Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. The 51st Rallye Elba - Ford BluBay- Bardahl Trophy is going to be the edition marking the comeback of the historic rally in the highest Italian Rally series from May 24th to 26th. The rally organized by ACI Livorno Sport of mandate by ACI Livorno is valid as the fourth round of the Championship and will have 79 entered crews, plus the regional race and Porsche reunion. This appointment will be the turning point of the season, a fundamental step for the destiny of the Italian Rally 2018 campaign.
Giving a look to the classification, after the first three rounds held so far, Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi on Peugeot 208 T61 R5 are firmly on the lead. The ten times Italian Champion has 42 points and will certainly be resolute to increment his already big advantage. Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton on Ford Fiesta R5 run by Orange 1 Racing is second at 22 points only; the driver from Cesena after Ciocco and Santerno had to retire from the Targa Florio. Umberto Scandola and Guido D’Amore are third at 20 points, and in Elba they will try to get closer to the top 2 on their works Skoda Fabia R5. The two main rivals of Andreucci will have a hard life as they will be both ar the debut on the roads of Elba. Behind the top 3, Andrea Crugnola and Danilo Fappani on Ford Fiesta R5, have been among the best of this season, but as happened in the case of Campedelli had to retire in the latest round. Andrea Nucita, the recent winner of Targa Florio, is also awaited to a strong rally. The Sicilian of Hyundai could be a surprise again, but his wins, despite being important, will not earn him championship points as he is not entered in the series.
The tarmac trophy drivers will also produce a lot of spectacle, particularly Luca Panzani on Ford Fiesta R5, fitting Hankook tyres, who put in a strong performance in Sicily. On the Elba island, Rudy Michelini on Skoda Fabia R5 and the young Giacomo Scattolon also on Skoda Fabia run by PA Racing at his maiden race at Elba, will also be present. Expectations are high for Antonio Rusce, Ford Fiesta R5 run by X Race Sport, who is at his third season in the Italian Championship, and for Giuseppe Testa also on Ford Fiesta R5 run by Ford Racing Italia. Also present are Federico Santini, on Skoda Fabia R5, who will try to bounce back from the retirement at Targa Florio, the Swiss Kevin Gilardoni, on Ford Fiesta R5, Leopoldo Maestrini, Skoda Fabia R5, and Marco Pollara. All eyes will be on the Sicilian driver, on the second works 208 T16 of Peugeot Italia, as he will have to get a strong result after two retirements in three rallies. Among the most awaited presences, noteworthy is the debut of the Italian Gravel Trophy 2017 Champion Andrea Dalmazzini, on Ford Fiesta R5, with the support of ACI Team Italia. Among the strongest underdogs, Totò Riolo and Alessandro Floris will be on a Skoda Fabia R5. The protagonists of the Italian R1 Championship promise a lot of spectacle, amongst these, the young Giorgio Cogni will have Gabriele Zanni at the notes and will be followed by the Swift R1 led by Fabio Poggio and Stefano Martinelli and by the Twingo R1 of Alberto Paris. The R1 challengers, like the DR1 of Marco Limoncelli, will compete in their single brand trophies: the Suzuki Rally Trophy with six lineups at the start, the Twingo R1 Top Trophy with as many cars. Regarding Renault, not to be missed is the Renault Clio R3T Trophy ,with also the Italian 2WD Championship that is currently led by Ivan Ferrarotti and will have to face Emanuele Rosso and Riccardo Canzian.
In the 2WD, Christopher Lucchesi will be on the 124 Abarth RGT that will challenge that of Andrea Modanesi. In the Women Trophy, Rachele Somaschini will be on the Peugeot 208 R2. Among the 19 drivers entered in the “national” race, Pedro will be on the Hyundai i20 R5. The 51st Rallye Elba will run ten stages, for a total of 151,480 competitive kms and a total liason of 399,610 km.
In the pictures: the podium of Rallye Elba last year in Portoferraio.
