ITALIAN driver Giandomenico Basso, driving a Fiat, won the 36th Rally Bulgaria.
The competition is the country's major car racing event. It took place over three days, July 8 to July 10, in the winter resort of Borovets, about 70 km from Sofia.
Basso defeated second-placed French driver and current European champion Simon Jean-Joseph in a Renault Clio by 19.9 seconds. The champion is the 13th Italian to win the competition in its 35-year history.
Jean-Joseph won the last stage of the race 20 seconds ahead of Basso, but the Fiat driver had built up a comfortable advantage during the first two days of the rally.
Bulgaria's Dimitar Iliev, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer, was third in the final standings. He raced to the finish line just 7.9 seconds faster than another Bulgarian, Georgi Geradjiev.
"This was a perfect rally for me. I had no problems and I took advantage of Jean Joseph's mistake. If he didn't have problems probably the race was going to be much harder because we have the same capabilities. I liked the stages very much because some of them are like the Italian. The first place here in Bulgaria pleased me very much, because this is my first big victory during this year," Basso said after the rally.
"There was no way in which I could eradicate Basso's advantage. The fact that I cut half of it does not mean much, because he was in control of the race the whole time. But the good thing is that I gained eight points for the European championship, which is my best result for this year. We had to keep up with Basso all the way to the finish in order to be sure that I will be among the first three. My participation in the European championship didn't start very well but know we are getting back our rhythm. I hope that my first victory will come very soon," said Jean-Joseph.
"The contest between me and Geradjiev was very strong, but in the end I won. He drove very well during the last stages and I am pleased with my third place. I am also happy to be the first-placed Bulgarian driver," said Iliev.