WRC drivers braced for “melting” Sardinia temperatures

Crews are expected to be battling unseasonably high ambient temperatures that could rise above 40 degrees across the four-day Italian rough gravel rally.

These temperatures arrive on top of drivers already facing increased cockpit temperatures inside the new-for-2022 Rally1 cars, a problem that emerged in cooler conditions at Rally Portugal two weeks ago.

The cockpit heat issue has resulted in the FIA permitting teams to make changes to homologated components on the cars, while extra ventilation outlets have been added, and reflective film to windows and roofs applied, in a bid to address the problem.

Rally Sardinia organisers have also reacted by ensuring crews will have access to water at the end of stages.

Toyota’s Esapekka Lappi described the conditions as “melting” for the drivers before adding that the rally will be a test of survival for both crew and car on the hot, rough stages.

“The biggest topic is the heat, we will be melting in the car, but let’s see if we can survive,” said Lappi, who returns to the seat occupied by Sebastien Ogier in Portugal. “It is going to be tough for the car but mainly for the drivers.

“First of all with the car you need to be smart not to break it, but now we have a big challenge with the heat as it is going to be 37, 38 degrees on Friday and Saturday and with these cars the exhaust is inside the cockpit, so it is bloody warm in the cars.

“The drivers struggled already in Portugal and now it is even warmer. You cannot push flat out on this rally anyway, you need to leaves some space all the time.”

Speaking after Thursday’s morning’s shakedown, Elfyn Evans revealed that the conditions were already challenging.

“It was pretty warm already, to be honest, especially if you stop and do some work in between runs the heat builds quite quickly,” said Evans after finishing third fastest in shakedown behind Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Lappi.

“Of course shakedown was…