The 34th edition of Rally 1000 Miglia started last night with the classic SSS1 "South Garda Karting" at Lonato and Abarth factory pilot Giandomenico Basso went fastest and is set to lead the event into the opening leg of six stages today. Basso, with Mitia Dotta alongside in the co-driver's seat, set the joint fastest time over the spectator-lined stage in 3 minutes and 13.1 seconds with Tosini/De Luis (Peugeot 207 S2000) equalling the time but the Italian will be first on the road this morning thanks to his higher seeding.

While Abarth has ditched its participation in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) this year, the Scorpion is mounting a factory bid to reclaim the Italian Rally Championship (CIR) title with the experienced Basso, the reigning FIA European Rally Champion, joined in the championship push by team mate Luca Rossetti, a former CIR victor, who came agonisingly close to winning the Italian title last year in the Abarth Grande Punto. The Scorpion team, which is being run by leading Italian private team Trico Motor Sport this year, has landed new sponsorship for petroleum company Petronas. Rossetti was thirteenth quickest through the super special stage last night in 3'15"6.

Two private Abarth Grande Puntos have been entered into the CIR this year to be driven by two highly experienced and proven rally drivers: veteran Gianfranco Cunico and co-driver Luigi Pirollo were sixth quickest last night (3'13"9) over the spectator-popular SSS while Luca Cantamessa with Piercarlo Capolongo alongside posted the twelfth fastest scratch time (3'15"1).

Behind Basso and Tosini in third place overall over the super special stage were Sciessere/Baù aboard on their new Ford Fiesta S2000 (3’13"4); while in fourth position was the official Peugeot 207 S2000 of reigning Italian Rally Champion and former Abarth factory driver Paolo Andreucci with regular co-driver Anna Andreussi alongside (3’13"5). Next up was Travaglia/Granai in another Peugeot 207 S2000 (3’13’’6), just three tenths ahead of Cunico, while in tenth place was another driver of note: Czech rally star Jan Kopecky driving the official Skoda Italia entered Fabia S2000. In the "Production" class Andrea Perego in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo edged out Danilo Tomassini while Angrisani took third place made it a clean sweep of the top-three for the "Evo".

Basso will lead the 101 strong field of the Brescia-based rally into a six-stage opening day this morning. The programme will comprise of three stages to be repeated twice, respectively "San Zeno", at over thirty kilometers in length the longest and toughest stage of the day, "Irma" (18,570 kilometers) and the "Pertiche" (25,080 kilometers). The cars will start at 0931 and the day's action will end at the 1900. The 34 Rally 1000 Miglia is also the opening round of the 2010 FIA European Rally Championship.