Gilles Panizzi to skip round 1 of IRC, but will do round 2...

Gilles Panizzi has had to shelve plans to take in the opening round of the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge in Turkey.

The Frenchman had hoped to be at the start of the Istanbul Rally, which runs from April 4-6, but will now drive in Portugal with an Automeca-run Abarth Grande Punto instead.

The ex-Peugeot and ex-Mitsubishi World Rally 'works' driver already has some experience of the IRC, having taken in the Sanremo Rally last year, when he drove a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 - the car that he helped to develop.

He also drove a diesel Abarth Grand Punto course car on the Sanremo event in 2006.

Former European rally champion, Renato Travaglia meanwhile is also planning to compete in an Abarth Grande Punto this year.

The Italian star - who featured on several IRC events last year - currently only has the budget in place to do the Istanbul event, but may do more if he finds the appropriate funds.

Travaglia is usually engaged in the Italian Championship with the Abarth factory team, but on this occasion he has a dispensation to compete with Grifone - the same outfit that will run Didier Auriol.