Rally di Roma Capitale ends the season with the Casco d'Oro award by Autosprint

22.12.2023 - The spectacular 2023 edition of the Rally di Roma Capitale concluded a few days ago with the exclusive and prestigious presentation of the Golden Helmet (Casco d’Oro) to Motorsport Italia and Max Rendina in the event organized in collaboration with the Automobile Club d’Italia.

In the picturesque setting of the Foro Italico, the event organized by the former World Champion was honoured with the first Golden Helmet in its history—a great satisfaction and an honour that once again recognized the value that the Rally di Roma Capitale has demonstrated over the years, transforming the event into an excellence of Italian and international motorsport.

"Receiving the Golden Helmet at the end of this season - Max Rendina commented - is an enormous satisfaction that I want to share with all our collaborators, with my team, the institutions, and the partners who stand by our side to allow the Rally di Roma Capitale to be at this level. This Golden Helmet is, first of all, a recognition of the work we have all done, but it is also a great push to continue working to demonstrate the excellence of Italian motorsport in Europe and around the world."

The event, which will again be part of the FIA European Rally Championship and the Sparco Italian Rally Championship next year, scheduled for July 26-28, 2024, has proven to be one of the most appreciated in the international rally panorama. It has also earned three stars within the FIA Environmental Programme, which rewards events with the greatest attention to ecological footprint and good practices for environmental sustainability.

On the motorsport Oscars’ stage, alongside Max Rendina, prominent figures in the world of motorsport such as Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella, Flavio Briatore, Miki Biasion, the Ferrari Team winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023, were present. Jean Todt and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also spoke. The President of the Automobile Club d’Italia, Ing. Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò and the Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion of Rome Capitale, Alessandro Onorato were also present.

FIA awards Rally di Roma Capitale with the three stars of the FIA Environmental Accreditation Framework

09.10.2023 - The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has officially awarded the Rally di Roma Capitale with the prestigious recognition of three stars within the FIA Environmental Accreditation Framework. This exceptional achievement follows the audit conducted during the event held last July.

This is the highest recognition that rewards events actively working on the implementation and promotion of environmentally sustainable practices in motorsport. The Rally di Roma Capitale, conceived by Max Rendina and organized by Motorsport Italia, has thus made history by becoming the only round of the FIA European Rally Championship to receive this prestigious title. This journey began several years ago and continues to raise awareness for environmental best practices, previously earning the event two stars.

One of the crucial aspects that confirmed this award, as stated in the document, was Motorsport Italia's great attention to putting in a shared effort to protect and conserve the historical heritage of the centre of Rome, where the event started, right under the shadow of the Colosseum. This was made possible through vital collaboration with the Office of Major Events and Roma Capitale's Councilor for Major Events, Tourism and Sport, Alessandro Onorato.

Implementation of waste recycling, the use of 100% hybrid or electric staff vehicles thanks to the collaboration with Renault as Electric Car Partners of the Rally di Roma Capitale, drastic reduction in paper materials, use of certified recycled plastics, and guaranteed electrical supply through renewable sources are some of the other factors that allowed the Rally di Roma Capitale to achieve this crucial recognition.

Max Rendina, the tireless creator of the Rally di Roma Capitale, enthusiastically declared: "We are extremely proud to receive this recognition from the FIA, for which we have worked very hard with the involvement of our entire staff. It is the result of years of commitment to promoting sustainability in the world of rallying, on which we will continue to focus our energy and attention. We want to ensure that our event continues to grow and positively contribute to the environment, both directly and indirectly, and this recognition is just a new starting point to raise the bar even higher. This milestone also strengthens the role of the Rally di Roma Capitale in the field of environmental responsibility within international rally competitions".

Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto win the Rally di Roma Capitale and the Sparco Italian Rally Championship 2023

The challenge in the Eternal City crowned them twice after a flawless performance, both as the winners of the rally and as Italian Rally Champions for the third time, with a remarkable three rounds to spare. Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai finished second and the third place went to Hayden Paddon and John Kennard, who made a strong comeback.

30.07.2023 - The Rally di Roma Capitale reached its conclusion with a grand celebration as it waved the checkered flag today in Fiuggi after one of the most exciting editions ever witnessed by a large and enthusiastic audience. The event organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia crowned, for the first time, Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto as the true dominators of the Roman race, which was the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship.

The Italian series experienced its most intense phase today, as with this fifth consecutive victory, Crugnola, Ometto and their Citroen C3 Rally2 secured the title of Italian Rally Champions 2023 with three rounds to spare. Their remarkable performance was celebrated at the Rally di Roma Capitale, which, for the first time in its history, served as the decisive event for awarding a championship title.

