The Sardinian WRC event will once again take place on the western side of the island, around the city of Alghero. However, a significant change is that the rally will now be run over 48 hours with a total length of just 266 kilometres.
The rally week has been shortened by one day, with recce from Wednesday to Thursday, while the shakedown is scheduled for Friday morning. The actual rally starts on Friday afternoon.
According to the organisers, the shortened route follows the International Automobile Federation’s (FIA) guidelines for the next year. Thus, it’s possible that the route for all WRC events will similarly be shortened. Jari-Matti Latvala mentioned in the Ilkka-Pohjalainen sports podcast that this reform was proposed for this year, but it was not approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
The current length of WRC rallies is 300-350 kilometres, with the shakedown usually taking place on Thursday morning.
All 16 special stages of Rally Sardegna are familiar by name, but, for instance, the latter part of the rally’s opening special stage, Osilo – Tergu, is new. Since the rally is again in Alghero, it includes the popular Sassari – Argentiera Power Stage that ends by the seaside.
Special stages are also grouped into pairs, which are run in quick succession. On Saturday, the central part of the island’s stages must be tackled with just a tyre change.
