THE 2010 RALLY DEL CORALLO – READY FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE MEMORY
- The event, scheduled on June 4th – 6th, will offer many new features which will bring it even more in the international spotlight
- The pairing with the Rally d’Italia-Sardegna, two days entirely on gravel and the Group B carswill be the added value of an event in continuous growth.
The details of the 2010 edition of the Rally del Corallo have been defined in the last days. This event, with its last two editions, has arrived into a leading position at international level for what concerns historic rallyes. The organisation, managed by Promozione Eventi Sportivi with the cooperation of the Automobile Club Sassari, has seen its important confirmation as a round of both the European Historic Rally Championship and of the Italian Championship. For both series, it will represent the fourth round.
The institutions maintain a strong interest in the event for 2010: the cooperation is very satisfactory with the Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, the Province of Sassari and the Municipality of Alghero, i.e. those who have always followed attentively the event in the past year, helping its technical and promotional growth.
THE PAIRING WITH THE RALLY D’ITALIA-SARDEGNA
Postponed by two weeks from the original date, the event will take place from June 4th to 6th with some new features designed to leave the mark in the rallying field at high level. Apart from the previously mentioned series which it will count for, the event will offer the important “pairing” with the Rally d’Italia-Sardegna, organised by the Automobile Club d’Italia and counting as the fourth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. A prestigious joint-venture, pride of the whole Sardinia region, where the passion for motorsport has solid roots. The beginning of June will once again see Sardinia as a centre of interest for motorsport at high levels in a scenery such as only this wonderful island of ancient traditions can offer.
THE REVISED FORMAT
The 2010 Rally del Corallo will change its format, offering two legs entirely on gravel, as opposed to the previous editions which were run on a “gravel-tarmac” mixed-surface route. Both days will start and end in Alghero, while the Rally d’Italia-Sardegna will start in Cagliari and the two events will then meet to offer a unique show in two days of great sport. The Special Stages are shared with the Rally d’Italia-Sardegna and the surface will surely be very compact, without particular risks for the cars. For the “Corallo” drivers who wish to do so, there will be the possibility to take part in the super special stage in Cagliari on the evening of Friday, June 4t. On this occasion, the organisers will set up a transport system for the cars from and to Alghero.
AFTER OVER 20 YEARS THE GROUP B CARS RETURN WITH THE “CORALLO”
Another big feature of the 2010 Rally del Corallo 2010 will be a memory that will embrace the heart of the history of Rallying. It will be the first event of an official Championship (of the three scheduled in 2010) to bring the Group B cars, the top of international Rallying in the eighties, back in the race after 24 years of absence. The presentation of the 2010 FIA Historic Rally Championship was held last week in London and in this occasion the “Historic cars Commission” declared that it has approved the participation of some Group B cars belonging to the “J1” period (from 1.1.1982 to 31.12.1985) in three rounds of the 2010 European Championship. The first of these will be the Rally del Corallo, the others being the Rally del Friuli-Alpi Orientali and the Rally Costa Brava in Spain. This decision must be approved by the FIA World Council on March 11th.
The cars which will be allowed at the start of the Rally del Corallo are: Audi Quattro “LWB”, Opel Ascona 400, Opel Manta 400, Ferrari 308 GTB, Citroen Visa 1000 Pistes, Renault R5 Turbo, Lancia 037. These cars will not score points for the European Championship, but will bring the show to the highest levels,
THE EVENT PROGRAMME
The documentation and scrutineering is scheduled are scheduled for Friday June 4th in Alghero at the Piazzale della Pace, in the town’s port area, while the event HQ will once again be at Quarté Sayàl. A place, in Alghero, which brings back the past to head towards the future. Born as a Capuchine Friars’ monastery 400 years ago, in the early years of the 20th century it became the house of the Sella & Mosca wine cellars. Refurbished since last year, the location will prove even more functional and enriched by some important boutiques.
The first leg will take place on Saturday June 5th in the Oristano area. Two stages are scheduled, to be repeated twice, while the second leg, Sunday June 6th will bring the competitors in the lower Gallura region, here too there will be two stages run twice. The total length of the special stages is of about 150 km.