In order to promote young talents, ŠKODA Motorsport is continuing to support young and talented drivers also at Rally Italia Sardegna. After the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus caused the rally program to be interrupted, 19-year-old Oliver Solberg (SWE) and co-driver Aaron Johnston (IRL) are back in the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo. They are among the top favourites for winning the WRC3 category of the FIA World Rally Championship’s sixth round.
Since the re-start of the FIA World Rally Championship, ŠKODA customer crews impressed with top results. Three times FIA European Rally Champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz from Poland, together with co-driver Maciej Szczepaniak competing in a ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo which is privately run by the Lotos rally team, won the WRC3 category at the recent Rally Turkey. They were also fastest in the combined field of the Rally2 cars. Right now, 2017 WRC2 champion Pontus Tidemand (SWE) and co-driver Patrick Barth (SWE) lead the WRC2 championship standings in a private ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo run by Toksport WRT. Another category win would be important to keep the chances alive on winning the 2020 title. The Mediterranean island of Sardinia has always been a good place for ŠKODA. 2017 and 2018, Jan Kopecký won the WRC2 category. Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) and Jan Kopecký (CZE) achieved 2019 a double category victory for ŠKODA. In 2020 a total of 15 teams run a ŠKODA, the majority of the 35-strong field of Rally2 vehicles.
The Rally Italia Sardegna, which is held on sandy and stony gravel roads, features 16 special stages totalling 238.84 kilometres. As in 2019, Saturday offers the longest leg of the rally with nearly 102 kilometres of stages. On Sunday, the decision will take place on the remaining four stages near the coast north of the start and finish town of Alghero. Due to the measures taken against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Rally Italia Sardegna will take place without spectators for the first time.
Did you know,
…that the Italian round of the FIA World Rally Championship until 2003 was held on the mainland, based in Sanremo, before it moved to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia?
…the event today known as Rally Italia Sardegna first took place in 1928 under the name “Rally of the Flowers” and was (except for 2010, when it was counting for the IRC/Intercontinental Rally Championship) a part of the FIA World Rally Championship ever since its inauguration in 1973?
…Michèle Mouton became the first – and until today only – woman to win a WRC round when she finished first at the 1981 Sanremo Rally?
…that the iconic stage “Monte Lerno” of Rally Italia Sardegna features the spectacular “Micky’s jump”, comparable only to the famous Fafe jump of Rally Portugal.
The calendar of the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship
Event/Date
Monte-Carlo 23/01/–26/01/2020
Sweden 13/02/–16/02/2020
Estonia 04/09/–06/09/2020
Turkey 18/09/–20/09/2020
Italy 08/10/–11/10/2020
Belgium 19/11/–22/11/2020
