Disaster struck the factory Abarth team first thing this morning as Intercontinental Rally Challenger (IRC) points leader Andrea Navarra retired from the Rali Vinho da Madeira before the first stage of the day has even started. The Italian's Grande Punto Abarth S2000 refused to start in parc ferme early this morning, and did not reach service before the opening stage.

Abarth team principal Nic Gullino said: "It's obviously too early to know exactly what the problem was, but it would appear to be an electrical fault of some sort. We'll know more when the car gets back to service." Navarra's problem has eroded his seven-point lead of the series, and handed a huge opportunity to Peugeot's Enrique Garcia Ojeda, currently in second. There is a possibility that Navarra could re-start the rally tomorrow, in order for him and Abarth to gain more experience of these complex stages.

In less dramatic circumstances the 48th Madeira Rally got underway last night with the ceremonial start in the centre of Funchal, followed by a short spectator superspecial stage on the harbour front, watched by a crowd that was estimated by the rally organisers to be around 30,000 people.

The winner of the opening spectator-friendly stage was Mitsubishi driver Renato Travaglia (1:34.7), a former FIA European Rally Champion. "There was a fantastic atmosphere: it was brilliant to be out in front of so many people," said Travaglia, after his opening stage win. In second place was the reigning Intercontinental and European Champion, Giandomenico Basso, who was just 0.01 seconds slower than Travaglia on the 2.18 km long stage, in the first of the factory Grande Punto Abarths, while in third place was Peugeot's Nicolas Vouilloz. The Peugeot 207 of local hero Bruno Magalhães was fourth. Fifth went to the second factory Abarth of Andrea Navarra, the IRC points leader. Two more Grande Punto Abarth drivers were in the top ten: tied for seventh place were José Pedro Fontes and Volkan Isik.

"It was nice," said Basso last night at the end of the short opening stage. "The car performed well, just as I expected, let's keep going well for tomorrow," he added. Navarra said: "It was a good beginning. The car is ok, we had no problems, let's wait for tomorrow. We have to be quick but always careful."
 

Today's first leg action of the Rali Vinho da Madeira gets underway with SS2 at 09:12, and after a hard day of competition the surviving cars will return to parc ferme at 20:20 after nine special stages.

Meanwhile the IRC's motorsport development manager, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, has described the Madeira Rally route as "a real challenge for drivers and teams." The Frenchman, who won the Madeira Rally exactly 40 years ago in a Renault 8 Gordini, has driven the stages in order to assess the task ahead of all the IRC drivers. "It's certainly very different to how it was in my day!" he said. "Back in 1967, the roads were all cobbled: what we have now is quite a wide variety of different types of asphalt. The stages also have a very distinctive character, and we have seen quite a wide range of weather conditions: it's a tropical climate here."

Nicolas added that a number of the roads were a bit similar to those of the Col de Turini on the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. "In general, the roads are very fast and reasonably wide," said Nicolas. "Because of this, good pace notes will be very important and a proper technical driving style is required: the key to going quickly will be to take exactly the right line through the corners and to settle into the correct rhythm. Like many asphalt events on mountain roads, the secret is to make the car 'flow' from corner to corner rather than to force it."

Weather conditions in the service park at Funchal harbour are likely to remain warm, but in the high-altitude stages up in the mountains it can be a different story. The cars can break through the clouds: an effect similar to fog. There is also a possibility of rain, which could change the complexion of the rally. "In general there is very good grip, but if it rains the corners can become very slippery," added Nicolas. "This is a rally where a bit of experience will definitely help, but actually there's quite a long list of potential winners. We will just have to wait and see!"