Rome, Wednesday, July 26thm 2023 – Nothing compares to the Eternal City. The crews of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship and the FIA European Rally Championship know it well on the eve of the Rally di Roma Capitale. From Friday, July 28th, to Sunday, July 30th, epic challenges are expected between the protagonists of the highest national series signed by ACI Sport, now at its fifth round, and the best performers of the European Championship, at the sixth round. They will face each other along a unique route that will lead the cars to parade through the beauties of the city centre, before igniting the competition in the shadow of the Colosseum and then determining the final outcomes on the asphalt around Fiuggi. It is a spectacle organized by Motorsport Italia, which can boast the participation of 126 crews for this eleventh edition of the event, also valid as the fifth round of the Rally Cup 7th Zone ACI Sport, which has gathered 34 competitors. The remaining 92 will race together for the Sparco Italian Rally Championship and the FIA ERC in the main race.

THE PROGRAM | Friday will begin to outline the possible hierarchy of the rally. The first attacks will start at 8:00 with the free practice, followed by the Qualifying Stage at 10:30, a timed test that will give an advantage to the top performers of the European Championship for the choice of the starting order. Then, at 11:30, the shakedown will take place, open to all, on the same classic 4 km stretch in the Fumone area. In the evening, the opening will be at the Mouth of Truth, where the cars will parade through the city streets. The procession will lead the caravan under the Flavian Amphitheater, where the starting ceremony will take place at 19:00, before the SPS1 "Colosseo" special stage, with the first start at 20:05. Saturday will feature the most substantial part of the rally, with two runs on the triptych of special stages "Guarcino-Altipiani di Arcinazzo" (11.72 km - SS2 at 10:03, SS5 at 15:02), the longest "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco" (32.30 km - SS3 at 11:06 , and SS6 at 16:05), and "Affile-Bellegra" (7.32 km - SS4 at 12:09 and SS7 at 17:08). Sunday will determine the final outcomes with two runs on three different timed sections; the short "Fiuggi" (6.72 km - SS8 at 7:51 and SS13 at 17:05) will open and close the final session as the Power Stage for the European Championship, followed by "Alatri" (6.96 km - SS9 at 8:51 and SS11 at 13:01) and the other traditional stage "Santopadre" (29.08 km - SS10 at 10:16 and SS12 at 14:26). Fiuggi will again be the central reference point during the hot phase, where the Service Park and the Headquarters are set up, and it will host the final award ceremony on Corso Nuova Italia, starting at 18:00.

THE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RALLY | The media coverage for the Rally di Roma Capitale is extraordinary. The WRC+ All Live platform will produce live content and broadcast the race stage by stage. ACI Sport has also ensured viewing for fans and non-fans through live broadcasts available on RAI Sport HD, channel 58 Freeview, and raiplay.it, which will offer the general public the Colosseo stage from 20:00 on Friday, valid as the Power Stage for the Sparco Italian Rally Championship, and the double pass on "Fiuggi" at 7:50 and 17:00 for the European Championship Power Stage. ACI Sport TV (channel 228 on Sky, acisport.it, ACI Radio App and Facebook @ACISport and @CIRally) will also be present, starting to cover the rally from the shakedown and narrating the highlights, especially the double pass on Saturday on the SS "Rocca-Subiaco" at 11:06 and 16:05. The live broadcast for the arrival in Fiuggi is also not to be missed.

SPARCO ITALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, THE DECISIVE ROUND? | The Rally di Roma Capitale represents a significant moment for the Sparco Italian Rally Championship, as it will define the standings before the summer break and the three remaining rounds on the calendar. However, it could already be decisive for the title race due to the 1.5 points coefficient. It will be the first match point for the current leaders, Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto, in the Citroen C3 Rally2 prepared by FPF Sport and equipped with Pirelli tyres. The defending champions arrive in Rome after a clean sweep, with four victories in the first four rounds, including the power stages, giving them a total of 108 points. The driver from Varese still has unfinished business with Rome, as it is one of the few Italian races he has never won, pushing him even harder to achieve it. With a victory and 2 extra points in the power stage, he would celebrate his third Absolute title in his career, following the ones in 2020 and 2022. However, there are competitors, at least three, who can challenge him for the title. Starting with the current number 2, Fabio Andolfi from Savona, who, together with Nicolò Gonella in the MS Munaretto Skoda Fabia, needs to seek his first seasonal victory after two second-place finishes to keep his hopes alive. The same goes for Giandomenico Basso from Treviso, along with Lorenzo Granai, currently third in the championship with one less race, boasting three podium finishes with two victories in the last four editions in Rome. They will return aboard the Delta Rally Skoda Fabia RS for this occasion. Also returning to action after missing the dirt roads of San Marino is Damiano De Tommaso, the last winner in the Capital. The other driver from Varese in the championship still has a chance to compete for the title and will try to take advantage of it, with Sofia D'Ambrosio as his co-driver on the Skoda.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, FOREIGN CONTENDERS AND TOP DRIVERS | Challenging each other for the top spot in Fiuggi will also be the best from the European Championship. However, all foreign competitors will be transparent for the classification related to the Sparco Italian Rally Championship, while the Italians competing in the FIA ERC can take points away from the Italian championship contenders. This applies to the Italian reference in the continental series, Alberto Battistolli, the driver from Vicenza representing the ACI Team Italia national team, who will try to pick up the pace after recovering from a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season. He will once again be partnered with Simone Scattolin in the Pirelli-equipped Delta Rally Skoda Fabia RS. It will be exciting to see the competition with drivers of the caliber of the New Zealander Hayden Paddon behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 Rally2, the Latvian #2 Martins Sesks, the Frenchman and fourth force in ERC Matiheu Franceschi, both on Skoda Fabia RS, as well as Alexey Lukyanuk, a multiple winner in Rome, returning to the series after a period of absence from rallying. Also expected to participate is the Spanish holder of the European title, Efren Llarena, driving a Skoda, currently fifth in the European Championship. Meanwhile, behind the wheel of the Czech car in its Evo Rally2 version, the Brescia native Andrea Mabellini with Virginia Lenzi and the Cesena native Simone Campedelli with Tania Canton will try to make the most of the "home" appointment in the ERC season, both of whom were great protagonists last weekend at the Rally Lana, valid for the Italian Asphalt Rally Championship.

