The two young rally drivers supported by the Federation will compete under the colors of the National Team in the Finnish Rally Championship 2024. The first challenge for both of them will be this weekend at the Rihimäki Rally on January 12-13.
Rome, January 11, 2024 - The new year looks promising for the young drivers of ACI Team Italia in the rally. Following the announcement of Roberto Daprà in WRC2, the Federation confirms Valentino Ledda and Giovanni Trentin, who were already tracked during the past sports season. Both participated in the Latvian Championship in 2023 and are ready for a new adventure in the Finnish Rally Championship in 2024.
The Italian Autocross Champion and runner-up in the FIA Cross Car Academy Trophy in 2023, Valentino Ledda, was the top junior athlete of the Scuola Federale ACI Sport's aspiring rally program at Maggiora last season. The sixteen-year-old Sardinian made an impression at the Rally Liepaja in 2023, winning race 1, and later for the conclusive round of the Italian Rally Championship and Italian Rally Gravel Championship in Monza, driving the Yamaha YXZ 1000 R. Ledda will be behind the wheel of a Renault Clio Rally4 from Team TGS Worldwide OU, alongside his co-driver Claudio Mele. His program will span at least five rounds of the Finnish series, starting this weekend at the Rihimäki Rally.
"I'm ready for this new season. The main goal will be to complete all the races I participate in, from start to finish, but I also hope for some good results. I'll try to have fun and gain experience, as it's my first race on ice. I had the opportunity to prepare with a pre-race test. I thank ACI Team Italia, Pirelli, and Sparco for their support, allowing me to be here."
Trentin concluded his remarkable 2023 by getting the Junior title in the Latvian Championship and a silver medal in Croatia in the main category at the Rally Show Santa Domenica, driving a Skoda Fabia Rally2. The young driver from Montebelluna, joined by Danilo Fappani, will face all seven events of the Finnish Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta Rally4 prepared by Lorenzon Racing.
"Thanks to ACI Team Italia, MT Racing, and Movisport for this opportunity because we will compete in the world rally homeland. The level of the challenge will be high, but we will do our best to be up to the occasion."
For these two representatives of ACI Team Italia, the first event on snow/ice is just around the corner - the SM Riihimäki Ralli, scheduled for January 12th and 13th. It includes nine special stages on Saturday, covering just over one hundred timed kilometers. The rally begins with the first stages: "Top Testing" (11.28 km) and "Taksipalvelu Harinen" (7.94 km), followed by "Riihimäen kaupunki" (10.63 km), "Putki - Valtti" (7.32 km), and "ABC Riihimäki" (14.78 km). The rally will end with the stages "Sarlin Race Team" (11.28 km), "Viita - yhtiöt" (7.94 km), "Riihimäen Kaukolämpö" (23.14 km), and "Seurahuone Group" (9.04 km).
Finnish Rally Championship 2024 Calendar
12.-13.1. SM Riihimäki-Ralli, Riihimäki
1.-3.2. 59. Arctic Lapland Rally, Rovaniemi
8.-9.3. SM Tuuri Ralli, Alavus
24.-25.5. SM Mad-Croc Länsirannikon Ralli, Turku
14.-15.6. SM Pohjanmaa Ralli, Seinäjoki
23.-24.8. SM Ralli Lahti, Lahti
4.-5.10. SM Ralli Kitee, Kitee
