HMI confirms itself on top of the International Rally Cup. Corrado Fontana and Nicola Arena have obtained their third consecutive victory in the Rally del Taro.
After setting the third fastest time in the opening stage on Saturday night, Fontana went in command of the provisional overall in the second test, opening the battle on Sunday morning. In the following SS, he handed the leadership to the Citroen C4 WRC of Roberto Cresci, with whom he then fought an exciting duel on the edge of the tenths of a second. The fight ended shortly after the start of the eighth test when Cresci, whose advantage had gradually fallen to just 0.2", hit an embankment having to retire.
With a total tally of five special stages won out of nine, Fontana-Arena at the wheel of the Korean WRC finished in front of the Citroen DS3 WRC of Re-Bariani and the C4 WRC of Ambrosoli-Viviani
Corrado Fontana: "Second round of the IRC and second win, we are very happy. It was not easy, a good fight with several competitors, especially with Cresci who this morning was ahead by 10". We kept the faith, and tried to find the right set-up after a first loop in which we realized we were not at our best. We made a choice never previously tried, but which turned out to be just right for this type of roads, and I was able to drive like I had done last year. We made back time, then Cresci went off and left the road clear for us".
Final Classification 22° Rally Internazionale del Taro:
1. Fontana – Arena (Hyundai i20 WRC) in 1:18’27.9, 2. Re – Bariani (Citroen DS3 WRC) + 13.9, 3 Ambrosoli – Viviani (Citroen C4 WRC) + 24.2, 4. Betti – Pezzoli (Ford Fiesta WRC) + 43.2, 5. Di Cosimo – Pina (Ford Focus WRC) + 1’02.6