Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi powered the new Fiat Grande Punto Rally to a crushing overall victory on last weekend's 30th Rally 1000 Miglia. The event had double value as firstly it counted as the third round of the 2006 CSAI Italian Rally Championship, and with two victories now out of three events so far, Andreucci made up for the disappointment of retiring last time out on the Rally dell'Adriatico to bounce straight back into the series points lead.

The 30th Rally 1000 Miglia was secondly also the opening round of the 2006 FIA European Rally Championship, which Andreucci now also leads, so victory was all the more satisfying as the level of opposition was at its best and proves, just over a month after its competitive stage debut, that the new low-cost 2.0-litre, four-wheel-drive 'Super 2000' category Fiat Grande Punto Rally can comfortably hold its own on the bigger stage.

As this rally also counted as the opening FIA European Rally Championship round, the N.technology-run Fiat ranks were swelled to three cars as Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta were joining Italian regulars Andreucci and Andreussi, and their usual team-mates Andrea Navarra and Guido d'Amore, for the first time as they kicked off their own challenge for European honours this year. Providing the stiffest of opposition would be a host of 2006-specification Japanese Mitsubishi and Subaru GpN rally machines, divided between Renato Travaglia, Gianfranco Cunico, Andrea Dallavilla and Sandro Sottile (all driving the Mitsubishi Evo IX) and Piero Longhi, Luca Cantamessa and Andrea Aghini (Subaru Impreza STi) who would provide the challenge.

The Fiat drivers' though served notice of their intent to go all-out for glory on the Rally 1000 Miglia during the opening 'Daniel Bonara' superspecial stage (20th April) with a 1-2-3 formation finish on the 4.1 km 'spectator-friendly' stage. Andreucci was quickest, edging proceedings to arrive at the flag 2.8 seconds faster than Navarra and 3.2 over Basso, who was finally making his competitive debut at the wheel of the Grande Punto Rally.

The first leg (21st April) kicked off in earnest with the 16.64 km SS2 'Cavallino' stage which Andrea Aghini shaded by 2.2 seconds from Andreucci, although the N.technology driver held onto the overall rally lead. Getting into his stride Andreucci then won special stages three, four and five before the field bypassed SS6 which was cancelled. After a day that was characterised by bright sunshine with the occasional heavy showers, the Fiat star driver also won SS9 and SS10 to cruise safely into overnight parc ferme with a 1 minute and 1.3 seconds lead over Andrea Dallavilla (Evo IX,) 1 minute and 28.8 seconds over Sandro Sottile (Evo IX,) and 1 minute and 37.5 over third placed Luca Cantamess (Impreza STi.)