Hyundai driver Dani Sordo made the best possible start to his summer holidays by winning Rally Italia-Sardegna.

The Spaniard remained on the Italian island after the conclusion of round eight – and began his holiday in the same way he’d finished work the previous evening: in the sea.

Sordo led the now traditional charge towards the Mediterranean after champagne celebrations at the end of the Alghero-based event. Then went diving the next day.

“It’s nice to do something a bit quieter with some friends,” said Sordo. “And this [Sardinia] is a good place for the diving, the weather’s nice.

“After that, it was home for me. I don’t really go away so much on the long holidays in the summer. When I’m at home, I’m on holiday and I’m lucky because home’s like the holiday place with the mountains. Then it’s just some fun with the friends around home.”

Sordo’s team-mate Sébastien Loeb will be hitting the beach during his holiday, while Andreas Mikkelsen and Hyundai’s newest of new boys Craig Breen will be getting their Rally Finland preparations underway with a trip to Tartu for Rally Estonia.

Thierry Neuville’s another driver enjoying a busman’s holiday – he’s competing at the biggest rally in his Belgian homeland, the Ypres Rally, in an i20 Coupe WRC this weekend.

After that, Neuville’s going to be busy making preparations for a new edition.

“I’m due to become a father in this time,” said Neuville, “so I’m going to be busy with getting ready for that – there’s no time for a holiday this summer. And, as well, we have testing [for Germany and Finland], so the time from Sardinia to Finland is going to go quick!”

Citroën’s defending champion Sébastien Ogier has slotted a break in between Sardinia and a trip to Britain for next week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. He’s headed to southern Greece for some hard-earned rest – as well as some paddle boarding – with his wife and son.

Ogier’s team-mate Esapekka Lappi – like Sordo – stayed on in Sardinia for a few days with his family. He left the island for a test in Germany, then pops over to England for a day at Goodwood before heading to Rally Estonia.

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