Cingoli 14 May 2017 – Umberto Scandola and Guido D’Amore, Skoda Fabia R5, have been the dominators of the 24th Rally Adriatico, fourth act of the eight rounds of the CIR organized by Prs Group. The pairing built their victory in the first leg, when they have been the quickest in eight of the nine tests, keeping also a fast pace in the second day in which they posted the fastest time in four of the five scheduled stages. Behind them, Simone Campedelli and co-driver Pietro Elia Ometto, on Ford Fiesta R5. The Italian driver of Ford has certainly been the quickest behind Scandola, but could not fight until the flag for the victory due to an error and an excursion on the grass that slowed him down at the end of the first day. The third step of the podium was obtained by Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi, on Peugeot 208 T16 R5. The Tuscan driver was penalized for starting first in the opening day having the duty of sweeping the road in all the tests, but run anyway a perfect race classification-wise. In the Italian Rally Championship, Andrea Nucita run a fairly uneventful rally on the Skoda Fabia S2000 run by team Phoenix. His performance was spoiled by the fact that he had been competing on a less competitive car than his rivals, but he achieved the goal of clocking up some miles and acquiring experience on gravel.

A whole story apart has been the rally run by Kalle Rovanpera on his Peugeot 208 T16 R5 with Risto Pietilainen at the pace notes. The sixteen years old driver has been in the top three for a long time, putting in interesting times and closing day one in fourth place. A couple of mistakes at the beginning of the second test forced him to the retirement but this did not spoil the great impression he gave. The Bolivian Marco Wilkinson Bulacia, 16 yrs old, also run a good race, being very quick at times but in the end he was slowed down by some mistakes too many behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta R5. The rally was also valid for the 2WD Italian Championship and for the Junior Championship. In the 2WD, Team Peugeot Italia’s Marco Pollara ended on top on his Peugeot 208 Vti shared with Giuseppe Princiotto. The Sicilian driver proceeded the Italo-Swiss Kevin Gilardoni, Renault Clio R3C, who had Corrado Bonato at the notes.

 

In the Italian Rally Junior Championship, Damiano De Tommaso had the upper hand on his rivals. The Italian used all the experience acquired in the world rally championship rounds run with Aci Team Italia and ended on top leading Pollara, who was also competing in the Junior. Among the R1s, the victory went to Stefano Strabello while Lorenzo Coppe won day two, but the classification lead is still in the hands of Stefano Martinelli, all on the Suzuki Swift. These drivers are also competing for the Suzuki Rally Trophy. The Veronese Strabello secured the victory of the Rally Adriatico of the Swift R1B securing important points for the classification. Andrea Scalzotto has also run a strong rally ending third among the little Suzukis.

The rally was also valid as second round of the Italian Gravel Trophy. The final victory went to Nicolò Marchioro and Marco Marchetti on the Peugeot 208 T16 R5. The Italian driver put in strong times closing the absolute classification in fourth place taking the lead of the Gravel trophy after a long and tight battle with Dalmazzini. The second place in the trophy and sixth absolute went to the Modena’s pairing made by Andrea Dalmazzini and Andrea Albertini, on Ford Fiesta R5. The third place was obtained by Luigi Ricci and Alessandro Biordi, on another Ford Fiesta R5 who managed to recover on Ceccoli, Ford Fiesta R5, Bresolin, Peugeot 208 T16 R5 and “Dedo” on Skoda Fabia R5.

CLASSIFICATION  24th RALLY ADRIATICO – FINAL: 1. Scandola-D'Amore (Skoda Fabia R5) in 1:07'30.8; 2. Campedelli-Ometto (Ford Fiesta R5) at 26.5;3. Andreucci-Andreussi (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 41.4; 4. Marchioro-Marchetti (Peugeot 208 T16 R5) at 1’37.6; 5.Dalmazzini-Albertini (Ford Fiesta R5) at 1’46.4; 6. Ricci-Biondi (Ford Fiesta R5 R5) at 2’02.9; 7. Nucita-Vozzo (Skoda Fabia S2000) at 2’06.3; 8. Ceccoli-Capolongo (Ford Fiesta R5 ST) at 2’09.8; 9. Bresolin-Pollet (Peugeot 208 T16 R5 R5) at 2’11.4; 10. Dedo-Inglesi (Skoda Fabia R5) at 2’21.3.

CIR Classification: Andreucci 37,50; Scandola 31,50; Campedelli 31; Perico 18

CIR 2WD Classification: Pollara 46,50; Gilardoni 46.

CIR Junior Classification: Pollara 30,5; De Tommaso 20,50; Bottarelli 19,5.

CIR R1 Classification: Martinelli 47 ; Strabello 34; Bravi 29,50; Paris 29; Coppe 25;

CIR Constructors Classification: Peugeot 47; Skoda 38,5.

CIR Gravel Trophy Classification: Marchioro 26,25; Ceccoli 21; Dalmazzini 19,50; Ricci 15; Costenaro 11,25.