Crugnola and Ometto won eight out of the thirteen scheduled special stages, including the SSS1 "Colosseo ACI Roma," which opened the race on July 28th with an unprecedented spectacle in front of a particularly large audience. On the Colle Oppio circuit, Crugnola secured the first points and made his objective clear, ultimately celebrating his victory in Fiuggi on Sunday after covering over 700 kilometres and almost 200 competitive kilometres in the presence of Mayor Alioska Baccarini and Councilors Laura Latini and Marco Fiorini.

Behind Crugnola, the competition was anything but easy, but it rewarded the excellence of Italian rally racing. Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai, driving a Skoda Fabia RS, finished in second place overall after a solid performance, a result of their vast experience, even though it was only their second race with the new Czech car. Initially pursuing Crugnola, Basso engaged in an electrifying battle with the French duo Yoann Bonato-Benjamin Boulloud (Citroen C3 Rally2), a confrontation that was decided on the penultimate stage, the second pass on the over 29-kilometer "Santopadre."

It was at this stage that the standings saw a significant shake-up. Bonato was slowed down by a puncture, dropping back to seventh place. This incident allowed Hayden Paddon, the leader of the European series, paired with John Kennard in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, to claim third place. The New Zealander had been slowed down by a collision on the long "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco" on Saturday, but he made a strong comeback to secure a podium finish, a crucial performance in his pursuit of the continental title.

The punctures on SS12 determined the positions close to the podium. The Italian crews of Mabellini-Lenzi and Campedelli-Canton, both in Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, lost the chance to finish in the top five on this stage, leaving room for the reigning European champions, Efren Llarena-Sara Fernandez (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), to secure fourth place despite being 1'54s behind due to radiator damage suffered on SS10. The Power Stage in Fiuggi, the last of the program, decided the fifth place, which went to Bostjan Avbelj and Damijan Andrejka (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), ahead of the Austrians Simon Wagner-Gerald Winter (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2).

The Hungarian pairing Miklós Csomós-Viktor Bán ended in eighth place, the Polish Grzegorz Grzyb-Jakub Wróbel in ninth place, and the Czech duo Filip Mareš and Radovan Bucha in tenth place, all driving Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.

Italian joy was also seen in the ERC Junior and ERC4 categories with the victory of Roberto Daprà and Luca Guglielmetti in the Peugeot 208 Rally4, bringing the colours of ACI Team Italia to the highest step of the podium. In the classification of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship, following Crugnola and Basso, Avbelj secured the points for the third position. As for the Campionato Italiano Promozione, the podium was completed by Ferrarotti-Bizzocchi and Bottarelli-Bosi, also driving Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.

Gianandrea Pisani found satisfaction in winning the 2WD Italian Rally Championship again and with five victories out of five rounds, he was crowned Italian Champion with three rounds to spare. There was also a first Italian triumph on the Roman roads for Riccardo Pederzani, who won the third round of the Italian Rally Junior Championship. The driver from Varese, navigated by Edoardo Brovelli, displayed the speed to outperform his ACI Team Italia rivals, all driving Renault Clio Rally5 cars managed by Motorsport Italia and equipped with Pirelli tires.

"At the finish line, we are filled with great satisfaction," commented Max Rendina, "We have put in significant effort to create this event, and the entire staff has worked to the maximum. I want to thank all the institutions that supported us, starting with Roma Capitale, Regione Lazio, the Department for Sport of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, CONI, the Automobile Club d'Italia, the two Provinces we crossed and the 42 municipalities, as well as all our partners. My sincere congratulations to Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto. It has been over ten years since a crew secured the Sparco Italian Rally Championship with three rounds to go, and I am particularly proud that this has happened at the Rally di Roma Capitale, an event they have pursued for many editions and have now conquered with great merit".

Crugnola is still in the lead after the first leg. Di Iuorio wins the CRZ race

In the European and Italian race, the driver from Varese is in the lead ahead of Basso and the Frenchman Bonato. A puncture sets Lukyanuk back from the top positions, while Paddon lost valuable seconds in SS6. The CRZ race was exciting with Di Iuorio taking the victory ahead of D’Alto and Bucciarelli. De Antoni wins in the Clio Trophy. Tomorrow is the final stage.

29.07.2023 - Today was a super intense day at the Rally di Roma Capitale. The race, organized by Max Rendina, is the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship. It witnessed the first competitive stage after yesterday's spectacular and emotional prologue at the Colosseum.

