Umberto Scandola and Guido D'Amore, Skoda Fabia R5, wearing Michelin tyres, have won the first race of the 63rd Rallye Sanremo, second round of the Italian Rally Championship 2016. Skoda Italia's driver led BRC's Giandomenico Basso, Ford Fiesta R5 Ldi Gpl, with Pirelli tyres by 5.3s after six stages. Tthe third place was obtained by classification leaders Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi on Peugeot 208 T16 R5 that were 20.4s shy of the leaders as some setup problems and a delay at a time check created some problems to the Peugeot crew.
Day one has been a very nice challenge that envisages for a quite open and uncertain day two.
The fourth place went to Alessandro Perico and Mauro Turati, who accumulated some delay in the first stages. Andrea Nucita on Ford Fiesta R5 was fifth absolute instead and was followed by Simone Campedelli on Peugeot 208 T16, and by Rudy Michelini on Citroen DS3 R5.
Michele Tassone and Alice De Marco have been quite unlucky instead as they had an incident during the shakedown. The most shocking retirement was that of Stefano Baccega on Ford Fiesta R5, with Hankook tyres.
In the Italian 2WD Championship, the lead was taken by the Clio R3C driven by Ivan Ferrarotti, who was followed by the Peugeot 208 R2 driven by Testa, and by the Fiat Abarth 500 of Pisani. Bad luck hit Luca Panzani instead, as he was leading the first part of the day but then lost some time due to a puncture. In the Renault Clio R3T Top Trophy, the first day was won by Fabrizio Andolfi Jr.
In the Junior Championship the victory went to Giuseppe Testa, while Marco Pollara was second.
Jacopo Lucarelli put in a great performance in the Italian Rally R1 Championship, who had clear way after the retirement of Stefano Martinelli and Gianluca Rao, that are the direct rivals of the Tuscany driver also in the Suzuki Rally Trophy. A great race was also put in by the Twingo R1 driven by Federico Gasperetti.

Saturday 9 April, Day 2 will see lineups going through the stages of "Bosco di Rezzo" and "Colle d'Oggia" to be repeated twice, and "Vignai". Start is at local 6.18 while the finsh line will be crossed at 16:00, in Sanremo, at Piazzale Adolfo Rava.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION DAY 1 – 63rd RALLYE SANREMO: 1. Scandola-D'Amore (Skoda Fabia R5) in 52'04.2; 2. Basso-Granai (Ford Fiesta R5 LDI) at 5.3; 3. Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 20.4 ; 4.Perico-Turati (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 28.0; 5.Nucita-Nucita(Ford Fiesta R5)a ;6.Campedelli-Fappani(Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 1'07.7; 7.Michelini-Perna(Citroen DS3 R5) at 2'02.4; 8.Chentre-Florean(Abarth Grande Punto) at 2'49.7; 9.Borgogno-Ritenini(Peugeot 207 S2000) at 3'21.3;10.Ciava-Michi (Citroen DS3 R5) at 3'25.

CIR Absolute classification: Andreucci 20 points; Basso 18; Scandola 16,5; Perico 13; Tempestini 4,5; Baccega 3,5;Tassone and Rusce 3.

CIR Constructors classification: Peugeot 23; Skoda 16,5; Ford 9.

CIR 2WD classification: 1.Ferrarotti 21;2. Panzani 13,5; 3. Testa 10; Pisani 11; Gilardoni 9; Bernardi 4 ; 5.Lugano 3 .

CIR Junior classification: 1.Bernardi 15 points; Testa 13,5; Casella - Pollara 14 ; Manfredi 11; VJ 10,5.

Italian R1 championship: Lucarelli 40; Martinelli 32; Rao 24; Peloso 21; Vallino 11;

Italian Tarmac Rally: Perico 22,5; Michelini - Ciava 10; Tempestini 9; Rusce 8; Baccega 7; Campedelli 6; Tassone 6