Solberg and Pirelli dominate in Sardinia

Petter Solberg's Pirelli-equipped Subaru Impreza WRC2004 has dominated the Rally d'Italia-Sardinia (round 13 of the World Rally Championship), winning 13 out of 19 special stages. The Norwegian held the lead from the first stage to the last of the event, which was run on soft gravel. It is Solberg and Pirelli's third consecutive win, and their fifth of the year. Petter used Pirelli's tried and trusted KM and KP4 rubber, which allowed him to finish the rally with an advantage of more than two minutes over the Citroen of Sebastien Loeb.

Andrea Navarra's Pirelli-equipped 2003-specification Impreza ended the rally in fourth, becoming the highest-placed privateer driver this year. Pirelli also won the Production Car battle thanks to an excellent sixth place overall for Gigi Galli. Furthermore, the Pirelli-equipped Suzuki of Sweden's Per-Gunnar Andersson won the Junior World Championship category, with an excellent ninth place overall - making it five Pirelli runners in the top 10! Pirelli's 135th World Championship victory marked the end to an excellent weekend for the P Zero range of tyres, in which Cody Crocker also won the Australian Rally Championship with a Pirelli-equipped Subaru.

Petter's team mate Mikko Hirvonen was forced to retire on the first leg with a transmission problem. But the young Finn continued under the new Super Rally rules in order to build up experience, setting a second-fastest time on SS10. Conditions remained warm and dry, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees centigrade.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli's sporting director, said: "Our inspired tyre choice on the first day allowed us to maintain an important advantage for the rest of the rally. Petter continued to dominate for the rest of the weekend, underlining the dominance of our P Zero tyres on our home event."

Petter Solberg commented: "It's been the perfect rally for us, without the slightest problem from our car or tyres. Well done to everybody!"

RALLY D'ITALIA-SARDINIA - Final Classification
1 Solberg-Mills Subaru Impreza WRC2004 4h43m47.9s
2 Loeb-Elena Citroen Xsara WRC +2m07.9
3 Sainz-Moya Citroen Xsara WRC +3m20.9
4 Navarra-Fedeli Subaru Impreza WRC +10m16.1
5 Duval-Prevot Ford Focus WRC +10m48.0
6 Galli-d'Amore Mitsubishi Lancer (Gp.N) +25m11.6
7 Gronholm-Rautiainen Peugeot 307 WRC +26m39.2
8 Warmbold-Price Ford Focus WRC +28m03.2
9 Andersson-Andersson Suzuki Ignis (S1600) +29m03.6
10 Andreucci-Andreussi Fiat Punto (S1600) +31m01.9

Next Rally: Tour of Corsica, 15-17 October

Drivers Championship: 1 Loeb 100; 2 Solberg 74; 3 Sainz 61; 4 Martin 59; 4 Gronholm 49; 5 Duval 47; 7 Hirvonen 23; 8 Rovanpera 20; 9 Tuohino 16; 10 Loix 7; 11 Carlsson & Panizzi 6; 13 Navarra 5

Constructors Championship: 1 Citroen 164; 2 Ford 117; 3 Subaru 101; 4 Peugeot 80; 5 Mitsubishi 17