On the six special stages held this Saturday, July 29th, including the double pass on the "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco," the longest stage of the championship with over 32 kilometres, significant dynamics of this challenge have already been written. Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto are leading with a 20.2s margin at the end of the stage, where they showed outstanding performance with the Citroen C3 Rally2. The driver from Varese surpassed all his opponents at the mid-race flying finish, accumulating a considerable advantage.

Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai with the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 are currently in second place after climbing from the third step of the podium. The competition is wide open because Yohann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud with the Citroen C3 Rally2 are only 23.7s behind, very close to Basso and ready to attack.

The battle for the fourth place is fierce. Mares-Bucha (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) are just below the podium, trailing by 54.4s. Close behind them, only 1.3s adrift, is Simone Campedelli with Tania Canton (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo). Paddon-Kennard (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) are in sixth place after the setback in SS6, just 0.4s behind Campedelli, while Mabellini is in seventh place, 0.5s behind Paddon. The story is still wide open.

The fate of the Rally di Roma Capitale will be decided on Sunday, July 30th, with two laps on three different timed sections. The short "Fiuggi" stage (6.72 km - SS8 at 7:51 and SS13 at 17:05) will open and close the final session as the Power Stage for the European Championship, followed by "Alatri" (6.96 km - SS9 at 8:51 and SS11 at 13:01) and the other traditional stage "Santopadre" (29.08 km - SS10 at 10:16 and SS12 at 14:26). Fiuggi will again serve as the central reference point for the hot phase, where the Service Park and Headquarters are set up, and will host the final awards ceremony on Corso Nuova Italia, starting from 18:00. In addition to the full live coverage on FIA ERC All Live, both stages in Fiuggi will be broadcast on RAI Sport on channel 58 of Digital Terrestrial Television.

In the CRZ race, the challenge remained uncertain until the end, described as a chess game by the drivers at the finish line. Today, the CRZ race concluded with the victory of Riccardo Di Iuorio and Doriano Maini with the Skoda Fabia R5. Their success was achieved after a continuous battle with other four-wheel-drive cars, a contest that saw an excellent Liburdi losing his lead when he suffered a double puncture on the "Guarcino-Altipiani di Arcinazzo" during the second pass. Di Iuorio managed to hold on to the top spot, finishing ahead of Gianluca D’Alto-Mirko Liburdi (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), Antonio Bucciarelli and Vincenzo Roma (Skoda Fabia R5). Noteworthy was the fourth overall and first in RC4 for Simone Taglienti and Graziano Sigismondi with the Peugeot 208 Rally4.

This first stage also served as the first round of the Clio Trophy, which began with the Rally di Roma Capitale. Despite some setbacks that could have deprived them of victory in the morning, the deserving winners were Edoardo De Antoni and Carlotta Romano, ahead of Andrea Gonella-Elena Badinelli and the third-placed Michele Campagna and Fabrizio Mallozzi, all driving Renault Clio Rally5.

Crugnola enchants in front of two wings of the crowd at the Colosseum.

An opening worthy of a movie for the 2023 edition of the Rally di Roma Capitale. A large audience was present for the inaugural spectacle at the Colosseum. The driver from Varese leads the operations ahead of Lukyanuk, with a surprising Aragno in third place.

28.07.2023 – An evening worth Arabian Nights inaugurated the 2023 edition of the Rally di Roma Capitale, the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship. The event in Rome, organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia, started from the Colosseum, in front of thousands of enthusiasts and tourists who gathered at Colle Oppio for this extraordinary beginning.

In the presence of the Minister for Sports and Youth, Andrea Abodi, the Chief of Technical Secretariat of the Minister of Sports, Mario Pozzi, the Councilor for Urban Planning, Housing Policies, Social Housing and Maritime Policies of the Lazio Region, Pasquale Ciacciarelli, the President of the Capitol Assembly of Rome Capital, Svetlana Celli, the Regional Councilor and President of the IV Budget Commission, economic and financial planning, regional participation, fiscal federalism, public property, Marco Bertucci and the Regional Councilor Emanuela Droghei, the eleventh edition of the Rally di Roma Capitale started with the best wishes.