ACI TEAM ITALIA, 10 JUNIOR PLUS 2 | ACI Team Italia is going all-in at the Rally di Roma Capitale as it will bring all its representatives to compete in both series. In addition to Battistolli in the major category, there will be 10 crews competing in the third round of the Italian Junior Rally Championship, and 2 drivers in the fourth round of the FIA Junior ERC.

Rome will be a crucial stage for the national junior series and will offer a coefficient 1.5 score. The CIAR Junior contenders will arrive at the Colosseum with high spirits, thanks in part to the two test days during the Junior Academy meeting. This training activity, organized by the ACI Sport Federal School in collaboration with Motorsport Italia and Pirelli, is designed to deepen the knowledge of drivers and co-drivers. The crews gathered in Boville Ernica, near Frosinone, providing an ideal opportunity for preparation with the support of Federal Instructors Piero Longhi, who will then act as a tutor for the juniors during the race, Lorenzo Granai, and Simone Scattolin, with special focus on the co-driver's notes. Among the Renault Clio Rally5 group, with two wins out of two rounds and just one point missed in the initial power stage, Vicentino Davide Pesavento with Marco Frigo stands out, holding a 21-point advantage over everyone else. The first pursuer is Varesino Riccardo Pederzani with Edoardo Brovelli, the only CIAR Junior driver who has already competed in Rome. Reinvigorated by an excellent second place on the San Marino gravel, Trentino's Geronimo Nerobutto will aim for continuity on asphalt, always navigated by his sister Francesca. Ossolano Igor Iani with Nicola Puliani seeks to bounce back after a disappointing performance in San Marino. Salvatore Scannella, after the gravel, returns to his preferred surface with co-driver Carmelo Galipò. Francesco Dei Ceci, who surprised in the last round, will try to do so again, partnering with Nicolò Lazzarini for this third round. The young Matteo Doretto with Andrea Budoia as co-driver has started to pick up the pace, as has Monzanese Filippo Peduzzi, who earned his first championship points and will try to improve further, always with the young but experienced Brazilian co-driver Gabriel Morales. Marco Zanin, who showed flashes of talent, especially in power stages, frustrated by two consecutive retirements, seeks a reaction. Arezzo's Niko La Notte, one of the youngest in the group, always assisted by Matteo Zaramella, will aim for the finish as the main objective.

"Rome is the right opportunity," this is the interpretation of the two young drivers from ACI Team Italia who want to raise the Italian flag high in the FIA Junior European Rally Championship. Roberto Daprà with Luca Guglielmetti will have the responsibility of defending the ERC4 class leadership but, above all, will need to push his Delta Rally-prepared Peugeot 208 Rally 4 to the best result to capitalize on the "home" factor in the Italian leg of the European Championship. The young driver from Trentino, fourth in the Junior standings, has already faced the Roman asphalt and will need to use this knowledge to get closer to the top in the junior series. There is also an interesting opportunity for Mattia Zanin, who, after a learning and discovery phase on unfamiliar roads with different rhythms from those in Italy, and after studying the new Peugeot better, also prepared by the Veneto-based team, can try to make an impact with co-driver Fabio Pizzol in the only stage already faced on the European calendar.

