For Andrea Mabellini, the event takes on added significance. Not only does it provide another opportunity for the 24-year-old to demonstrate his huge potential, it’s also a chance to compete in front of his home fans, even though he lives some four hours from event hub with co-driving partner Virginia Lenzi.
“It’s not an easy rally but nothing in the ERC is easy against these big guys,” Mabellini said of the high-level opposition. “They’re very fast drivers and the weather will be very hot like always, but I will try to find a way to be on top, especially on some stages.”
After tyre damage on the penultimate stage denied him a shot at the top five in 2023, Mabellini is more than aware of the pitfalls that can strike on Italy’s ERC counter.
“For sure the overheating factor is crucial,” the Team MRF Tyres driver said. “You have to stay for the longest time in the window of where the tyre is working and it’s not easy on the Tarmac you have. It’s so abrasive and with a lot of heat it’s not easy.
“The brakes are not such a problem because these cars are made for these conditions. It’s not like in a Rally4 car where you can have some problems.”
Of his hopes of a strong result, Mabellini is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of the spectacular start in front of Rome’s Colosseum on Thursday evening.
“It should be like a dream, but it will probably remain like a dream,” he said. “We know perfectly where we are, we are improving and for sure we will try to develop more to get something a little closer to the others.”
Mabellini is one of 28 drivers in Rally2 cars appearing on the bulging 90-car entry list, of which 42 crews are eligible for ERC points.
The stellar line-up includes defending ERC champion and current points leader Hayden Paddon (pictured above), his predecessor Efrén Llarena, World Rally Championship event winner Mads Østberg, double 2024 ERC podium finisher Mathieu Franceschi, V-Híd Rally Hungary winner Simone Tempestini, ERC3 champion Jon Armstrong, plus two-time European champion Giandomenico Basso, voted the ERC Greatest Driver of all time in an FIAERC.com poll last year. Click HERE to find out who else will be in action on Rally di Roma Capitale.
Newcomers increase the competition in ERC3
Kerem Kazaz, Filip Kohn, Martin Ravenščak and Igor Widłak continue their pursuit of FIA ERC3 success in Rome with the quartet also eligible for the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, a new-for-2024 contest from M-Sport Poland in partnership with Pirelli and Gulf Race Fuels. ERC rookie Hubert Kowalczy brings Renault Clio Rally3 power to ERC3 with Aleksandar Tomov stepping up from ERC4 to ERC3 in another Clio Rally3.
ERC4 to the fore in Rome
With his father Max at the helm of the Rally di Roma Capitale organising team, 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.
Rome is where the heart is
Once again the focus of Rally di Roma Capitale will be on the Eternal City this Friday (26 July) when it hosts the opening ceremony and first timed test in front of the Colosseum, one of the most famous landmarks in the world. There’s also a spectacular driving parade through the capital’s streets prior to the competitive action getting under way with crews setting off in 15-car convoys from the Bocca della Verità and passing by several famous sites. Fiuggi, located to the southeast of central Rome and made famous by its natural spring water and the healing powers it possesses, takes over as the event’s hub on Saturday and Sunday. Two loops of three stages are run on each leg with the 28.74 kilometres of Santopadre - Fontana Liri Saturday’s longest stage and the 32.30-kilometre Rocca di Cave – Subiaco stage covering the furthest distance on Sunday. The event concludes with the new Monastero - Jenne Power Stage, described by event organiser Max Rendina as, “very difficult but also spectacular”, from 17:05 local time.
How to watch?
Fans across the globe can experience the excitement and drama of the ERC with every stage of every rally broadcast Rally.tv platform. In addition, the ERC is broadcast in a number of countries around the world and fans are advised to check local listings for details.
Rally di Roma Capitale 2024: the key numbers
Stages: 13
Competitive distance: 189.52 kilometres
Total distance: 797.68 kilometres
Download Itinerary (PDF)