From a sports perspective, Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto (Citroen C3 Rally2) sensed the opportunity to be crowned Italian champions right in Rome and went on to win the SSS1 "Colosseo ACI Roma" stage. Only 0.3s separated them from the returning Alexey Lukyanuk, navigated by Yevhen Chervonenko, who had fun with his Skoda Fabia RS amidst the two wings of the crowd and left his mark, not only on the asphalt. An incredible third time for the Italian Francesco Aragno with Andrea Segir, trailing by 0.5s and visibly satisfied with their performance, which allowed them to rise among the best drivers in Europe with the Skoda Fabia Rally2. Behind them, all the other competitors followed, with extremely tight gaps as expected in such a short special stage, serving as a taste of the actual rally that started today.

Noteworthy were the words of New Zealand champion Hayden Paddon, leader of the European Championship and a former driver in the World Championship: "It was the stage in the most iconic place I have ever done a special stage." The Hyundai i20 N Rally2 driver secured the ninth-fastest time but is ready to showcase his skills starting tomorrow to make his ambitions for the title clear.

The second day will unfold with three special stages: "Guarcino-Altipiani di Arcinazzo" (11.72 km - SS2 at 10:03, SS5 at 15:02), the longest stage "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco" (32.30 km - SS3 at 11:06 and SS6 at 16:05), and "Affile-Bellegra" (7.32 km - SS4 at 12:09 and SS7 at 17:08). The two passes on the "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco" stage will be broadcasted live on ACI Sport TV (channel 228 on Sky, acisport.it, App ACI Radio and Facebook @ACISport and @CIRally). The fate of the rally will be decided on Sunday with two laps on three different timed sections; the short "Fiuggi" stage (6.72 km - SS8 at 7:51 and SS13 at 17:05) will open and close the final session as the Power Stage for the European Championship, followed by "Alatri" (6.96 km - SS9 at 8:51 and SS11 at 13:01) and the other traditional stage "Santopadre" (29.08 km - SS10 at 10:16 and SS12 at 14:26). Fiuggi will again serve as the central reference point for the hot phase, where the Service Park and Headquarters are set up, and will host the final awards ceremony on Corso Nuova Italia, starting from 18:00.

Excited, Max Rendina said: "We have worked hard for this beginning and everything has started off well. Seeing all these people witnessing the spectacle is a great message for Rome and our sport, to which we are dedicating ourselves to promote and enhance it. I thank Roma Capitale, which has given us the opportunity to have a unique location and in particular, Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism and Fashion Alessandro Onorato, who has been by our side for the past two years. Having Minister Abodi was an important added value, but I thank all the institutions supporting us, from the Lazio Region to all the administrations involved in the event. We have started and two intense days await us, but we are very happy”.

The starting ceremony at the Colosseum to open the Rally di Roma Capitale tonight

The event is gearing up for a grand start in front of the most famous amphiteater in the world. The Musical Band of the Local Police of Roma Capitale will play the 'Mameli's Hymn' in the presence of the Minister for Sports and Youth, the President of the Lazio Region and the Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale.

28.07.2023 - The Rally di Roma Capitale is living its final hours before the start. Tonight, Friday, July 28th, after the free practice sessions in Fumone began at 8:00AM, the race will officially kick off from Rome, in front of the Colosseum, with an unmissable opening ceremony open to everyone.

The event will be attended by the Minister for Sports and Youth, Andrea Abodi, the President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca and the Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion of Roma Capitale, Alessandro Onorato, along with a long list of regional, local, and international institutional representatives. The opening ceremony will start at 19:30, featuring the Musical Band of the Local Police of Roma Capitale playing the Italian National Anthem.

As scheduled, the cars will descend from Fiuggi to Rome, arriving at the Mouth of Truth. From 18:00, the Local Police of Roma Capitale will escort the competitors in groups of 15 from the Mouth of Truth to the Colosseum, Via degli Annibaldi, where the starting ramp will be set up. The departure ceremony will begin at 19:25 and the first car of the Rally di Roma Capitale will take the stage at 20:00 in front of which the Italian flag will be raised to mark the beginning of this eleventh edition, the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, the drivers will prepare for the competitive start of the race with the SSS1 "Colosseo ACI Roma," the spectacular show stage at Colle Oppio with the Colosseum in the background. Along the route, three VIP lounge areas with reserved access will be set up, while all other areas of the start and the special stage will be open to the public.

The Colosseo stage will be broadcast live on WRC+ All Live, the subscription service offered by the European Championship Promoter and RAI Sport, Channel 58 of Digital Terrestrial Television.

The Ministro per lo Sport e i Giovani, Andrea Abodi, at the start from the Colosseum

25.07.2023 - The Rally di Roma Capitale is gearing up to kick off and it has been confirmed that the Ministro per lo Sport e i Giovani, Andrea Abodi, will be present at the starting ceremony, which will take place in the incomparable setting of the Colosseum on Friday, July 28th at 20:00.

