Toni Gardemeister leads GT2-class in Italy
Hallinta Hoop, 19.4.2007
Toni Gardemeister has been rallying in WRC since 1997. From time to time Toni makes a jump outside WRC by entering into a selected rallies. Now he's with his co-driver Tomi Tuominen leading GT2-class in legendary Mille Miglia European Championship Rally in Italy. Finns steer Astra Racing RWD Nissan 350Z rally car. After two super special stage Toni and Tomi are in superior lead with 44,4 seconds gap. They are only 8,8 seconds slower than GT1 class top driver. Gardemeister will try to reach top position in GT-class overall classifications in Friday.
Legedary rally of Mille Miglia is an European Rally Championship and Italy Rally Championship event. The rally containts two legs, which GT-cars rally only the first leg including two super special stages driven on Thursday. The rally is being driven on tarmac surface and the curvy stages are located in the vicinity of beautiful lake Garda.
- My first experience with GT-class Nissan 350Z is extremely positive. This beaufitul car has previously been seen in race events. Now in rally and its' two stages it has proven its' competitivness. Ofcourse RWD rally car has made be to have some adjust in my pace, but when reviewing results, it seems like it has not been so hard, analyzed GT2 top driver Gardemeister.
- Tomorrow we face a long rally day. Naturally our goals is to rally GT2-class victory, but we wouldn't mind being faster than GT1-class cars. The atmosphere inside cabin is excellent because professional rally driver Toni Gardemeister has taken control, told Tomi Tuominen, who is a co-driver for Gardemeister and very familiar face in Finnish television.
Giandomenico Basso with Fiat Grande Punto S2000 is leading the rally. Second is Luca Rossetti with Peugeot 307 S2000.