29.05.2004 Just one point off the ITALIAN series lead, Fiat Punto pilot Paolo Andreucci will be looking to gain the advantage on the dirt tracks of this weekend's San Marino Rally

The fifth event in the Italian Rally Championship will be held today and tomorrow over the dirt roads of the San Marino Rally.

There are seven Fiat Punto Abarths taking part, driven by reigning Italian Champion, Paolo Andreucci from Tuscany (Team Procar), Giandomenico Basso from the Veneto region (Team Trico), Stefano Bizzarri, also from Tuscany, and Matteo Gamba, from Bergamo (both driving for Team Procar), Alessandro Bettega from Trento (Grifone Team Avvenire), Welshman Leon Pesticcio (Team Hi-Tec) and local San Marino entry, Jader Vagnini (Rubicone Corse).

After the first four events in the season, Andreucci is currently in second place overall in the championship, only a single point behind Navarra (Subaru) and ahead of both Longhi (Subaru) and Cantamessa (Mitsubishi).

With an absolute win at the Rally del Ciocco and second place at the Mille Miglia - with fifth and seventh placings in the dirt stages of the "Terra Toscana" and "Costa Smeralda" rallies - the Tuscan driver is a serious contender for the Italian Championship.

This can also be said for Giandomenico Basso, winner of the Mille Miglia Rally and currently fifth in the Championship, who can now look forward to five more events on asphalt - which is better suited to the two wheel drive Fiat Punto - to help him reach first place.

Fiat Punto Abarth Trophy participants Bizzarri, Gamba, Bettega and Pesticcio returned excellent results as outsiders, often finishing among the top contenders in the overall classification. First and second in the Trophy standings, with only two points between them, are Bizzarri and the young Gamba, who is also leading the Under 25 category, ahead of Bettega and Pesticcio.

The San Marino Rally is also the third event in the Fiat Stilo Abarth Trophy, with 12 teams participating in the first leg. Leading the single marque trophy after the start of the season is Christian Chemin from the Veneto region (Hawk Racing Club), winner of the "Tutto Terra Toscana" and runner-up at the "Mille Miglia". Holding second place in the Championship is Andrea Perego (Team Hi-Tec), winner of the Mille Miglia. These two drivers are also competing in the Under 25 category.

The San Marino event involves two legs and 17 special stages for a total of 928 Km, 246 of which consisting of time trials. The first leg starts from San Marino at 7:01 am on Saturday 29 May, finishing at Gubbio (Perugia) at 7:30 pm. The second leg will be held on Sunday 30 May, starting from Gubbio at 7:00 am and finishing back at San Marino at 6:55 pm.

Italian Rally Drivers' Championship Standings
1. Navarra (Subaru) 48; 2. Andreucci (Fiat) 47; 3. Longhi (Subaru) 42; 4. Cantamessa (Mitsubishi) 32; 5. Basso (Fiat) 30.

Italian Rally Manufacturers' Championship Standings
1. Subaru 67 points; 2. Fiat 52; 3. Mitsubishi 38; 4. Renault 20; 5. Citroen 18; 6. Peugeot 12.

Fiat Punto Abarth Trophy Overall Classification:
1. Bizzarri 16, 2. Gamba 14; 3. Bettega 9; 4. Pesticcio 6.

Fiat Punto Abarth Trophy Under 27 Classification
1. Gamba 14; 2. Bettega 9; 3. Pesticcio 6.

Fiat Stilo Abarth Trophy Overall Classification
1.Chemin 35 points; 2. Perego 28; 3. Pierotti 25; 4. Romano 18; 5. Medici 12; 6. Aparo 8; 7. Beltrami 6; 8. Bordignon 4; 9. Biasion 3.

Fiat Stilo Abarth Trophy Under 25 Classification
1. Chemin 35 points; 2. Perego 28; 3. Medici 12; 4. Bordignon 4.