The Sardinian rally weekend is now a shorter affair. Recce was scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, and the shakedown will take place on Friday morning. The actual competition starts on Friday afternoon.
“This model was proposed last year, where the event would run for two and a half days, but it didn’t pass then. Now Sardinia gets to try it, and I find it quite an interesting setup,” said Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala to RallyJournal.com
According to Latvala, the new format potentially adds more value to the competition.
“Such a compact package might keep the interest up better, let’s say. This year we’ve seen good battles on Sundays, but Saturdays have perhaps been a bit lacking,” Latvala predicted.
Latvala also noted that the new format presents a fresh challenge for the drivers and will emphasise the importance of starting position.
“Friday is shorter, which means from the start, you need to be in top form on Friday. The starting position is really important in Sardinia. You need to keep your momentum right from the beginning,” Latvala explained.
