Rally Curitiba 2009 Day 1 results: Kris Meeke dominates with fastest times on every stage

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Photo: rallydecuritiba.com.br

Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke was fastest on every stage of the first day of Rally Curitiba to lead by 48.6s in his 207 S2000.

Giandomenico Basso moved his Abarth Punto up to second place on SS7, the final stage of the day, after a day long battle with Nicolas Vouilloz's Peugeot, the gap is gust 0.3s. Argentinian Tango Rally Team Mitsubishi pilot Alejandro Cancio was an excellent fourth. Freddy Loix fifth for Kronos and said his lack of pace was due to running first on the road and sweeping the stages.

Marcos Ligato has retired his Mitsubishi on SS4 with radiator damage caused by broken suspension. Anton Alen's earlier problems with the Punto were also due to a crash which broke the right rear suspension causing him to suffer a puncture, he has since climbed back to 13th o/a after losing 6m 30s.

There are six stages tomorrow to conclude the Rally Internacional de Curitiba 2009.

http://blog.krismeeke.com/2009/03/kris-takes-command-in-brazil/

Day 1 video of Kris Meeke in action and interview by stagetimes

Rally Curitiba 2009 Day 1 results

1. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000) 50:47.0 min
2. Giandomenico Basso/Mitia Dotta (Abarth Grande Punto S2000) + 48.6 s
3. Nicolas Vouilloz/Nicolas Klinger (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 48.9 s
4. Alejandro Cancio/Santiago Garcia (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) + 1:03.6 min
5. Freddy Loix/Isidoor Smets (Peugeot 207 S2000) + 1:22.5 min
6. Victor Galeano Tomboly/Diego Fabiani (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) + 2:31.6 min
7. Raul Martinez/Javier Sebastian Montero (Subaru Impreza STi) + 3:59.0 min
8. Gustavo Saba/Edgardo Galindo (Subaru Impreza STi) + 4:40.9 min

Source: ircseries.com