The event is eagerly anticipated by rally enthusiasts worldwide and represents a significant moment for both the national and international sports scene, made possible through the fundamental collaboration with the Grand Events Office and the Department of Grand Events, Tourism, Sports and Fashion of Roma Capitale.

Alongside Minister Abodi, the host Alessandro Onorato, Councilor for Grand Events, Sports, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale, will also be present, warmly welcoming participants and motorsport enthusiasts ready to compete in this electrifying event scheduled from July 28th to July 30th as the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship.

Several Councilors from Roma Capitale and the Lazio Region, whose attendance is being confirmed, will also be present at the starting ceremony, demonstrating the importance and commitment of local institutions in supporting a sporting event of such relevance.

The conference "The Road is Not a Videogame" has been held in Fiuggi

Discussions about safety and education took place with city authorities and various guests as part of the events surrounding the Rally di Roma Capitale in the beautiful setting of the Teatro Comunale. The testimony of Edward von Freymann, founder of the foundation dedicated to his daughter Gaia, was particularly touching.

26.07.2023 - The conference and debate titled "The Road is Not a Video Game" took place on Tuesday, July 25th, in the beautiful setting of the Teatro Comunale in Fiuggi. The event was open to everyone and the convenor was Motorsport Italia, the organizer of the Rally di Roma Capitale, in collaboration with the Municipality of Fiuggi, the Automobile Club of Frosinone, Safety Drive School, Wheelchair SS Lazio Basket and the Gaia von Freymann Foundation.

The evening was part of the collateral activities revolving around the Rally di Roma Capitale, the event scheduled to take place from Friday, July 28th to Sunday, July 30th, valid for both the FIA European Rally Championship and the Sparco Italian Rally Championship. The occasion also touched on environmental themes, which are essential aspects of this year's edition of the rally.

Present at the event were Maria Assunta Trinti, Chief of the Local Police in Fiuggi; Angelo Carlo Veneziano from Safe Drive School, along with Tonino Di Cosimo, rally driver and safe driving instructor; Maurizio Federico, President of the Automobile Club of Frosinone; Inspector Danilo Pennacchia from the Local Police of Frosinone; Moreno Paggi, President of Wheelchair SS Lazio Basket; Max Rendina, President of Motorsport Italia and creator of the Rally di Roma Capitale; and Edward von Freymann, Founder of the Gaia von Freymann Foundation. The evening was moderated by journalist Alessandro Biagi.

In front of an interested and attentive audience, the meeting turned into an important occasion for learning and testimony, emphasizing the educational and road safety value of the event. This topic is particularly relevant in light of recent events that have brought these issues back to the centre of public debate.

The speakers delivered impactful speeches, emphasizing the preventive aspect that families, schools and associations must actively pursue to reduce the number of serious incidents, which remain high in Italy, surpassing 3,000 cases per year. Particularly emotional were the testimonies of Moreno Poggi, President of Wheelchair SS Lazio Basket and especially Edward von Freymann. After the loss of his daughter Gaia in the 2019 Corso Francia accident in Rome, along with her friend Camilla, Edward decided to establish the Gaia von Freymann Foundation in her memory, to provide legal and psychological support to families facing the tragedy of a death due to a road accident.

At the end of his speech, Freymann received a resounding applause and stated, “Life is short – a second can change fate, it can prevent more pages of pain from being written. We are all responsible.” His words followed a video that recounted his experience, a powerful experience that he now shares as a testimony, especially to young people.

"I want to thank the Mayor for the hospitality, all the authorities, including the Road Police, Local Police, Firefighters and, above all, my staff, involving over 1200 people, and Fiuggi's Sapio family. We organized this evening because our sport, unfortunately, is often portrayed negatively, it is only mentioned in negative situations, and rarely do the positive aspects get highlighted. Many drivers are also driving instructors and road safety and education are a shared responsibility. Only through synergistic collaboration can we hope to achieve the goal of safer roads for everyone," concluded Max Rendina.

The charge of 92 at Rally di Roma Capitale

The event in Italy sets the seasonal record of the FIA European Rally Championship, which will be held together with the Sparco Italian Rally Championship from July 28th to July 30th. Over 30 participants in the Zone Rally Cup race.

21.07.2023 - The Rally di Roma Capitale 2023 will kick off with 92 registered participants. The event, organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia, is scheduled from July 28th to July 30th as the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship.

