Giandomenico Basso tripped over a rock on SS4 and rolled heavily. The Italian was able to continue, but 10 minutes had gone and there was a lot of work in store for the mechanics at the service park. Dani Sola grew in confidence throughout todday as he became more familiar with his Procar-run Abarth Grande Punto S2000. Former European Champion Renato Travaglia was Rossetti’s closest challenger after Vouilloz dropped back, but he had problems of his own on the final stage following a heavy landing after a jump. Renato Travalglia ended the first day in Turkey holding onto fourth place overall, only six seconds ahead of the factory Abarth Grande Punto of Anton Alén and 55.9 seconds off the rally leader Luca Rossetti.

Italian driver Luca Rossetti is leading the Istanbul Rally after the opening leg, with a margin of more than half a minute over the highest placed of the Abarth runners, the up-and-coming Spaniard Dani Sola. Rossetti is competing on only his fifth gravel rally, but he made consistent progress all day to avoid the punctures that plagued many of the competitors over the course of the stages.

Conditions were particularly difficult during the second run through the stages in the afternoon, with some stones being pulled out of the road surfaces. One of the first people to lose time was Peugeot’s Freddy Loix, who picked up a puncture on SS3. He stopped to change the wheel and rejoined just in front of Dani Sola, who then lost about 30 seconds in the Belgian’s dust.

Nonetheless, Sola grew in confidence throughout the day as he became more familiar with his Procar-run Abarth Grande Punto. On the final stage, a fastest time meant that he claimed second place from Peugeot driver Nicolas Vouilloz.

Vouilloz – last year’s winner in Turkey – had been a contender for the lead throughout the day, but he too lost time with a puncture during the second loop of stages. This time, the Peugeot driver was able to continue without having to change the wheel – but he was unable to maintain his challenge for the lead. The Frenchman’s worries were compounded during the final two stages of the day, when he felt an intermittent loss of power from his 207’s engine.

Former European Champion Renato Travaglia was Rossetti’s closest challenger after Vouilloz dropped back, but he had problems of his own on the final stage following a heavy landing after a jump. He ended the day in fourth place, only six seconds ahead of the factory Abarth Grande Punto of Anton Alén.

The young Finn, who led much of last year’s Rally Turkey before encountering some brake problems, felt that he had a slight engine issue and so was unable to mount an attack for the lead. Alén was still more fortunate than his team mate Giandomenico Basso, who tripped over a rock on SS4 and rolled heavily.

The Italian, the reigning Italian Rally Champion, was able to continue in the rally, but 10 minutes had gone and there was a lot of work in store for the Abarth factory mechanics to undertake at the service park. However, it is reckoned unlikely that he will re-start tomorrow in view of the time lost.

At least Basso remains on the rally classification overnight – unlike Brice Tirabassi, whose BSA-run Peugeot 207 S2000 was forced into retirement on the final loop of stages with a double puncture. He is expected to re-start the event tomorrow. Luca Betti was also out on the final loop of stages, breaking the radiator of his Mitsubishi Lancer just after the biggest watersplash in the rally.

The similar Mitsubishi of Giovanni Manfrinato was also a victim of the same watersplash, with water getting into the engine and stopping him in his tracks. The two-wheel drive section of the rally, valid for the IRC 2WD Cup, is currently led by local driver Yagiz Avci, at the wheel of a Fiat Punto S1600.

2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, Round 1, Istanbul Rally (Overall positions at the end of Leg 1):

1 Luca Rossetti (I)/Matteo Chiarcossi (I) Peugeot 207 S2000 1h25m17.5s; 2 Dani Sola (E)/Oscar Sanchez (E) Abarth Grande Punto +37.2s; 3 Nicolas Vouilloz (F)/Nicolas Klinger (F) Peugeot 207 S2000 +51.9s; 4 Renato Travaglia (I)/Lorenzo Granai (I) Abarth Grande Punto +55.9s; 5 Anton Alen (FIN)/Timo Alanne (FIN) Abarth Grande Punto +1m02.7s; 6 Jan Kopecky (CZ)/Petr Stary (CZ) Peugeot 207 S2000 +1m24.3s; 7 VoIkan Isik (TR)/Kaan Ozsenler (TR) Abarth Grande Punto +3m52.4s; 8 Mehmet Besler (TR)/Erkan Guleren Mitsubishi Lancer +3m55.6s; 9 Freddy Loix (B)/Robin Buysmans (B) Peugeot 207 S2000 +4m49.4s; 10 Yagiz Avci (TR)/Ersan Alkir (TR) Fiat Punto S1600 + 5m48.6s