Italian domination
The European Rally Championship began from the special stages of Rally 1000 Miglia where the stars of ERC had to face the fierce Italian competition. The 2009 Italian Rally Champion Paolo Andreucci claimed the victory in a Peugeot 207 S2000. The fast and highly experienced driver took the lead from the very first day and remained there until the end. Second overall finished his fellow countryman Luca Rossetti in a factory-backed Grande Punto S2000, who was first for the separate standings of the ERC, since Andreucci is not nominated for the Championship. Rossetti’s teammate in Abarth, Giandomenico Basso, lost the chance to win after having two punctures. So, the ex-European Champion, Renato Travaglia, finished 3rd, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000. Among the frontrunners of the rally, as well as of the ERC, was the Czech Skoda driver Jan Kopecky, who faced brakes problems during the first day, while lost time due to a puncture in the following one, which led him to 10th place.