2011 Rallye Sanremo
The Rallye Sanremo 2011 was the 53rd edition of the rally San Remo and the ninth round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2011. The rally was held from 22 to 24 September 2011.
Background
The paddock was located directly on the Riviera Sanremo's seafront. The rally took place on narrow mountain roads in the steep hinterland around Sanremo in the province of Imperia. After the shake down in the evening of September 22 began on September 23, the actual competition. The program consisted of 13 stages covering 225.77 km. On the first day of the rally followed the six tests in the afternoon as the highlight of the event, a night test: the 44 km long special stage " Ronde ". On the second day of the rally the remaining six tests were to follow, but one of which had to be canceled. Therefore, a total of only 205.2 timed kilometers were completed.
The Rallye Sanremo was on paved roads, and was the last pure tarmac event in the calendar of IRC 2011. Characteristic of the classic rally were narrow mountain roads with inclines and descents. These were characterized by curve wealth and a technically demanding route. This route allowed only a relatively low average speed.
At the rally started 57 teams, 16 of which contributed a Super 2000 car. Among the top drivers of the IRC, however, was missing again Škoda factory driver Juho Hänninen. Although he was already on the entry list, Škoda he returned shortly and would not take him to the rally.
Course
Already during the first special stage rally for Peugeot UK driver Guy Wilks was terminated after he had slipped into a bridge railing and his vehicle by a wheel had lost. Christopher Atkinson stayed with technical defect are due to its proton and was also forced to close. The best time to WP1 sat Andreas Mikkelsen, who was fastest in shakedown already. Then Freddy Loix decided two stages for themselves, but to be able to displace from the top without Mikkelsen. This brought on the remaining three stages in the afternoon all the bests and extended his lead to Loix to 4.5 seconds. On the following night long examination " Ronde " the Belgian veteran distanced the young Norwegian by 7.2 seconds, and took the lead in the overall standings. Loix took 2.7 seconds ahead of the second day. The persecutors of the two Škoda pilots at the top, Thierry Neuville and Bryan Bouffier, lay back about 17 seconds. The fifth-placed so far January Kopecký could not follow the pace of the fastest and already had more than 34 seconds behind.
At the beginning of the second day Loix lost several seconds of his lead and ultimately had the lead at Mikkelsen exits. More and more momentum, however, was in Neuville Kronos Peugeot, the best times in the morning both secured and gradually unlocked on the leaders. The first three were now within five seconds. In WP10 Loix hit back when he posted the fastest time and sat back down at the top of the standings. However, on the subsequent WP11 Loix crashed in a fast downhill passage. Since his Škoda blocked the road at a narrow point, the test was not scored. New leader was again Mikkelsen, who before the last two stages but only had a lead of 1.9 seconds to Neuville. This took on WP12 at a faster 2.2 seconds to the overall lead. On the final WP13 Neuville was again faster and secured the victory. Mikkelsen was 1.5 seconds behind in second place. The podium was completed Bouffier, the lagged 16 seconds. The fourth-placed Kopecký was missing over a minute on the top. 44 vehicles crossed the finish line.