Formerly on the WRC calendar, the Rallye Sanremo represents a whole new challenge for Team Renault Sport Technologies. The schedule for the two-day event is hectic to say the least, comprising as it does ten stages covering a total distance of 232 kilometres and taking place in a time period of little more than 24 hours.

Still recovering from the injury he picked up at the Croatia Rally, Germain Bonnefis will sit out the last-but-one round of the 2013 European Rally Championship season, leaving Robert Consani to carry the Renault Sport Technologies standard alone after his fine showing in Croatia. Consani, who will no doubt be sparing a thought for his stricken team-mate, will be joined in the Renault Megane R.S. N4 by Vincent Landais, who also co-drove for him at the WRC Rallye de France – Alsace.

“It was really interesting to take part in the Rallye de France and to get to know my new partner, what with Nicolas Klinger not being available next weekend,” said the Provence driver. “It was a good rehearsal even if we weren’t allowed to put our usual tyres on. We were going well but then we had a breakdown out of the blue and had to pull out. The main thing is that I worked well with Vincent.”

Looking ahead to the Sanremo, Consani said: “It’s a rally I know well. I’m always looking for positives and we are going to go on the attack. We’ll be aiming for the win as long as we’re on an equal footing in terms of tyres. Though I don’t have any pressure on me in terms of the championship, we will be keeping one eye on the final standings in the Production Cup and we’ll be hoping to finish as high up as we can. I won’t be doing any soul-searching and if everything goes to plan, we should be able to put in a good performance.”

The Rallye Sanremo starts with a loop of three special stages on Friday afternoon and continues with the demanding Ronde night stage, which is some 55.4 kilometres in length. Saturday’s programme features two identical three-stage loops, with the rally scheduled to end at 18:00.