Zoom Basso conquers in the Asturias

Italian driver Giandomenico Basso won the 45th edition of the Principe de Asturias rally in Spain today, beating out close rival Nicolas Vouilloz on this event by 12.2 seconds overall and joining the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge winner's circle for the first time.

The event was also a success for the Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg team, since Freddy Loix joins his teammate Vouilloz on the podium.

The fight was always intense between Basso and Vouilloz over the last two days, with both exchanging the rally lead every few stages from the very start. In what was a quite symbolic coincidence, the Abarth team driver and the Peugeot Belux contender brought the rally to an end by setting identical times of 8:20.1 on the final stage...

Several seconds away Anton Alen was third-fastest on this run at the wheel of his Grande Punto, ahead of Miguel Fuster's same-make car. 2007 IRC champon Enrique Garcia Ojeda raced into fifth position, with fellow Spaniard Alberto Hevia right behind.

Freddy Loix brought his car into the seventh spot, while BFGoodrich Drivers Team nominee Sergio Vallejo, also driving a Kronos Racing-prepared Peugeot 207 S2000, was eighth.

Entering the top ten for the first time on this event was Aaron Nicolai, who proved himself ninth-quickest at the controls of a Citroen C2 Super 1600. Alessandro Bettega claimed tenth position aboard his two-wheel-drive Honda Civic to conclude an afternoon of good results for the Italian.

Spain was therefore the destination for Giandomenico Basso to secure a first IRC victory this year, for himself and for the Abarth team, which also represented a first defeat for Peugeot.

Basso's overall lead on the runner-up stands at a dozen seconds, but the Peugeot Belgium-Luxemburg outfit can still rejoice by seeing both its drivers – Nicolas Vouilloz and Freddy Loix – standing on the Rally Principe de Asturias podium.

Peugeot Spain's Enrique Garcia Ojeda was hoping to be in a position to fight for victory at home, but his campaign delivered a fourth overall position instead. Nonetheless, he can find comfort in being the first among his fellow countrymen.

Miguel Fuster fought for Fiat Auto Espana colours and took fifth place, ahead of the works Abarth Grande Punto handled by Anton Alen. The young Finn's plan in Spain was to gain asphalt experience and finish the rally – he achieved those goals and brought sixth-place points to his team as well.

In the seventh spot, the BFGoodrich Drivers Team's Sergio Vallejo also scored points despite just discovering the Peugeot 207. Eighth position went to Mitsubishi Lancer driver Alberto Hevia and the B9 Racing team.

The next Intercontinental Rally Challenge will be located in Italy: the famous asphalt-based Rallye Sanremo, eighth round of the series, takes place 25-27 September.

Daniel BASTIEN
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