Andreucci on course for Italian title

5th June 2011

By Anthony Peacock

Paolo Andreucci is on course for back-to-back Italian titles after winning the Targa Florio Rally for the sixth time over the weekend in his Peugeot Italia 207 S2000.

The Italian won three of the 12 special stages on the famous all-asphalt event in Sicily, taking his fourth Italian Championship win this year in as many starts and becoming the most successful driver in the history of the rally. Andreucci broke the record of five wins held by Franco Cunico, who finished fourth on this year’s event.

Following a tight battle with Abarth driver Luca Rossetti, Andreucci consolidated the top spot after Rossetti retired at the end of the opening day.

“I said before the start of the event that it would be very close and that turned out to be the case,” said Andreucci. “I’m sure that if Luca had kept going it would have gone down to the final kilometre of the final stage. Now we can face the future with a little more serenity, although we’re going to have to stay concentrated.”

Umberto Scandola finished second on the Targa Florio event, nearly 40 seconds behind Andreucci in a Ford Fiesta S2000, while Marco Runfola was third in another Peugeot.