WRC Rally Italia Sardegna

The hub moves from the west coast to the east in Olbia, host of the event from 2004 to 2013. The service park overlooks the sea at Molo Brin, next to the town’s archaeological museum and a short walk from Olbia’s enchanting Old Town.

• Fast but narrow roads lined with bushes, trees or rocks right on the edge leave no room for error.
• Hard base roads covered by a sandy surface, which is swept away during the first pass to leave rougher and rutted conditions for the second run.
• Thin layer of slippery gravel on the surface disadvantages early starters in the opening leg.
• Temperatures approach 30°C so it will be uncomfortable in the cars with higher than normal stress on engines and transmissions.

• Gravel suspension.
• Drivers raise the ride height for rutted roads during the second pass of stages.
• Pirelli’s hard and medium compound Scorpion tyres available.

• Italy’s WRC counter was formerly a mixed surface event based in Sanremo, and known as the Rally of the Flowers when it was first held in 1928.
• It formed part of the WRC from the championship’s beginning in 1973.
• Michèle Mouton became the first and only woman to win a WRC round when she triumphed in 1981.
• The rally moved to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia in 2004.

• The date. Last year Covid-19 forced the rally to be delayed from June until October. It’s back to its early summer slot this time around.
• Olbia returns as the host town after an eight-year stay across the island in Alghero.
• A new Sunday route in northern Gallura. Arzachena – Braniatogghiu has a revised look compared with previous visits, while and Aglientu – Santa Teresa is brand new and starts and finishes on the coast.
• Saturday’s Bortigiadas – Aggius – Viddalba has not been driven since 2005 and this year’s version feature several variations from that of 16 years ago.

• Micky’s Jump – one of the WRC’s iconic locations in Saturday’s Monte Lerno stage. Cars fly high and long as the road literally drops away beneath them. The steepness of the take-off, combined with the proximity of a sharp left-hander shortly after, make it a must-see on WRC+ All Live.
• Micky’s Jump – if you enjoy the breakfast time pass on Saturday, then there’s no reason not to stay fixed to your screen for a second late-morning helping!
• Sunday’s closing Aglientu – Santa Teresa. We became used to stunning coastal scenery from the final Sassari – Argentiera test, near Alghero. We’re right up at the top of the island here, but the dramatic backdrops remain.
• The podium ceremony in Olbia on Sunday afternoon. After the trophies and anthems are done, it is traditional for the winning team to dive en masse into the harbour to cool off. It happened in Alghero, and it will happen in Olbia!