The first day of the Rally Sardinia ended with a good result for Marc Coma & Jordi Viladoms, 2nd and 4th places in the overall respectively. It was an atypical first stage, long, compared to the usual one on this island, with 2 specials 90km and 76km, today the Repsol riders thought more about their tactics.
After yesterday´s prologue, when they classified in 10th and 11th positions, Marc Coma and Jordi Viladoms were able to do a good 1st special, on twisty tracks among a lot of vegetation and on stones. However the liaison between the two specials was modified by the organisers at the last moment and they took the wrong road. A mistake meant they did not reach the 2nd special on time and they began again at the back of the field, they constantly had to overtake slower rivals.
Tomorrow 2 specials, 78km and 60km.
Marc Coma
“We were lucky, because the specials went well but the change to the liaison was very costly for us. It was a very long day and with the type of land we have here, on twisty tracks and a slow speed, and sandy tracks, it is difficult to get the thread. It will be a tight race, because the riders are top class, it is good having such good competition. I will have to adapt to the bike because during the year I do not ride it a lot, but so far so good.”
Jordi Viladoms
“It was a bit of a mess, because the organisers stopped the race between the two specials, and Marc and me lost time. Luckily we had a good race and the result was not bad. On the 1st special I waited for Marc and we rode together all the day. The 1st special was faster and sandy, but this rally is very technical and it is much lomger this year.”
