Andrea Crugnola maintains the leadership after the first stage. Spectacular comparison with Giandomenico Basso.
Beautiful challenge at the top in this first stage of the Rally di Roma Capitale which today gave a beautiful competition where the Italian drivers of the Italian Rally Sparco Championship stood out in the super competitive context of the FIA European Rally Championship.
Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto, on Hyundai i20 (Hyundai Rally Team Italia), after last night's blaze on the Caracalla show test, confirmed the great feeling with the Korean berlinetta and closed the first stage in command after having placed the seal on two of the six special stages scheduled.
The crew returned to Fiuggi with 5.4 seconds of margin over Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai (Skoda Fabia Evo / Movisport) who never gave up winning four races. The match between the two is certainly not over, given that tomorrow there will be seven timed sections and anything can still happen.
Behind the two Italian drivers, the 2020 winner and reigning European Champion Alexey Lukyanuk, driven by Alexey Arnautov in a Citroen C3 (Sainteloc Junior Team) closed the day. The Russian driver drove with determination and attention, he made no mistakes but kept on the side of reason, aware of the fact that even with a gap of 21.8 he will be able to play with his cards open tomorrow as well, to try to achieve a podium placement.
A very special mention goes to Damiano De Tommaso and Giorgia Ascalone, who raced a remarkable day with their Citroen C3 (Meteco Corse) and finished in fourth place overall, 31 seconds from the top. A performance that supports the ACI Team Italia project which supports young Italian talents. A show of strength by De Tommaso, in his first full season in the CIR with an R5 class car.
To complete the provisional top ten are Norbert Herczig and Ramon Ferencz in Skoda Fabia Evo (Skoda Rally Team Hungaria) fifth at 34.8 seconds, Efren Llarena and Sara Fernandez (Skoda Fabia Evo / Rallye Team Spain) at 38 seconds in sixth place, Miko Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia Evo / Orlen Team) seventh at 43.8 seconds, Yoann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud (Citroen C3 / CHL Sport Auto) eighth at 44.5 seconds, Fabio Andolfi and Stefano Savoia (Skoda Fabia Evo / Gass Racing) ninth at 45.3 seconds, Umberto Scandola and Danilo Fappani (Hyundai i20 / Hyundai Rally Team Italia) tenths at 45.7 seconds.
The challenge will continue tomorrow with another 123 kilometers of timed practice, twice as much as today. Added to this is a second really demanding loop with four consecutive special stages without service, a mix that will certainly allow other twists and a great show. Those who want to put their seal on the Rally di Roma Capitale 2021 will therefore have to bring out all his talent.
Rally of Rome Capitale Cup
Nice challenge between the Toyota Yarsi of the GR Yaris Rally Cup at the first outing of the season. At the end of the first stage, the Tuscan Alessandro Ciardi is in command, paired with Tondini, who has taken over the classification from the second round, the first today.
Second provisional position for Ilario Bondioni from Brescia, alongside Sofia D'Ambrosio, who started with caution to find the best feeling with the car. Third place for Federico Romagnoli, first “under 23”.