Latest news with #Olbia
CNA
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CNA
Rallying-Ogier, Tanak take Sardinia battle of champions into final day
Sebastien Ogier will be determined to avoid more Rally Italy heartache when he and Ott Tanak, who seized victory by a whisker last year, again duel in Sunday's final stages in Sardinia. Toyota's eight-times world champion ended Saturday's penultimate leg 11.1 seconds clear of his Hyundai rival with four stages and a total of 77.7km remaining before the finish of the Olbia-based event. Last year the Frenchman had a 17.1-second lead at the same point but ended up losing by 0.2 seconds to the Estonian 2019 champion after a puncture in the final stage - the joint closest finish in world rally championship history. Ogier started Saturday with a 2.1-second lead over Adrien Fourmaux but the Hyundai driver rolled out on the day's fifth of six stages over rocky and dusty roads in the north of the Mediterranean island. "It's been a long day," said Ogier, who won three of the stages. "The afternoon was rough. But I'm happy so far. Good race management." Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera moved up to third but 55.5 seconds off the lead, with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans fourth and Sami Pajari fifth - four Toyotas in the top five. Hyundai's world champion Thierry Neuville retired on Friday after hitting an earth bank and was 26th overall after returning on Saturday. Evans led Rovanpera by 30 points going into the season's sixth round, with Ogier third and Tanak fourth.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Ogier leads after tough first day in Sardinia
June 6 (Reuters) - Toyota's Sebastien Ogier led Rally Italy in Sardinia on Friday after surging from third to first on the final stage of the first full day of action after rivals hit trouble. Hyundai's reigning world champion Thierry Neuville retired on stage five after taking the lead on the fourth stage of the Olbia-based rally in northern Sardinia and then hitting an earth bank. Adrien Fourmaux was in second place, 2.1 seconds behind eight-times world champion Ogier, with Hyundai teammate Ott Tanak third on the gravel tracks. Last year's winner Tanak completed the leg with a damaged shock absorber and 5.2 seconds behind Fourmaux. Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera was down in fifth place with championship-leading teammate Elfyn Evans sixth after being the first driver to set out and effectively sweeping the road. "It's been a good day, for sure," commented Ogier. "I've done everything I could today, so I'm happy with that." M-Sport Ford's Martins Sesks rolled out while teammates Josh McErlean and Gregoire Munster retired with suspension damage in the morning action on the same new Telti-Calangianus-Berchidda stage that caught out Neuville later. M-Sport expected at least two of the three to resume on Saturday. "That stage where all the drama happened was very tricky,' said Ogier. "It's super narrow and extremely fast. It's always a surprise to see that many incidents, but it can happen very easily there." The rally, round six of the championship, continues on Saturday with more than 120km of timed action.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- The Sun
European destination with new BA flights that used to have ‘dolphin currency' and has the best beach in the world
A EUROPEAN destination that used to have a 'dolphin currency' and is close to the world's best beach is now even more accessible from the UK. British Airways will soon launch flights to Olbia - a coastal Italian town located in Sardinia. Whilst known for being a port and airport town, Olbia has a long history. In fact, the town used to have a dolphin currency, which was dolphin-shaped coins, also known as Olbia dolphins. Originally used as sacrificial objects for the worship of Apollo, the Olbia dolphins were later used as a form of currency for the ancient Greek colony of Olbia, before coins existed. At its historic core, Olbia has an archeological museum and two churches. The museum was first opened in the 1980s, but since has been a work in progress since. It is home to local artefacts, from Roman amulets to pottery, and even the relic of a Roman vessel discovered in the old port. The Chiesa di San Paolo church is built on the site of an ancient temple, has a multi-coloured dome and a stone exterior. The town's other significant church - the Basilica minore di San Simplicio - sits just outside the heart of town and is a Romanesque granite church dating back to the eleventh century. Away from the more historical attractions is Corso Umberto - a lively shop-lined street, which leads uphill from the waterfront. Piazza Margherita is also well-known in the town and is often considered the hub of the town. I visited the tiny island that is Italy's best kept secret and you can avoid the summer crowds Many narrow lanes lead off this hub, featuring old buildings and little squares. In the summer months, visitors can head out on a day-long boat excursion to explore the coast and nearby resorts. The town boats plenty of places to stay and places to eat, so visitors won't be short of choice. Many of the town's restaurants serve local dishes, including locally-made wine. Away from Olbia town, Sardinia also boasts the world's best beach. Recently named on the top 50 best beaches in the world list, Cala Goloritzè features unique rock formations and white sand and pebbles. The beach is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Olbia, so would be a good day trip when exploring the rest of the Sardinina. Flights direct from the UK take around two-and-a-half hours. The new British Airways direct flight route from London City to Olbia, Sardinia will operate weekly from May 25 and increase to twice weekly from July 16 to September 28. Also in Italy is a little-known town, which has been dubbed the 'city of ice cream', with £15 UK flights. Plus, the European seaside town is selling breaks for 84p. 4
