CIR ahead of San Marino Rally

The Italian Rally Series at the eve of the Race of Titan.
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The Calendar of the Italian Rally Championship features a small summer break even though such an high level championship does not give the luxury of real breaks, considering the fierce competition. After the Rally del Salento, that came back to the series after some years of absence, something seemed to change. Paolo Andreucci has been back to the dominion of the scene together with co-driver Anna Andreussi, on the usual works Peugeot 208 T16 R5, that has had the upper hand on all its rivals. The same rivals that have been battling on pair arms until the eve of the Rally del Salento. What could have changed so quickly to modify the values of the series? Well, a lot of things most probably, some small factors that contributed to launch the Peugeot Italia crew. But at the opening of Rally del Ciocco, things did not go that well; victory in leg one and then mechanical problems in the second, followed by the victory and championship lead going to a great Simone Campedelli, and co-driver Ometto at the debut on an updated Ford Fiesta R5 Orange 1 Racing, run by Brc. Things did not go very well to the other much awaited protagonist, Umberto Scandola, on Skoda Fabia R5 run by Skoda Italia Motorsport; the driver from Verona was fourth in leg one, but had to retire in the second leg due to some differential problems on his Skoda. The Rally in Tuscany produced uncertainty and spectacle also in the 2WD championship with the battle involving Kevin Gilardoni, on Renault Clio R3 run by Gima Autosport and Marco Pollara, on Peugeot 208 R2 by Peugeot Italia, standing equal on points; Riccardo Canzian was also very good on the Renault Clio R3 run by Gima Autosport. Fabrizio Andolfi Junior and his Abarth 124 Rally had a good debut in the “RGT” and scored a good win also in the single make trophy. The series had a lot of crews battling each other in Tuscany in R1, as Stefano Martinelli came to the fore winning also the Suzuki Rally Trophy round, and Emanuele Rosso, who was very good and leading the R1A on his Renault Twingo. He also led the Renault’s single make trophy. In summary, the season started off great and the Rally Circus moved to a prestigious venue for the second act of the season: the Rallye Sanremo. The historic stages saw a strong double win for Andreucci who canceled the half-wrong step moved in the home race, as Simone Campedelli went off track damaging his Ford Fiesta being forced to skip the second leg. Umberto Scandola secured important points instead and a good podium, despite some punctures. Alessandro Perico had a positive start to the championship, but could not continue his championship campaign. He was in second place of the championship after Sanremo leading Campedelli and Scandola following the leader Andreucci. Elwis Chentre showed also good things on his Hyundai i20 R5, taking the victory in the Asphalt Trophy, as Ivan Ferrarotti and Antonio Rusci continued their growth on the Ford Fiesta R5. Kevin Gilardoni confirmed his speed repeating the victory taken in the 2WD having the best of a very strong Riccardo Canzian, who won one leg, while the Sicilian Marco Pollara, on the works Peugeot 208 R2 led the "Junior" championship ahead of a great Luca Bottarelli, on another Peugeot 208 R2. Andolfi continued to lead "RGT", Alberto Paris took the win in "R1A" on his Renault Twingo; Stefano Martinelli that of “R1B” strengthening his lead in the R1 classification too. A terrible incident canceled the Targa Florio and the CIR moved on the gravel, that is the best ground for Umberto Scandola and Guido D’Amore that did not disappoint expectations taking the fifth win in a row at Rally dell’Adriatico on the Skoda Fabia R5 run by Skoda Italia Motorsport. The other steps of the podium went to Campedelli and Andreucci. Adriatico’s gravel reopened the classification, as Andreucci, Scandola and Campedelli were all within 6.5 points. The first round on gravel was the ideal stage for the rising star Kalle Rovanpera, who displayed his crystal class despite being only 16. Very humble on the asphalt, that is virtually unknown to the flying Finn, gravel could highlight his class. Things did not go this way though, as he made a few mistakes too many at the Adriatico.

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The season has so far highlighted several interesting young drivers so far, like Gilardoni, and at the Adriatico Marco Pollara confirmed his place on top of the 2WD, as Damiano De Tommaso got an exciting double win in the “Junior” on his Peugeot 208 R2 . Stefano Strabello and Lorenzo Coppe shared the haul of the R1, on the Suzuki Swifts. From Adriatico to the latest race run, the Rally del Salento, the dominator Andreucci was followed by Simone Campedelli and Antonio Rusce, on Ford Fiesta R5 run by X Race Sport, as the latter put in a strong performance after an excellent first part of the season where he got to know his new car better. The driver coming home from Salento disappointed was Umberto Scandola. The driver from Verona had a contact which resulted in a puncture and eventually a retirement that compromised his classification. Riccardo Canzian got more and more competitive instead: the double win in Salento is quite a proof of that. "RGT" confirmed Fabrizio Andolfi Junior’s lead, but "R1" highlighted the value of several title contenders, like Emanuele Rosso who is getting the most of his Renault Twingo. The Rally of San Marino is going to be the wake up call for drivers wishing to relaunch their classification, but competition will certainly be high.

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In the pictures: Fabrizio Andolfi Junior (Abarth 124 Rally) and Marco Pollara (Peugeot 208 R2) who have been among the main protagonists of the first part of the season. Below, a group picture of CIR at Rallye Sanremo