Barga (LU), Thursday, March 14th, 2024 – The renewal of the agreement between ACI Sport and SPARCO, the leading Italian company in components, accessories, and technical clothing for motorsport, has been presented at the beginning of the new 2024 Italian championship season. SPARCO has chosen to reaffirm its commitment alongside the Italian Automobile Federation and its promoter for another three years of success. This new handshake comes punctually to revive a partnership that began in 2021 when Sparco's name first joined the national rally series, laying the groundwork for the present.

The President of the Automobile Club d'Italia Angelo Sticchi Damiani, SPARCO's Brand Manager Niccolò Bellazzini, ACI's Central Director for the Automotive Sports Division Marco Ferrari, and ACI Sport's General Manager Marco Rogano presented this strengthened synergy live on ACI Sport TV, the federation channel. The conference took place at the magnificent 'Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa' in the Tenuta del Ciocco in the province of Lucca, on the occasion of the 47th Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio, the inaugural race of the 2024 Sparco Italian Rally Championship.

In particular, as the speakers illustrated, SPARCO will continue to stand by ACI Sport as the 'title sponsor' of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship, will be the 'official partner' of the Rally Italia Sardegna, and will also support the Italian Gran Turismo Championship as a 'sponsor.' To complete the synergy, the co-branding activity with the Targa Florio brand, another ACI excellence, regarding leisure products already marketed and distributed by Sparco, is also renewed. These products were highly appreciated by the participants of the classic event in 2023. In exchange for the support provided by the brand from Piedmont- which reaffirms its passion for motorsport and considers it profitable to gain visibility in motorsport through the Championships and the World Rally Championship event - ACI Sport will promote and enhance the SPARCO brand through its national and international visibility.

Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d'Italia: "The constant commitment and work of ACI, even for this new season, have allowed us to provide very concrete answers that have brought Italy into the Grand Prix and World Rallies. In our long sporting history, it is important to have a brand like Sparco by our side, a reference point in motorsport, and I am very pleased to celebrate this renewed collaboration. For the Automobile Club d'Italia, having such an internationally resonant brand is of absolute relevance".

Niccolò Bellazzini, Brand Manager of SPARCO: "The partnership between Sparco and ACI Sport continues for another three years and strengthens. We are pleased to associate our brand with the two most important national championships and the World Rally Championship stage in Sardinia. We kick off the Italian rally championship, as the title sponsor right here from Il Ciocco. This year the championship shows a record number of entries and an unparalleled level of crews and cars.
The vitality of Italian motorsport, also from an international perspective, is evident thanks to the foresight of ACI (primarily its president, Angelo Sticchi Damiani) and the presence of Italian companies gravitating around it, making Italy the cradle of this discipline. Among these, Sparco stands out fully, present in all the world championships, starting from F1 with technical partnerships with RedBull and McLaren, providing drivers and teams with technical equipment solutions that constitute the perfect synthesis of safety and technology in the service of performance".

Marco Ferrari, Central Director for the Automotive Sports Division ACI: "SPARCO and ACI Sport share the same objectives in terms of safety and excellence, together becoming a bulwark of Italianity in the world. Behind the external image of these two realities, there is the work of many professionals united by a passion for motorsport, a passion that allows Italy to host stages of all the most important international championships, a passion that enhances in all its facets the great representatives of our country in the world. We are confident that in the next three years, new synergies can be activated to support national motorsport, in which the Federation and SPARCO have never ceased to invest and believe".

Marco Rogano, General Manager of ACI Sport: "A project strongly desired and looking towards another important triennium, sealed with an important company that will continue to qualify our races and our flagship events. On the track as a sponsor of the Italian GT Championship, in rallies as the title sponsor of the Italian Rally Championship, and alongside great events such as the Rally Italia Sardegna and the Targa Florio. This agreement confirms the investments aimed at expanding media coverage and promoting our championships, which are gearing up to start with high numbers, as demonstrated by the entries in this edition of the Rally del Ciocco".

Four entities, one mission: excellence in motorsport

SPARCO | Founded in 1977, SPARCO has established itself as a symbol of innovation, safety, and performance, becoming a reference point for drivers and motorsport enthusiasts worldwide. With a product range including racing suits, gloves, shoes, seats, and much more, SPARCO is synonymous with an ongoing pursuit of quality and a distinctive style that perfectly complements the spirit and adrenaline of the Rally Italia Sardegna. This continuous growth in the quality and performance of the products offered has led Sparco to become a global brand of excellence today, with substantial partnerships involving F1 teams, the FIA WRC, and various other competitions.

RALLY ITALIA SARDEGNA | The Rally Italia Sardegna will take place from May 30th to June 2nd, 2024, and will be the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Italian leg of the FIA World Rally Championship series. Celebrating its 20th edition, since 2004, the RIS has been one of the most appreciated and spectacular rounds, challenging and fiercely fought in the WRC. The Rally Italia Sardegna has now become an icon for motorsport in Italy, with its terrain and landscapes attracting tens of thousands of fans and spectators every year.

SPARCO ITALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP | The Sparco Italian Rally Championship, the top rally series in Italy, in 2024 will consist of 7 of the most legendary and iconic sports events in Italy, all on asphalt surfaces. With a lineup of drivers and champions ready to compete for a title unseen in recent years, the Sparco CIAR 2024 promises excitement and sparks at every stage. One of the most beloved sports realities not only by Italians; in its history spanning 62 editions, it has been a reference point for international motorsport, with automotive manufacturers and some of the greatest champions in the discipline hunting for the title. This year, with two official constructors and promoters of their single-brand trophy, Toyota and Suzuki; with two official teams, Toyota and Hyundai; with the renewed presence of the reigning champions on Citroen, Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Ometto, sponsored by Sparco; with the return of several high-level protagonists and private teams, the Sparco Italian Rally Championship 2024 is ready once again to attract the attention of the global motorsport scene.

ITALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP | The Italian Gran Turismo Championship has been a cornerstone in the international automotive panorama since its first edition in 2003. Animating the 22nd edition of Gran Turismo, the championship reserved for fascinating GT cars derived from production models, are still the Sprint and Endurance series which since 2019 have constituted two separate championships. The endurance series, made of 3-hour-long races has been added to the traditional sprint series held with two races of 50 minutes + 1 lap. The tricolour series, in which gentleman drivers and seasoned professionals compete, some of whom are former Formula 1 drivers, has represented a launching pad for young talents coming from karting in recent editions, and an excellent alternative to their career with formula cars. For the 2024 season, articulated on GT3 and GT Cup cars, significant innovations have been made for both series, attracting additional teams and new drivers, setting yet another record for entries.