It represents the seasonal record for the continental series, featuring a significant presence of Europe's strongest drivers, who will compete against our home aces, always ready to perform well on the roads of Lazio. Many consider this rally to be one of the most technical events on the calendar, and it has been awarded as the best appointment for both series from 2019 to 2022.

Damiano De Tommaso will try to defend last year's victory, driving the Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, this time navigated by Sofia d'Ambrosio. However, the competition will not be easy. Hayden Paddon and John Kennard, currently leading the FIA ERC with one win and four second-place finishes, aim to continue their positive streak behind the wheel of the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, entered by BRC Racing Team. Also, an eye will also need to be kept on the outgoing continental champions Efren Llarena and Sara Fernandez (Skoda Fabia RS), who will be the flagship of Team MRF Tyres, alongside numerous crews, including Martins Sesks and Renars Francis, currently second in the championship, also driving a Skoda Fabia RS.

The technical challenge is worth considering too, as all major manufacturers in the Rally2 category will be represented among the 40 cars participating: Skoda, Ford, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Citroen. Italian driver Andrea Mabellini, with Virginia Lenzi as his co-driver, will carry the number #3 on the doors, representing the Indian tyre manufacturer. This will be his fourth time in Rome, and it has been his best season so far. It is also noteworthy that Alexey Lukyanuk is making a comeback with one of the eight new Skoda Fabia RS, but the two-time winner of the Rally di Roma Capitale (2020 and 2018) has been inactive since 2021, which might put him at a disadvantage.

Yohann Bonato and Benjamin Boulloud in a Citroen C3 Rally2, who won the only asphalt race of the series in the Canary Islands this year, and finished third overall in Rome in the 2022 edition, should not be overlooked either. As for the Italian drivers, Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto in a Citroen C3 Rally2 are among the main contenders. They have achieved an impressive winning streak in all the Sparco CIAR races held so far and will undoubtedly try to fight for victory again after a technical issue cost them the lead last year.

Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai will reunite with the Skoda Fabia RS they debuted at the Targa Florio, while Fabio Andolfi and Nicolò Gonella (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) will also aim to excel in the overall standings. Paolo Andreucci's participation is notable, as the multiple Italian champion will join as a last-minute entry with the new Renault Clio Rally3 of Motorsport Italia, featuring the colours of Team MRF Tyres, and navigated by Rudy Briani.

Among the Italian drivers, Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton are registered in the European series with a Skoda Rally2 Evo, eager to achieve a good result. Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin, with a Skoda Fabia RS, have recently returned to stable footing and are working to regain confidence in defence of ACI Team Italia's colours. Rachele Somaschini, with Nicola Arena on a Citroen C3 Rally2, has a full program in the FIA ERC this year and is actively engaged in promoting and raising awareness about Cystic Fibrosis research with the #correreperunrespiro (run for a breath) project, which has recently also become a book.

The challenges in all the other classes will also be interesting, with many Italian drivers ready for the home race of the continental series, where a lot of them aim to perform well. The Roman event will also be valid for the Italian Rally Junior Championship, the single-make series featuring Renault Clio Rally5 cars, promoted by ACI Sport in technical collaboration with Motorsport Italia. The ACI Team Italia will also be engaged with Daprà-Guglielmetti and Zanin-Pizzol, driving the Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars, which come from the Italian Junior championship.

In the CRZ category, which will take place on Saturday, July 29th only, there are over 30 registered crews (the list will be published shortly) and an important challenge is being prepared for the dynamics of the regional series, which will have its final round at the Rally del Lazio - Cassino, also organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia, next October.

As mentioned, the event will kick off on Friday, July 28th, with Free Practice, Qualifying Stage, and Shakedown in Fumone, before heading to Rome for the highly anticipated prologue in the Eternal City. The cars will arrive around 16:00 at the Mouth of Truth and, from 18:00, they will be escorted in groups of 15 by the Local Police of Rome Capital in what has become the traditional parade through the city centre, ending at the Colosseum. Right by the Roman amphitheatre, at 20:00, the 2023 edition of the Rally di Roma Capitale will begin. From 20:05, the drivers will tackle the redesigned competitive section of Colle Oppio, the first competitive stage of the rally.

