The Italian driver of Peugeot was challenged for the victory by Alessio Pisi and Fabio Cadore, on a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 too, as the latter couple kept the lead of the race from the third stage until the eleventh but the super-champion overtook them with three stages to go. The extraordinary fight for the third place last until the very last stage and was won by Umberto Scandola, navigated by Guido D´Amore on Ford Fiesta Super 2000. At the end of over than 150km, Scandola proceeded Luca Rossetti, Abarth Grande Punto, by just 2 tenths. Franco Cunico on Peugeot 207 Super 2000 took part in this battle nearly until the end but was eventually slowed down by the failure of an axle-shaft and ended in fifth. The fourth place was secured by another protagonist of the rally, Alessandro Perico, that has been victim of a puncture.
In the Italian Production Championship, the victory as absolute ruler went to Maurizio Angrisani, Mitsubishi, seventh at the finish line, while in the Rally Junior Championship the fight between the Citroen Ds3R3 driven by Simone Campedelli and the Renault Clio R3T driven by Andrea Nucita ended with the victory of the first that managed to secure the victory only when the finish line was in sight. Nucita led the race for a long time but has been betrayed by a puncture in the second-last stage.
Very good was also the tenth place obtained by Francesco Rizzello, born in Ruffano, a small town in the province of Lecce, who was the first of the local drivers on his Peugeot Super 2000 belonging to team Piloti Salentini.
The final classification of the 45th Rally of Salento- 1. Andreucci - Andreussi (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) in 1h 44´24"7 ; 2. Pisi - Cadore (Abarth Grande Punto) at 19"1; 3. Scandola - D´Amore (Ford Fiesta Super 2000) at 1´09"7; 4. Rossetti - Chiarcossi (Abarth Grande Punto) at 1´09"9 ; 5. Cunico - Pollet (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 2´ 22´ 1; 6. Perico - Carrara (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 2´29"2; 7. Angrisani - Pollicino (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) at 2´34"9 ; 8. Campedelli - Fappani (Citreon Ds3) at 2´50"8; 9. Chentre - Canova (Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 2´55"5; 10. Rizzello - Sovrano ( Peugeot 207 Super 2000) at 4´01"7.
The situation in the Italian Rally Championship (after five rounds) is the following:
Drivers: 1. Andreucci, points 125; 2. Scandola and Rossetti 63; 4. Perico 53; 5. Cunico 45; 6. Chentre 39; 7. Pisi 38
Constructors: 1. Peugeot, 197; 2. Ford, 69; 3. Abarth 63
Italian Rally Junior : 1. Nucita 165; 2. Campedelli 105.5; 3. Signor 98; 4. Carella 93; 5. Andolfi, 77.
Italiano Rally Production: 1. Angrisani 93 ; 2.Gianfico, 80; 3. Rendina 33 ;
Winners stage by stage: Andreucci stage 1, 2, 8,10,11 ; Pisi stage 3,5, 7; Scandola stage 4,6,9,12,13.
