Organisers of next week’s all-asphalt ERC counter (26 - 28 July) have been inundated with entries and closed registrations on Sunday having accepted 90 applications.
In addition to the 28 ERC1 crews, six ERC3 drivers are set to compete in Italy, while the ERC4 division has attracted eight entrants. It means 42 crews contesting Rally di Roma Capitale are eligible for ERC points. Here are some of the entry list highlights.
ERC champion aiming high at ‘home’: Defending ERC champion and current points leader Hayden Paddon pilots a Pirelli-equipped Hyundai i20 N Rally2 run by Italy-based BRC Racing Team.
The Great One returns: Voted the ERC Greatest Driver of all time in an FIAERC.com poll last year, two-time European title winner Giandomenico Basso returns to the championship in a Toyota GR Yaris Rallly2.
Llarena makes it three: Not to be outdone, Efrén Llarena is another former ERC champion getting revved up for Rally di Roma Capitale action. Mads Østberg has yet to lift a European title but he has won championships in Hungary, his native Norway and at world level in WRC2.
Back to where he won a European title of his own: Jon Armstrong (pictured below) celebrated ERC3 title gold on Rally di Roma Capitale last season. Now armed with a Ford Fiesta Rally2, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed driver will have bigger ambitions next week, as will Stéphane Lefebvre and Mārtiņš Sesks, the Junior ERC champions from 2014 and 2018 respectively.
Home hopefuls out in force: MRF Tyres-equipped Andrea Mabellini is the top Italian seed for his home ERC counter, while Andrea Crugnola scored his breakthrough ERC win in Rome 12 months ago. Simone Campedelli, Fabio Mezzatesta, Giacomo Scattolin and Rachele Somaschini will also fly il Tricolore in Rally2 machinery, as will Slovenia-born Boštjan Avbelj and Italian rallying legend Paolo Andreucci, a multiple ERC event winner in the past. Roberto Daprà makes his top-flight ERC debut after winning the ERC4 title in 2023.
Wagner goes fourth: Having secured a fourth Austrian title on Rallye Weiz last weekend, Simon Wagner will bid for more ERC success in a Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, also the combination of choice for Erik Cais, Mathieu Franceschi, Miko Marczyk and Italy-born ERC event winner Simone Tempestini (bottom image).
Former regulars are back: Martin László and Hankook-supported Filip Mareš (pictured below) were ever-present in last season’s ERC. After missing the recent high-speed gravel events in Sweden and Estonia (László) and Estonia (Mareš) both feature prominently on the Rally di Roma Capitale entry, which also includes Philip Allen, Adam Březík, Jarosław Kołtun, Amaury Molle and Ferencz Vincze, the 2023 Hungarian champion.
Time for a Fiesta… Kerem Kazaz, Filip Kohn, Martin Ravenščak and Igor Widłak continue their pursuit of ERC3 and ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy success in Rome.
… or a Clio: ERC rookie Hubert Kowalczy brings Renault Clio Rally3 power ERC3 with Aleksandar Tomov stepping up from ERC4 to ERC3 in another Clio Rally3.
Two-wheel-drive talents aiming to shine: With his father Max at the helm of the Rally di Roma Capitale organising team through his Motorsport Italia company, Michael Rendina won’t be short on an advice when he makes his ERC debut. Giorgio Cogni, who contested the ERC-based Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT in 2022 and is the son of respected rallying journalist Gianni, will rival Rendina for ERC4 honours, as will Italian 2WD champion Gianandrea Pisani and ACI Team Italia’s Junior ERC regular Davide Pesavento. Martón Bertalan, Cristiana Oprea, Ekaterina Statieva and tetraplegic rally driver Ciprian Lupu will also chase ERC4 points in Rome.
The Rally di Roma Capitale entry list is available here.
Download entry list (PDF)
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