San Marino Republic, Sunday 16 July 2017 – The gravel of the Italian Rally Championship is still the favourite hunting ground of Umberto Scandola, Guido D’Amore and their Skoda Fabia R5. They dominated the 45th San Marino Rally in a weekend that has seen them on top from the first to the last competitive km. The Veronese driver has put in a flawless performance fending off rivals in day one after the retirement of Campedelli, and managing the advantage in the second day leading his car to the victory of the sixth round of the championship, that was the second and final one on gravel. Kalle Rovanpera has been hit by an incredible bad luck, but despite retiring at the end of the final stage, when second absolute, he confirmed to be an extraordinary champion of only 16 years of age. The Finn had to stop due to a problem with a sensor on his Peugeot 208 T16 R5. The multi-Italian champion Paolo Andreucci and co-driver Anna Andreussi, inherited, therefore, the second place on their Peugeot 208 T16 R5, securing important points to strengthen their classification lead. One of the most awaited protagonists of the race is missing from the podium and from the final classification though: Simone Campedelli on Ford showed for a long time to deserve a good result. In the first stage of day two he joined Umberto Scandola on top, but later on, he made another error in this unlucky season, clipping a rock resulting in a puncture and retirement. The third step of the podium went to Andrea Nucita on Ford Fiesta R5 run by Scuderia Phoenix. The Sicilian had an on-off performance shining at times on the gravel that he does not particularly like but managed to get to the finish line without mistakes. The third round of the Gravel Trophy took place on the occasion. Several protagonists came to the fore, but the victory eventually went to Giacomo Costenaro and Justin Bardini, Ford Fiesta R5. They were followed by the Veronese Luca Hoelbling and Grassi, on Skoda Fabia R5. The third place went to the new classification leader Andrea Dalmazzini who managed the race with a few problems with Giacomo Ciucci on Ford Fiesta R5. The home hero Daniele Ceccoli had some problems on Ford Fiesta R5 as Nicolò Marchioro, Peugeot 208. The driver from San Marino had a great day one but then struggled on the San Marino stage, while the driver from Veneto had to retire due to a puncture.

Marco Pollara and Giuseppe Princiotto had a great race on a Peugeot 208 VTi run by Peugeot Junior Team. The two Sicilians won the race valid for the Italian Junior Rally Championship and that for the 2WD. In the Junior, they proceeded the two Peugeot 208 R2 of Andrea Mazzocchi and Damiano De Tommaso, who was first in the Trofeo Peugeot Competition, the single make series that saw Tommaso Ciuffi on top until the closing stages, when he had a problem to the gearbox of his 208. In the 2WD Pollara led Kevin Gilardoni, Renault Clio R3C, and Manuel Villa, Peugeot 208 R2.

In the Italian R1 Championship, all the Suzuki Swifts have also been fighting for the Suzuki Rally Trophy. The quickest on the gravel was Lorenzo Coppe, who has been unstoppable alongside co-driver Giacomo Poloni, having the best of Strabello and Martinelli.

45th SAN MARINO RALLY – FINAL CLASSIFICATION: Scandola - D'Amore (Skoda Fabia R5) in 1:42'30.0; 2.Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 2’25.4; 3. Nucita-Vozzo (Ford Fiesta R5) at 2’53.1; 4.Costenaro-Bardini (Peugeot 208 R5) at 4'25.6; 5.Hoelbling-Grassi (Skoda Fabia R5) at 4'49.8; 6. Dalmazzini-Ciucci (Ford Fiesta R5) at 5’24.3; 7. Ceccoli-Capolongo (Ford Fiesta R5) at 5’50.3; 8. Panzani-Baldacci (Peugeot 207 S2000) at 5'52.5; 9.Bruschetta-Zortea (Subaru Impreza) at 9’22.7. 10.Pollara-Princiotto (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 10’07.4.

CIR Drivers Classification: Andreucci 73,50; Campedelli 58; Scandola 57; Rusce 18,50; Perico 18; Nucita 16,5; Rovanpera 15;

CIR Costructors Classification: Peugeot 94,5; Skoda 64.

CIR 2WD Classification: Gilardoni 74; Pollara 64,5; Canzian 43,50; Villa 19

CIR Junior Classification: Pollara 48,5; De Tommaso 32,5; Mazzocchi 29; Bottarelli 24,5; Manfredi 16

CIR R1 Classification: Martinelli 72,50; Strabello 62; Coppe 54,50; Rosso 47,50; Paris 35; Scalzotto 38.Bravi 29,50; Antonucci 22,50.

CIR Gravel Trophy Classification: Dalmazzini 34,50; Costenaro 33,75; Ceccoli 33; Marchioro 26,50; Hoelbling 18.