The Belgian driver is currently third in the Drivers' standings and cannot hope to finish the season any higher. His Sanremo debut dates back to 1993.

 

The Nice-based driver will practically be on home ground, yet he no longer stands any chance of defending his 2008 IRC crown.

 

The championship leader is contesting the Rallye Sanremo for the very first time this year, but he has already shown evidence that he is perfectly capable of overcoming that handicap.

 

Last year's Sanremo winner Basso is committed to Greece's Rally Halkidikis this weekend, so the Abarth/BFGoodrich squad will be captained in Italy by Luca Rossetti, winner of this event in 2007.

 

Wins in the Czech Republic and in Spain have put the Czech driver back in the running for the 2009 title. Just as they are for his rival Kris Meeke, the Sanremo stages are new for the Skoda driver.

 

After giving the visit to Asturias a miss, the Finn is back for the penultimate round of the season with a view to helping his Skoda team-mate's bid for the title.

 

Following his brief appearance in Ypres, the Belgian's speed on asphalt has led to him being recruited by Abarth/BFGoodrich for the Sanremo.

 

 

Luca Cantamessa was chosen from a shortlist of five drivers pre-selected by Italy's motor sport governing body which received 31 applications for the drive. The 39-year old was picked out by a jury comprising representatives of the Italian press, BFGoodrich and Kronos Racing by a score of eight votes, ahead of Elvis Chentre (seven votes) and Alessandro Bettega (five votes).

 

Jacques Morelli (BFGoodrich's IRC Programme Manager): "The meeting to decide who will drive the BFGoodrich Drivers Team car on the Sanremo took place ahead of the Rally del Friuli e delle Alpi Orientali where Luca was making his return to the sport. He was very moved when he was told of the result."

 

On Tuesday, September 22, Kronos Racing and BFGoodrich organised a test session in the Sanremo region, and the test stage provided a good foretaste of the conditions competitors can expect this weekend. "The surface was very abrasive and the weather was fine, so we chiefly used the hard compound A31," reports BFGoodrich technician Michel Ducher.

 

"If the weather stays like this, I think the A31 will be the ideal choice," added Luca Cantamessa. "I found it to be very consistent and durable. The 2009 season has practically been a sabbatical for me, so I'm absolutely delighted to be taking part in the Rallye Sanremo which is one of my favourite events. I can't wait for the action to begin."

 

Born: July 16, 1970

1993: Rally debut (Peugeot 205 GTi)

1997: 3^rd, Italian two-litre Championship

1999: 1^st, Italian Group A Championship (Renault Clio)

2000: 1^st, Fiat Trophy and Michelin Challenge

2002: 2^nd, Italian Gravel Rally Championship (1^st, Rally Costa Smeralda)

2002-2008: Italian Rally Championship programmes in a Subaru Impreza, then a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer