Day three of Rally d’Italia Sardegna started off with hanging dust causing major delays for the competitors on the opening stages, the lack of any breeze leaving choking curtains in the air for minutes after each car went past.

Coming onto the final leg in Sardinia, Al Attiyah had a 23.5 second gap to make up on the leader. He immediately stamped his authority on proceedings by taking 15 seconds out of that gap on the first stage of the 19.31-km. Al Attiyah lost a little bit of time over the next pair of stages, but then battered the competition on the second run-through of the opening stage, bringing the gap down to a mere 4.0 seconds. Then onn the final stage, he did taking just enough of a gamble to eclipse his chief rival by a scant 1.5 seconds and the win after 4 hours 20 minutes’ hard racing. It is his second P-WRC victory, and takes him to the top of the championship points’ table.

“We really pushed a lot in those last two stages! I am just so happy. This win is just so special for me because it’s our first time here and it was a particularly difficult event. I’m really looking forward to the Acropolis Rally in three weeks’ time.”

The early pace setter in this event, Patrik Flodin suffered electrical problems in the morning of Day three. Subsequent repairs on a road section caused a penalty of 1:50 at the following time controls, robbing him of any chance to fight for third place. He still managed four stage wins and a trio of second-quickest times throughout the three days in what is a clear testament to his, and the new generation Impreza’s outright pace. “It’s been a heck of a rally for us. Still I’m very happy with the pace of the car - and also to take home some points.” For the other Impreza competitors in the P-WRC, Gabor Mayer and Gianluca Linari, both came home to claim championship points after hard-fought efforts all weekend.

STI GpN Project General Manager George Donaldson:
“Our first visit to the fabulous island of Sardinia has proven to be a most interesting and unusual event for the Production cars. Though we expected it to be rougher than it was, it was nevertheless a very tough test. It was much more technical in the strategy we had to employ to make sure of getting a win here. Nasser, his team Autotek and the Subaru Impreza, did the most incredible job all weekend. In fact, we’ve had two drivers pushing right at the front.When Nasser lost time Patrik was gaining it, and when Patrik lost time Nasser was gaining it.

These two wins in a row really proving the worth of the new generation Impreza. We’re looking forward to next round, Greece, knowing Patrik leaves here super-confident, while Nasser feels he’s going to familiar and friendly territory. And of course, we have the return of Toshi Arai, which gives us the strongest team we’ve fielded all year. We go to Greece with confident of the car’s ability to survive in these tough and hot terrains, knowing that the Impreza is absolutely fast and up to the mark. The Impreza-shod teams have got to get it right - and if they do then we’re in with a great chance. We’re really looking forward to the next event as current leaders of the Production World Rally Championship.”