BALANCE IN THE CIR PROMOTION CHAMPIONSHIP | The battle will be wide open in the Italian Rally Promotion Championship, a series within the Sparco CIAR, featuring numerous asphalt specialists capable of competing for the top positions. The reference point here is Luca Bottarelli with 47 points and two victories. The Brescia native starts with a slight advantage over his competitors but has been absent from Rome since 2020 and will return with the novelty of Massimiliano Bosi as his co-driver, still on the Skoda, after the bitter retirement in Sicily. Emiliano Ivan Ferrarotti with Massimo Bizzocchi, also in a Fabia, arrives in the Capital after a 3-year absence, second in the CIAR Promotion standings with just a 4-point gap, but still in search of the first seasonal victory. Giacomo Scattolon from Pavia, third in the special championship ranking with 33 points, together with Sauro Farnocchia on the Skoda Fabia, also aims for his first win. Same car and just 1 point behind is the Slovenian driver Bostjan Avbelj, the last one to win in the CIAR Promotion at the Targa Florio with Damijan Andrejka as his co-driver and now looking for continuity. Antonio Rusce with Martina Musiari arrives in Rome with a 26-point gap. Two points behind, and as an exception among the Rally 2 cars, the Citroen C3 will be back with the driver Andrea Mazzocchi from Piacenza and Silvia Gallotti as co-driver, sixth and always scoring in the Promotion. The Roman driver Fabio Angelucci will also be behind the wheel of the four-wheel drive French car, aiming to shine in his home event together with Massimo Cambria. All other candidates in the CIAR Promotion are on Skoda, among which Francesco Aragno with Andrea Segir, Maurizio Mauri with Davide Bozzo, and Enrico Brazzoli, the current leader of the Over55 Cup, always in tandem with Manuel Fenoli. After their unfortunate retirement in San Marino, the Milanese driver Rachele Somaschini is ready for redemption and will try to acquire points to recover in the Women's Cup classification in the CIAR, always accompanied by Nicola Arena on board the Citroen C3. In the Rally3 class, the driver from Brescia, Iavan Ragnoli, will be competing with Davide Marcolini in the Ford Fiesta.

PISANI, MATCH POINT FOR THE 2WDs | Rome can prove to be a decisive round for the CIAR 2WD Championship, which will feature 10 crews competing for the national title. Like Crugnola, the leader Gianandrea Pisani arrives in the Capital with the confidence of four consecutive victories, providing him the first of two opportunities to secure the championship. The final 2WD classification will be based on six possible participation out of the eight races on the calendar, with the best five results counting. For the driver from Lucca, reunited with Simone Brachi on the Peugeot 208 Rally4, a second-place finish may be enough to celebrate the title. He will face his perennial rivals, all driving Peugeots, starting with Trentino's Fabio Farina with Gabriele Zanni, the second force in the category and a constant podium contender this year. Lucca's Christopher Lucchesi Jr., the best Under 25 in the national championship and third in the standings, navigated by Chiara Lombardi, will also be challenging Pisani. Valtellina's Moreno Cambiaghi with Giulia Paganoni, always scoring points this year, and Ossola's Gabriel Di Pietro, who impressed in Alba and will try to gain ground with Andrea Dresti, are among the contenders as well. The Corsican driver Cedric Cardi with Gaelle Dumont will make their third appearance this season in the CIAR 2WD. Michael Rendina, an essential presence in his home race, will aim to take advantage of the support of familiar roads, always accompanied by Mario Pizzuti. Completing the group are the Peugeot 208 of Nicola Cazzaro with Sergio Raccuia, the experienced Emanuele Fiore with Andrea Casalini and Graziano Nember and Giovanni Maifredini.

SPARCO CIAR CLASSIFICATION: 1. Crugnola 108pt; 2. Andolfi 61pt; 3. Basso 38,5pt; 4. De Tommaso 36pt; 5. Bottarelli 21pt

CIR PROMOTION CLASSIFICATION: 1. Bottarelli 47pt; 2. Ferrarotti 43pt; 3. Scattolon 33pt; 4. Avbelj 32pt; 5. Rusce 26pt

CIAR JUNIOR CLASSIFICATION: 1. Pesavento 45pt, 2. Pederzani 2pt4, 3. Nerobutto 23pt, 4. Iani 22pt, 5. Scannella 16pt

CIAR 2WD CLASSIFICATION: 1. Pisani 75pt; 2. Farina 43pt; 3. Lucchesi 33pt; 4. Cambiaghi 32pt; 5. Cogni 28,5pt

SPARCO ITALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 CALENDAR: March 10-11 | Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio; April 14 -15 | #RA Rally Regione Piemonte; May 5-6 | Targa Florio Rally (coeff. 1,5); June 16-17 | San Marino Rally (coeff. 1,5); July 28-30 | Rally di Roma Capitale (coeff. 1,5); September 8-9 | Rally 1000 Miglia; September 29-30 | Rallye Sanremo; December 1-3 | ACI Rally Monza (coeff. 1,5)

#CIRally #tricolorerally #ACISport #RallydiRoma #RomaCapitale

Updates, info, pictures, classifications are available at www.acisport.it/CIAR

FaceboACI Sport TV (available on acisport.it - Sky 228 – Facebook @acisporttv – App ACI Radio)

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - @CIRally

Press Office | ACI Sport

Daniele De Bonis | +39 339 7573991 | debonis@acisportpsa.it

YOUTUBE - ACI SPORT TV

YOUTUBE - ACI SPORT TV