Event information
Surface: gravel

Host town: Olbia

Practical information: Rally HQ and the Media centre are based at the Melia Hotel in Olbia. The service area is on the freight harbour side in Olbia. There is no time difference with Continental Europe. Sunrise on Day 1 of the rally (Friday May 22) is 6.08am. Sun set is at 8.33pm. The local currency is the Euro.

Technical matters: The two Citroën C4 WRCs will be powered by the same engines which contested the Portuguese and Argentine rounds. One spare gearbox, one spare set of differentials and one spare turbo are permitted per driver for Italy and Greece. Steering racks and subframes will be sealed before the start.

Tyres: each crew will have 36 Pirelli Scorpion tyres for the event. Competitors may carry two spare wheels, but the ’re-cutting’ of tread patterns is not authorised.

Recce: Tuesday May 19 and Wednesday May 20 (8.00am to 8.00pm). The maximum authorised speed is 70kph on the stages (or lower, depending on local restrictions).

Shakedown: Thursday May 21 (8.00am to 12 noon). The 3.75km test stage near Monte Pinu is 10km from the service area.

Press conference: Thursday May 21 (1.30pm), Media Centre.

Start ceremony: Thursday May 21 (from 7.00pm), Olbia seafront.

Route length: 1,263.20km including 347.12km divided into 17 stages (9 different).

Day 1 (Friday May 22): 428.04km, including 130.20km divided into 6 stages (3 different). Start: 08.00. SS1 (Sa Conchedda, 14.99km), SS2 (Loelle, 22.30km) and SS3 (Crastazza, 27.81km). Regroup (12.35, 20 minutes). Service A (12.55, 30 minutes). SS4 (Sa Conchedda, 14.99km), SS5 (Loelle, 22,30 km) and SS6 (Crastazza, 27.81km). Service B (18.00, 45 minutes). Last car due into parc ferme at 21.00.

Day 2 (Saturday May 23): 511.76km, including 130.74km divided into 6 stages (3 different). Service C (06.30, 15 minutes). SS7 (Sa Linea, 14.20km), SS8 (Fiorentini, 22.02km) and SS9 (Monte Lerno, 29.15km. Regroup (12.10, 25 minutes). Service D (12.35, 30 minutes). SS10 (Sa Linea, 14.20km), SS11 (Fiorentini, 22.02km) and SS12 (Monte Lerno, 29.15km). Service E (18.30, 45 minutes). Last car due into parc ferme at 21.30.

Day 3 (Sunday May 24): 323.40km, including 86.18km divided into 5 stages (3 different). Service F (06.00, 15 minutes). SS13 (Monte Olia, 19.31km), SS14 (Sorilis, 18.66km), SS15 (Arzachena, 10.24km), SS16 (Monte Olia, 19.31km) and SS17 (Sorilis, 18.66km). Service H (13.24, 10 minutes). Rally finishes at 14.15.

Podium: Sunday May 24 (from 2.15pm), Marina Vecchia, Porto Cervo.

Post-rally press conference: Sunday May 24 (3.30pm), Media Centre.

New: The classic visits to Loelle, Crastazza and Monte Lerno feature once again. Two new stages are included near Goceano (Fiorentini and Sa Linea).

The crews’ WRC statistics before this rally:
Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena: WRC debut: Catalunya 1999 (Saxo Kit-Car, retired). WRC starts: 118. First WRC win: Germany 2002 (Xsara WRC). WRC wins: 52. WRC titles: 5 (2004 to 2008).
Dani Sordo: WRC debut: Catalunya 2003 (18th). WRC starts: 64. Junior title: 2005 (C2 S1600).
Marc Martí: WRC debut: Catalunya 1992 (21st). WRC starts: 130. Junior title: 2005 (C2 S1600).

The crews’ Rally d’Italia Sardegna statistics before this year’s rally:
Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena: sixth participation: 2008 (C4 WRC, 1st), 2007 (C4 WRC, retired), 2006 (Xsara WRC, 1st), 2005 (Xsara WRC, 1st) and 2004 (Xsara WRC, 2nd).
Dani Sordo: fifth participation: 2008 (C4 WRC, 5th), 2007 (C4 WRC, 3rd), 2006 (Xsara WRC, 3rd) and 2005 (C2 Super 1600, 17th).
Marc Marti: sixth participation: 2008 (C4 WRC, 3rd), 2007 (C4 WRC, 3rd), 2006 (Xsara WRC, 3rd), 2005 (C2 Super 1600, 17th) and 2004 (Xsara WRC, 3rd).

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