Smiles of satisfaction in Motorsport Italy for the epilogue of the 69th Rallye Sanremo where Michael Rendina has positively concluded the longest and most demanding race held to date in his career.

 

The young Roman driver, son of the former World Production Champion Max Rendina, took part in the Ligurian race, valid for the Italian Absolute Rally Sparco Championship, at the wheel of a Renault Clio Rally5 driven by Mario Pizzuti, in preparation for an engagement in the FIA European Rally Championship 2022.

 

Rendina's race was a crescendo of performance and knowledge with the French berlinetta. It was not an easy test for Michael, as the 69th Rallye Sanremo really included all the variables: long stages, sun, rain, hail and night. A perfect test bench to try to push one's knowledge to the limit and expand the mastery of the vehicle and the psycho-physical approach to competitions of this magnitude.

 

The performance allowed Rendina to increase his growth curve, with good times that saw him reach the sixth position in the class. A touch on the penultimate test, the long and feared "Langan" on which some of the most exciting pages of Italian rallying have been written over the years, then forced him to leave some positions, but Rendina nevertheless continued due to the strong will to want to close the race. At the end he finished in tenth place in his class, impressing positively in the night sections, where he seemed particularly at ease.

 

“I am really very happy to have reached the finish line - he commented at the end - even if obviously I am a bit sorry for the final mistake that forced me to give up some positions. It was by far the longest race I have ever raced up to now and it was not obvious to finish it. We found many difficult conditions, including the hail that characterized one of the small driving errors I made, when I was surprised by the sudden change in grip caused by the ice on the road. The experience was however very positive, I bring home a lot of awareness after this appointment and I thank Mario first of all for guiding me not only with his voice, but also with his sensitivity and professionalism. We have started a very demanding path, but we have faced this first step with great determination and I am sure that already from the next exit we could aspire to take another step ".

 

Michael Rendina and Motorsport Italia will be back in the race from 13 to 14 May next for the third round of the FIA ​​European Rally Championship at Rally Islas Canarias, an event that will mark Rendina Jr.'s absolute debut in the continental championship.