01/08/2009: Basso's Abarth wins Rally Vinho da Madeira; Alén and Räikkönen doing well in Finland

The Grande Punto Abarth S2000 of Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta has won Rally Vinho da Madeira, seventh round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, ahead of the Peugeot 207 S2000s of Portuguese Bruno Magalhães and Alexandre Camacho. Despite the slender gap between first and second, this victory was forceful: the Abarth driver won 10 special stages and kept in the lead from end to end.

Basso has proved capable of capitalising on his Grande Punto Abarth S2000's great qualities of nimbleness on the demanding and twisting roads of the Portuguese island in the Atlantic. Luca Rossetti and Matteo Chiarcossi's achievements have contributed to demonstrate the superiority of the Scorpion's car, even though they didn't complete the rally after going off the road.

Thanks to his result, Basso consolidates his lead in the European Rally Championship standings and boosts his chances of clinching the Intercontinental Rally Challenge drivers' title. The next round of the IRC is scheduled for 21 August in Czech Republic.

The day was also positive for Abarth in Finland where the Grande Punto Abarth S2000s of Anton Alén (co-driven by Timo Alanne) and Kimi Räikkönen (co-driven by Kaj Lindström) are respectively 14th and 15th overall and occupy respectively the second and third places in the Production category with one stage to go in the second leg.

Rally Finland draws to a close tomorrow.

Madeira Rally classification:
1. Basso-Dotta (Abarth Grande Punto S2000) in 3 hours 09min55.4s;
2. Magalhães-Magalhães (Peugeot 207 S2000) +3.5s;
3. Camacho-Calado (Peugeot 207 S2000) +41.7s;
4. Vouilloz-Klinger (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 49.4s;
5. Meeke-Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000) +1min21.9s.

NB: This release was written before Räikkönen's retirement.