After starting Day 2 of the Sanremo Rally with high hopes of a strong finish, the Škoda UK Motorsport crew of Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh retired part way into SS7, Cappio 1, after hitting a wall in their Fabia S2000 Facelift. Both crew members were unhurt in the accident, but the car was too badly damaged for them to continue.
Škoda drivers occupied two of the podium spots in Sanremo, with Juho Hänninen virtually guaranteeing himself this year’s Drivers’ title with second place, just 4.4 seconds behind Paolo Andreucci (Peugeot 207 S2000), and Freddy Loix finishing third after recording the fastest time on the final stage of the event. Škoda arrived in Sanremo having already secured the IRC Manufacturers’ title.
With a solid 12th place at the end of Day 1, Guy was looking forward to fighting for positions in the sunny mountains above Sanremo. After taking a gamble on set-up for the “monster” 44 km (27.34 mile) Ronde stage (SS6) in the Friday night damp and darkness, Guy reverted to his original settings for the second day’s competition on Round 10 of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Attacking the first stage of Saturday, the 29-year driver from Darlington in Co. Durham was going well, but hit a low wall on a tricky corner near the Vignai junction, damaging the rear left corner and forcing his retirement.
Guy Wilks: “We're really disappointed. The car locked up under braking on a slippery section and the rear nudged a wall; it was pretty low speed, but at an angle that the rear upright broke. The team worked really hard and put a lot effort into preparing a good car. Now we're focussing on Rally of Scotland, home event for Škoda UK.”
Škoda UK Motorsport’s next competition will be RACMSA Rally of Scotland, 15-17 October. Guy won Škoda UK’s home event in 2009 and is looking forward to defending his crown.
Sanremo Rally results1. Paolo Andreucci/Anna Andreussi (Peugeot 207 S2000)…2hr 35mins 32.7secs2. Juho Hänninen/Mikko Markkula (Škoda Fabia S2000)…+04.4secs3. Freddy Loix/Fréderic Miclotte (Škoda Fabia S2000)… +34.1secs4. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000)…+38.3secs5. Lica Rossetti/Matteo Chiarcossi (Fiat Grande Punto S2000)…+1min 21.0secs6. Jan Kopecký/Petr Starý (Škoda Fabia S2000)…+1min 59.9secs7. Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (Fiat Grande Punto S2000)…+2mins 17.9secs8. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Klinger (Peugeot 207 S2000)…+2mins 35.0secs9. Gianfranco Cunico/Rudy Pollet (Peugeot 207 S2000)…+2mins 42.8secs10. Bruno Magalhăes/Carlos Magalhăes (Peugeot 207 S2000)…+2mins 43.9secs
IRC points (Drivers’) after Round 101. Juho Hänninen…58pts2. Jan Kopecký…47pts3. Freddy Loix…36pts4. Kris Meeke…33pts5. Bruno Magalhăes…30pts6. Guy Wilks…27pts
IRC points (Manufacturers’) after Round 101. Škoda…120pts CHAMPIONS2. Peugeot…87pts3. M-Sport…31pts4. Ralliart…22pts5. Subaru…11pts
