Zoom Rossetti still aiming for this year's IRC title

Italian driver Luca Rossetti, who won the opening two rounds of the IRC this year, has admitted that his chances of claiming the title have suffered a major setback on the Barum Rally Zlin.

Rossetti ran as high as third, but a puncture at the end of the opening day meant that he lost time and eventually finished seventh, taking away just two points in the Czech Republic.

The Peugeot Italy driver maintains second in the overall rankings but he is now 12 points behind Nicolas Vouilloz and only three ahead of Freddy Loix.

Due to his Italian Championship commitments, Rossetti is also obliged to miss the next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Principe de Asturias Rally in Spain.

"If we had managed to keep our podium place in Zlin, and if we had the possibility to race at the next round, I would say that there was still a chance," commented Rossetti. "Now though I think it will be very difficult. There is a big gap ahead of us, and the chances are that it will get bigger after the next round. "

Nonetheless Rossetti, who is also in contention for the Italian and European titles, has vowed not to give up for the remainder of his IRC campaign.

"While there is still a chance we will keep fighting as hard as we can," he said.

"Rallying is a sport where anything can happen," Rossetti remarked. "At the start of the year I had a big lead but it went away: it could be the same for Nicolas or anybody. It's not in my nature to give up."

Rossetti's next appearance on the IRC will be for his home Sanremo Rally, from September 25 to 27: an event he won last year.

D.B. © CAPSIS International