The rally will then continue on Saturday, July 29th, and Sunday, July 30th, between Fiuggi and Frusinate, with 12 more special stages, including the very long "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco" stage, over 32 kilometres long, scheduled for Saturday, and the "Santopadre" stage, over 28 kilometres long, scheduled for Sunday. The finish will be in Fiuggi from 18:00 on Sunday. Service Park, Rally Headquarters and Rally Village will be set up in Fiuggi. All the information to follow the event, including maps, schedules, entry lists and details about all the side activities planned for fans, enthusiasts, tourists, and families in both Rome and Fiuggi, is available at rallydiromacapitale.it/visitatori.

The Rally di Roma Capitale of July 28 - 30 has been presented

The event organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia will bring the spectacle of rally to the capital. Over 90 crews from all over Europe are expected to compete in both the European and Italian Championships.

20.07.2023 - The official press conference ahead of the Rally di Roma Capitale 2023 took place on Thursday, July 20, at 11:30 am in the Sala delle Bandiere at Campidoglio in Rome. The event organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia is the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship.

In attendance were Alessandro Onorato, the Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism and Fashion of Roma Capitale; Giuseppina Fusco, President of the Automobile Club Roma; Flavio Siniscalchi, Head of the Department for Sports of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Daniele Leodori, Vice President of the Lazio Regional Council; Pasquale Ciacciarelli, Councilor for Urban Planning, Housing Policies, Public Housing, and Sea Policies of the Lazio Region; and Max Rendina, the creator of the Rally di Roma Capitale.

Also present were Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d'Italia, Elena Palazzo, Councilor for Environment, Sports, Climate Change, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Lazio Region; Iain Campbell, FIA European Rally Championship Manager, Marco Rogano, CEO of ACI Sport Spa; Giovanni Mottura, President of ATAC, Pietro Stabile, Head of the Environment, Sports, Climate Change sector of the Lazio Region, Stefania Rossetti, Councilor of Peter Pan Onlus and Moreno Paggi, President of SS Lazio Wheelchair Basketball.

The Rally di Roma Capitale, the most important Italian event and winner of the best national and European event awards from 2019 to 2022, will take place from July 28 to 30 as one of the most prestigious sports events of the Roman summer. It will feature over 92 crews from 25 different nations, including the top drivers in the continental scene. The 2023 Rally di Roma Capitale has set a record for the number of participants in this season of the FIA ERC and has planned a series of activities and initiatives for enthusiasts, tourists and curious spectators.

The big event will take place on Friday, July 28, with the city of Rome at the centre. Although the logistical hub of the event will be in Fiuggi, which will host the Race Direction, paddock and boxes, all participants will descend to Rome in the afternoon of July 28 after completing the free practice in Fumone. The cars will be parked at the Mouth of Truth and, from that point, escorted by the Local Police Forces of Rome Capitale, they will travel in groups of 15 along a scenic route through the city centre until they reach the Colosseum, where they will regroup. The parade route is being finalized and will be announced in the coming days.

At the Colosseum, after media activities involving the drivers, the Rally di Roma Capitale will officially begin. From 20:00, the competitors will go up to the starting platform and immediately after, they will tackle the competitive test at Colle Oppio, providing the first taste of the sporting challenge. Open to the public, this area will also be set up with exhibition areas, a lounge area and space to closely follow every phase of this electrifying start, made possible by the crucial collaboration with the Office of Major Events and the Department of Major Events, Tourism, Sports and Fashion of Roma Capitale.

After the adrenaline-filled start, the cars will return to Fiuggi, where they will be based until Sunday, and where an impactful Rally Village will be set up with activities for adults, children and families. Among the various informational corners, there will be safe driving activities, collaboration with law enforcement agencies, food and wine stands, sports activities and awareness initiatives, including a collaboration with SS Lazio Wheelchair Basketball.

From a sporting perspective, the rally will resume on Saturday from 9:00 with six special stages, including the long "Rocca di Cave - Subiaco," a challenging 32.30-kilometre stage, the longest of the championship so far. The program for the day will also include "Guarcino-Altipiani di Arcinazzo" and the "Rocca di Cave-Subiaco," both to be repeated twice. At the midpoint and end of the day, the competitors will make a stop at the service park set up at the Fiuggi thermal baths.

Sunday will be the second full day of the race, with another six timed stages, with three to be repeated twice: "Fiuggi", "Alatri" and "Santopadre" the latter being a challenging 29.08-kilometre stage. The finish, with the finish ceremony, is scheduled in the centre of Fiuggi on Sunday, July 30, starting at 18:00.

