18/10/2009: Basso wins Antibes-Azur Rally for Abarth

The Abarth Grande Punto S2000 entrusted to Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta has won the Antibes-Azur Rally, the penultimate round of the European Rally Championship, which was held in France. This victory allows the Abarth driver to extend his lead in the series to 14 points over Pole Michal Solowow, in a Peugeot 207, who finished second in the French event.

After having dominated the first part of the race – in which he won all seven special stages – Basso held on to keep his rivals at bay during the second leg, avoiding taking any chances, especially in the treacherous ice covered morning stages, following overnight snow falls over the Col de Turini. He nevertheless finished the rally with a three minute advantage over runner-up Solowow.

The last round of the European Rally Championship is the Rallye du Valais, which takes place in Switzerland from 29-31 October and where 19 points are up for grab if a driver wins the race and each of the three legs.

Antibes-Azur Rally classification:
1. Basso-Dotta (Grande Punto Abarth S2000) 2hr 45min35.7s;
2. Solowow-Baran (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 3min00.1s;
3. Maurin-Thimonier (Skoda Fabia S2000) + 6min55.8s;
4 Neuville-Gilsoul (Citroën C2) + 10min47.2s;
5. Perrin-Perrin (Citroën C2) + 13min43.8s.

European Rally Championship standings:
1. Giandomenico Basso (I, Abarth) 103 points;
2. Michal Solowow (PL, Peugeot) 89;
3. Corrado Fontana (I, Peugeot and Mitsubishi) 78;
4. Krum Donchev (BG, Subaru) 43.