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Basso denies Mikkelsen in thrilling IRC San Marino final-day showdown

Giandomenico Basso denied Andreas Mikkelsen victory in a thrilling final-day showdown on Rally San Marino

Intercontinental Rally Challenge points leader Mikkelsen (Skoda UK) had looked like he might start edging away on Saturday morning, only for Basso to reel him back in. Twice the duo shared the lead on identical times, but as the decisive afternoon progressed it was the Movisport Ford of Basso that started inching ahead.

Although Mikkelsen was quickest on the last two stages, it was to no avail, as Basso clinched victory by 2.8 seconds.

The result was a maiden IRC triumph for the Regional Rally Car derivative of the Ford Fiesta S2000, and Ford's first IRC win since Nasser Al-Attiyah's victory in the 2010 season finale in Cyprus. It also marked Basso's return to the top step of the podium for the first time since Madeira in summer 2009.

Umberto Scandola's Skoda Italia Fabia fell away in third during leg two but remained clear of early leader Sepp Wiegand (Skoda Deutschland).

Jarkko Nikara was comfortably the best Group N runner in fifth with his Tommi Makinen-run Subaru.

Leading finishers after SS13:

Pos  Driver              Team/Car              Time/Gap
 1.  Giandomenico Basso  Movisport Ford     2h35m56.6s
 2.  Andreas Mikkelsen   Skoda UK               + 2.8s
 3.  Umberto Scandola    Car Skoda           + 1m41.6s
 4.  Sepp Wiegand        Skoda Deutschland   + 2m06.2s
 5.  Jarkko Nikara       Makinen Subaru      + 6m12.2s
 6.  Gergely Szabo       Mitsubishi         + 10m15.6s
 7.  Marco Tempestini    Subaru             + 13m22.6s
 8.  Gabriele Noberasco  Mitsubishi         + 13m47.9s
 9.  Miklos Bujdos       Mitsubishi         + 14m03.0s
10.  Harry Hunt          I-Cars Citroen     + 14m49.0s

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