The Sanremo Rally – round seven of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), which takes place from September 27-29, is set to break the record for the highest number of Super 2000 cars seen on an event this year.

Abarth will lead the way as they will enter at least three factory cars as the Italian factory team battle on two fronts on the rally. Andrea Navarra, who is now in second place in the series, five points off the top, will be heading the IRC push while the reigning IRC champion Giandomenico Basso will be looking to wrap up the Italian title which is now in his reach as the Sanremo  Rally is also part of this series. Either Anton Alén or Umberto Scandola is expected in a third factory car, with the rumour mill suggesting even both getting the nod as Abarth chase vital IRC manufacturer points.

However there will be tough opposition for Abarth on its 'home 'turf' as, in addition to the regular Peugeot entries, there will also be a 207 Super 2000 for three-time Sanremo winner Gilles Panizzi. The famous Frenchman will be team mate to Luca Rossetti, the winner of the Ypres Rally earlier this year. Further private Super 2000 entries – for example from Peugeot Portugal’s Bruno Magalhaes – mean that the
number of these cutting-edge cars is set to eclipse the 15 that were entered on the Barum Rally Zlín.

Sanremo will also break new ground by being the first rally on this year’s IRC series to run a large part of the action at night. The start will take place at 17:00 on Thursday 27 September, with four stages being run over the legendary Colle Langan tests before the crews return to Parc Ferme just after midnight. Friday’s action consists of just two stages, and it also incorporates the traditional drivers’ parade, when all the competing crews drive slowly through the streets of Sanremo to put on a show for the public.
 

The final day, Saturday 29 September, consists of four stages – each with a minimum length of 26 kilometres – before the finish just after 16:00 in Sanremo town centre.

Panizzi – tipped by many to add a fourth victory in Sanremo to his collection – said: “It’s true that Sanremo is one of my favourite rallies. However, it’s far from straightforward. There is a huge variety of weather and surface conditions that you can encounter on the stages, and this is part of the challenge. If you have a good feeling and a good rhythm with the car, it’s a fantastic pleasure to drive there.” While Panizzi is French, his family originally comes from the village of Badalucco near the Italian coast – not far from Sanremo. “Maybe this is why I feel a good connection with this rally,” he said. Nonetheless, although he was responsible for the majority of the development work on the 207 S2000, it has been over a year since Panizzi last competed – which could mean it takes him a while to get fully up to speed.

Sanremo is also a round of the Italian Championship, and Giandomenico Basso – the winner in Madeira two months ago – is also tipped as a potential winner in his Grande Punto Abarth. For Italian firm Abarth their home event is a crucial one as they have slipped to 14 points behind Peugeot with just three rounds remaining, and the team’s full driver line-up for Sanremo will be announced imminently.