico Giannotti for the immense help, and my navigator Nicola Sanna. We will make up for it, I am sure.”
Source: Piergiorgio Grizzo
