BRC's Fiesta LPG at Targa Florio 2016

© ACI Sport ItaliaOne thing is for certain when it comes to motorsport - fast and consistent driving sometimes just isn't enough

The 2016 Targa Florio was the third round of this year's Italian Rally Championship series, traditionally held in Sicily off the coast of Italy. Basso and his co-driver Granai were very fast and consistent throughout day one, winning several stages and finishing first overall on that day, which was Saturday. Before the final special stage of the day, Paolo Andreucci was ahead of Basso by a fraction of a second, but BRC Racing Team's technicians made an excellent choice of tyres for the final trial and the team's driver managed to finish first.

The second day began in a promising fashion, too – Basso and Granai were determined to maintain their lead, but had to retire from the rally altogether when the gearbox in their autogas-powered Ford Fiesta failed. We're sorry for the ambitious team and hope they fare better in the next round, which will be the 23^rd Rally Adriatic on May 29-30. After three asphalt rallies in a row, this one will be the season's first to run on gravel.

Hard luck, but that's how it is. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it isn't. Still, we're happy about having won the first day. We proved our valour by taking victory then.

Giandomenico Basso

Despite having to retire at Targa Florio, Basso and Granai are still second overall in the season's standings. However, leading Paolo Andreucci is now nearly 14 points away, while currently third Umberto Scandola is just below 2 points behind him.

100^th Rally Targa Florio overall standings:

1. Paolo Andreucci-Anna Andreussi (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) – 1:27'09.1;
2. Andrea Nucita-Giuseppe Nucita (Ford Fiesta R5) – '9.0 behind;
3. Umberto Scandola-Guido D'amore (Skoda Fabia R5) – '48.0 behind.

Overall standings of the 2016 Italian Rally Championships (CIR – Campionato Italiano Rally) so far:

1. Paolo Andreucci (45,5 pts);
2. Giandomenico Basso (31,75);
3. Umberto Scandola (30);
4. Allesandro Perico (19).