It was already known that this year’s Rally Sardinia would start unusually on a Friday, featuring a morning shakedown followed by the first four special stages during the afternoon and early evening.
This time, the Sardinian round’s shakedown will take place at the Ittiri rallycross track. This venue has previously hosted a spectator special stage for the championship.
Now, it seems the organizers are attempting to kill two birds with one stone: since there isn’t a dedicated spectator special stage in the rally, the shakedown might also fulfill the role of entertaining the audience.
According to the regulations of the WRC, the purpose of the shakedown is to serve as an opportunity for media and marketing, but primarily it allows drivers to test their cars for the competition. Ideally, the conditions of the shakedown should closely resemble those of the stages driven in the rally.
However, this is where things notably diverge in Sardinia. The twisty rallycross track, where the two-kilometer shakedown is held, offers practically no real testing opportunity for the crews before the first special stage.
The choice of Ittiri for the shakedown has drawn criticism from hardcore fans on social media. Antti Loponen, who also serves as a route expert for RallyJournal.com posted a map of the shakedown route on X:
The Rally Italy Sardinia will feature a total of 16 special stages, totaling 266 kilometers. Alghero in the northwest of the island serves as the headquarters for the rally.
The rally kicks off on Friday, May 31st. Before then, points will be contested in Portugal next week.