The event will also focus on environmental aspects. As the first rally in Europe to receive two stars under the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme, the Rally di Roma Capitale has increased its attention to these aspects for the 2023 edition. Efforts will include the use of electric or hybrid staff vehicles, agreements with certified suppliers for environmentally friendly practices, the use of certified recycled plastic for a significant portion of the materials, the provision of low-consumption generators and renewable energy sources for power supply, meticulous waste management practices, plastic-free catering at the Fiuggi paddock and dedicated communication campaigns.

Regarding safe driving and road education, a public conference titled "The road is not a video game" will be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 18:30 at the Teatro Comunale in Piazza Trento e Trieste, Fiuggi. The event will feature representatives from the Municipality of Fiuggi, the Automobile Club Frosinone and the collaboration of Safety Drive School and the Gaia von Freymann Foundation. This central and valuable theme will also be addressed during specific moments at the Fiuggi Village.

The media and television coverage of the event will be rather extensive, with live coverage by WRC+ All Live, the official on-demand channel of the FIA European Rally Championship with worldwide distribution. In addition to comprehensive web broadcasts, the footage will be broadcast on every continent, from Africa to America, Australasia and Europe. In Europe, live TV broadcasts from the special stages will be provided by SKY Sport, while ACI Sport, the promoter of the Sparco Italian Rally Championship, will create a dedicated schedule across ACI Sport TV, RAI Sport and the federation's social media and web channels. In addition, there will be in-depth coverage and reports on all local broadcasters and on the web channel Motorsport Italia TV.

Alessandro Onorato, Roma Capitale’s Councilor for Major Events, Sports, Tourism and Fashion.
"We are proud to host the Rally di Roma in the heart of the Capital once again. For this eleventh edition, we wanted to confirm the route with views of the Colosseum and Colle Oppio: the most iconic places in our wonderful city. A postcard of Rome that, on July 28th, will reach the screens of motorsport enthusiasts from all around the world: from Asia to North America, from Central-South America to the entire Old Continent, Africa and Australia. This sports event will once again be a significant boost to the Roman economy, just like last year. The Rally di Roma is an excellent showcase for tourists, to whom we intend to provide new incentives through major events, in addition to the ones already attracted naturally by the cultural and archaeological heritage, encouraging them to make a second or third trip to the Eternal City".

Flavio Siniscalchi, head of the Department for Sports of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers
“Building a major sports event in today's world requires reconciling several aspects: in addition to economic, touristic and cultural sustainability, the importance of environmental sustainability is now a crucial concern. The Rally di Roma Capitale stands out for its forward-thinking approach, evidenced by its two-star accreditation in the FIA Environmental Accreditation Program. The presence of the Department for Sport testifies to the support for high-level events and the recognition of the economic and social returns of sports. We are confident that our efforts will be rewarded with the well-deserved success of the Rally di Roma Capitale, an event befitting Italy with a rich motor racing tradition".

Giuseppina Fusco, President of Automobile Club Roma
“The Rally di Roma Capitale is, of course, a significant event for the city, continuing Rome's long tradition with motorsport events. However, I also want to highlight another aspect related to the collateral initiatives involving environmental sustainability and road safety. Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia have implemented a series of initiatives in these areas, which have gained our strong support. Best of luck for this eleventh edition".

Pasquale Ciacciarelli, Councilor for Urban Planning, Housing Policies, Public Housing and Sea Policies of the Lazio Region
“The Lazio Region continues to run alongside the Rally di Roma Capitale for this eleventh edition as well. Over the years, this event has provided visibility, promotion, and economic benefits to our region with a route spanning over 800 kilometers, touching a wide area beyond Rome. Best of luck to the entire team that has worked with dedication to offer a classic yet innovative event”.

Daniele Leodori, Vice President of the Lazio Regional Council
"It has been great teamwork, a significant synergy that allows this event to continue growing and adding important elements of visibility, promotion and economic benefits year after year. The Rally di Roma Capitale is a central event in the annual schedule, and I am confident that it will provide great emotions once again this year.”.

Max Rendina, creator of the Rally di Roma Capitale
“I would like to thank Roma Capitale and Councilor Onorato, who have granted us once again the incredible setting of the Colosseum, ACI, who has been supporting us since 2013, the Lazio Region, which stands by our side with enthusiasm and the Ministry of Sports, which has backed us this year. Also, I express my gratitude to all the local administrations involved, starting with Fiuggi, the law enforcement agencies, our partners and the entire team that is working tirelessly. The effort is truly significant and increasingly demanding. We have prepared an extraordinary edition, and we cannot wait to share it with everyone. We look forward to welcoming you all in Rome from July 28th to 30th".