2015 Rally Italia Sardegna got underway this evening, and after SS1 in Città Di Cagliari, Martin Prokop of Jipocar Czech National Team leads the standings.
Prokop was up against Robert Kubica on his run, and was awarded the win when Kubica spun at a hairpin: “I couldn’t shift down, so I used the handbrake and that spun us around.”
In second place, 1.3 seconds behind, is Hyundai Motorsport‘s Dani Sordo: “Everything okay. A difficult stage, slippery in places, we don’t want to make a mistake here with such a long day tomorrow.” However, upon watching the replays, the stewards found he had a jump start, and so has picked up a ten-second penalty, meaning he will have to drive very well tomorrow to keep his position.
The top Volkswagen is Andreas Mikkelsen in third. Despite nudging a hay bale, he beat Thierry Neuville, who slots in to place fourth. In fifth is Ott Tänak ahead of Mads Østberg. On almost equal times in 7th and 8th are Volkswagen teammates Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala. Rounding out the top 10 are Hayden Paddon and Kris Meeke, the latter is the top Citroën driver.
Tomorrow’s action starts at 08:20 local (07:20 UK time).