The picturesque tarmac roads of Sardinia delivered thrilling drama at Rally Terra Sarda (6-7 October), as Osian Pryce initially led a fierce battle only to be edged out by Alberto Roveta in a spectacular turnaround on the final day. Thousands of spectators witnessed the excitement unfold, with the rally living up to its reputation for intense competition, glamour, and unpredictable twists.
On the opening day, Pryce, the defending champion, set the pace with co-driver Dale Furniss, winning four out of six special stages and looking poised to repeat his previous success. However, despite an impressive early performance, Roveta and co-driver Nicoló Gonella came alive during the final stage of the day, slashing Pryce’s lead with a remarkable 11.1-second stage win, leaving only a 2.3-second gap between the two contenders.
With every second counting on the final day, the rally saw Roveta fully shift into “rocket mode,” taking his Skoda Fabia RS to the top of the leaderboard in both the TER – Tour European Rally and the TER Series standings. Pryce, who had fought valiantly, saw his hopes slip as Roveta seized the moment to claim the maximum points, securing a hard-fought victory.
The rally’s twists did not stop with the top two drivers. In the TER classification, Loris Ronzano and Gloria Andreis initially held third place but were later overtaken by Maurizio Diomedi, who clinched the final podium spot by the rally’s end. Meanwhile, in the 2WD class, Alessandro Ghisu delivered a stellar performance in his Peugeot 208 Rally4, outperforming higher-class competitors to claim victory.
Rachele Somaschini also made a significant impact, taking the TER Ladies Trophy win – an essential result as the championship nears its conclusion, with only the Azores Rally left in the season.
In the TER Historic category, French driver Philippe Giordanengo and his Ford Escort RS1800 MkII dominated, securing both the rally win and the TER Historic Pre-81 championship. Tim Metcalfe, another rally veteran driving a Ford Escort MkII, finished second, while Gabriele Rossi clinched the TER Historic J1/J2 Champion title, despite facing retirement during the rally.
Alberto Roveta’s overall victory not only crowned him as the winner of Rally Terra Sarda but also confirmed Stuart Maloney and Kristian Yearwood from Barbados as the champions of the 2024 TER Series season.
With the Azores Rally on the horizon in November, the excitement isn’t over. Known for its narrow, twisty gravel roads and unpredictable weather, the season finale promises to be a true test of endurance and skill. But for now, Roveta stands victorious in Sardinia, proving once again that in rallying, anything can happen until the final stage is complete.