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Giandomenico Basso leads Transilvania Rally after Day 1

05.05.2017

The 2016 Italian Champion, in his first event with the Hyundai New Generation i20 R5, ended the first day in the lead after a great battle with the Ford Fiesta R5 of Bogdan Marisca. After finishing second behind Basso in the first test, the Romanian driver took the lead by winning the following two stages, before losing time in the final test and dropping back to second. A fierce battle for the third podium step between Dan Girtofan (Škoda Fabia R5) and Bernd Casier (Ford Fiesta R5) sees them separated by only 0.1” at the overnight halt.

Fifth place for Florin Tincescu (Mitsubshi Evo IX), leader of the TER Production Trophy, ahead of the sister car of Valentin Porcisteanu. The TOYOTA Motorsport driver Luca Rossetti (Toyota GT86 CS-R3) is seventh overall and leader of the TER 2WD Trophy. Jim van den Heuvel (Mitsubishi Evo X) is eight, and third in the TER Production Trophy, ahead of team mate Robert Woodside and Manuel Mihalache (Mitsubishi Evo IX) who are respectively ninth and tenth.

Simon Vallentin Hansen is the fastest driver in the TER2 Cup, and ends the day in 11th overall and second 2WD car with his MSZ Racing Opel Adam, while Roland Stengg is regaining confidence after a recent accident; he is second in the TER2 Cup standings and 19th overall.

Amongst the retirements, Hyundai Motorsport driver Chewon Lim was forced to stop after crashing on Special Stage 2. He managed to complete the test but was forced to stop immediately after. Last year's winner Simone Tempestini failed to start after an electrical problem on his Citroën DS3 R5.

The second day of Transilvania Rally will start tomorrow at 07:30. The route comprises 10 special stages, for a total of 92 kms of action. The first car will reach the finish at 18:28 after the final spectacular city superspecial stage in Cluj-Napoca.