29.02.2004 PAOLO ANDREUCCI GIVES THE NEW FIAT PUNTO ABARTH SUPER1600 A DEBUT WIN ON THE TTT RALLY

The tenth Rally Tutta Terra Toscana and the first round of the Italian Rally Championship 2004 was held over Friday and Saturday on the dusty roads of Pisa's province.

The same roads which played host to the World Rally Championship's Rally San Remo saw Paolo Andreucci take up where he left off at the end of last year as he stormed to class victory in the new Fiat Punto Super1600.

The race, organized by GIP Servizi e Promozioni, had its difficult moments, being hit by weather conditions which brought rain and snow, but it also gave some great sporting ones.

The event was eventually won by the Cesena's Andrea Navarra, co-driven by his wife-and-codriver Simona Fedeli, at the wheel of the works Subaru Impreza STi. Until three quarter's distance, the race was dominated by Piero Longhi and Danilo Fappani in the other works Subaru Impreza STi, his grip strengthen by the ideal setup and tyre choices.

However Longhi's leadership ended after ten special stages, when he rolled off the track and retired. After that episode Navarro was handed the lead of the rally and never reliquished it, easily maintaining a cushion over the chasing Emanuele Dati/Alex Giusti (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII) and Alex Fiorio/Vittorio Brambilla (Subaru Impreza STi). Second position eventually went to Alex Fiorio, after a maximum attack on the last stage Ulignano, where he posted the fastest time.

Fourth overall was claimed by another four wheel drive Subaru, Veneto's Eugeni-Businaro crew, always in the hunt throughout the event, although afflicted with rear suspension set up issues, which saw them indulge in too many spins.

Fifth position went to the first of the two wheel brigade, and it was the familiar yellow and blue Fiat Punto Abarth of reigning Italian champions Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi who started off the new season hungry for more success.

At the wheel of the new Fiat Punto Abarth Rally, which was making its rally debut on the TTT Rally, Andreucci was once again in aggressive, giant killing mode. Mud and snow faced the crew on the second leg, but nevertheless despite conditions, they went into 'maximum attack' and managed amazing times along the final day's stages, as usual trading times with the more exotic four wheel drive WRC machines.

Renato Travaglia followed the Punto crew home in the factory Peugeot 206 Super1600, while in eighth place Andrea Dallavilla was the third Super1600 runner to take the flag, the Renault Clio pilot performing much better in the second leg after hitting on the right tyre choice. The top ten standings were rounded off by the Giandomenico Basso (Fiat Punto Abarth), who snatched ninth place on the last stage after overtaking Siena's Walter Pierangioli in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII.

Bizzarri took victory in the Trofeo Fiat Punto Abarth while Christian Chemin claimed the honours in the Trofeo Stilo Abarth.

TUTTA TERRA TOSCANA RALLY: CLASSIFIED RESULT

by Marco Tenuti ( www.puntopower.com )