Ten points behind defending champion Hayden Paddon heading into Rally di Roma Capitale, Franceschi clocked a table-topping time of 2min07.3sec on the 4.00-kilometre Fumone test.
The Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver said: “Really nice, the first section of the stage was like Barum Rally, really bumpy and really fast. We enjoy a lot and are happy to be back on Tarmac. We work a lot between Estonia and now and we are ready to go again.”
Erik Cais, competing in another Michelin-equipped Fabia RS Rally2, was 0.4sec adrift of Franceschi in a strong second place on a stage he described as “my type of bread”. He added: “It was a clean run, we could have been faster in some points.”
Efrén Llarena, the 2022 ERC champion (above), was third fastest, 0.7sec behind Franceschi. The Michelin-equipped Spaniard said: “I’m happy, we’re enjoying and that’s really important. It was a good time, we have a good speed but this speed is not like on the rally.”
Having claimed a fourth Austrian title earlier this month, Simon Wagner was 0.8sec slower than Franceschi on his return to ERC action after he “made two small mistakes”.
Andrea Mabellini was the leading Italian runner in fifth place for Team MRF Tyres with Slovenian Boštjan Avbelj completing the top six on his first ERC start since 2020.
Defending ERC champion and current points leader Hayden Paddon was 1.4sec slower than Franceschi in seventh place aboard his Pirelli-equipped Hyundai i20 N Rally2. He said: “Our times are identical to a tenth of a second compared to last year so that shows we’re stuck at the moment.”
Roberto Daprà, the 2023 ERC4 champion was eighth, Miko Marczyk took ninth with Simone Campedelli, who turns 38 today, rounding out the top 10. Along with co-driver Tania Canton, Campedelli is promoting the Orange1 for Women initiative.
Filip Mareš reported striking an anti-cut device aboard his Hankook-equipped Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 as he went 11th quickest.
Simone Tempestini, who is driving his Michelin-equipped Fabia RS Rally2 on Tarmac for the first time, reported a “strange feeling in the last section”, adding: “We had a little issue with the pop-off. It’s the first kilometres in the car on Tarmac but we are enjoying.”
The multiple Romanian champion was 12th fastest followed by 2014 Junior ERC champion Stéphane Lefebvre.
Mads Østberg, who is making his Rally di Roma Capitale debut, spent the Qualifying Stage further adapting to the lower grip offered by the Italian roads. He set the 14th best time with Adam Brezik 15th following a damaged tyre in Free Practice.
Andrea Crugnola, the defending Italian champion and last year's Rally di Roma Capitale winner, was a distant 24th after reporting "making some mistakes" and a "lack of confidence".
The Colosseo ACI Roma stage, which takes place in front of the world-famous landmark, is next from 20:05 local time.
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