The event organised by Max Rendina got underway with a spectacular show in front of the Colosseum. Bostjan Avbelj takes the early lead ahead of the main action across the Frusinate and Ciociaria regions.
Rome, 4 July 2025 – Rally di Roma Capitale roared into life in the heart of the Eternal City, with the Colosseum providing a breathtaking backdrop for the ceremonial start. The event, created and organised by Max Rendina, will run across three days and serves as the only Italian round of the FIA European Rally Championship, as well as the fifth round of the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco.
Once again, the start ceremony thrilled the crowd, captivated onlookers and lit up phones with photos and videos. This marked the official opening of the 13th edition of the rally, one of the most significant international events in the sport. Present for the occasion were Italy’s Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, Lazio Region Councillor for Tourism, Environment, Sport, Climate Change, Energy Transition and Sustainability Elena Palazzo, Rome Capital’s Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion Alessandro Onorato, and the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Automobile Club d’Italia Gen. Tullio Del Sette.
Just metres from the Colosseum and the opening ceremony, the rally got going with the first special stage – an unrepeatable setting that welcomed the 103 entered crews, representing 26 nations. The entry list featured nearly 50 Rally2 cars, 15 ERC Junior drivers, 12 Rally3 crews and no fewer than 39 Rally4 entries, including 20 Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally4 cars forming the one-make trophy field.
Bostjan Avbelj, co-driven by Elia De Guio in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, was the early pacesetter, claiming the fastest time on SS1 and taking maximum Power Stage points in the CIAR Sparco classification. The result also earned them the special Matteo Doretto Award, named in memory of the late Motorsport Italia driver, whose legacy continues to be honoured by the rally community.
Avbelj’s benchmark time was matched by 2023 and 2024 winners Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto (Citroën C3 Rally2), with Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) just 0.7s adrift.
As is often the case in short city stages, gaps were minimal. Seven drivers finished within a single second. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi, the Italian crew contesting the full FIA ERC season, ended the stage in second overall, 0.4s off the lead. They were closely followed by Simone Tempestini and Sergiu Itu (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), just one tenth further back.
This year’s edition has already made history: Rally di Roma Capitale 2025 has attracted the largest entry ever for the event and set a new record for the highest number of starters in the entire 2025 FIA European Rally Championship season. The result confirms the steady growth of the rally, driven by a blend of expert organisation and passionate commitment that has made it a benchmark on the European scene.
After the spectacular start in Rome, the crews headed to Fiuggi, the rally’s headquarters. The paddock is based along Via della Fonte Anticolana, with the operations centre housed in the newly built Conference Centre. The 2025 route is among the most demanding of the season, featuring nearly 208 competitive kilometres across 13 special stages on Saturday and Sunday, including two stages over 30 kilometres in length.
Saturday 5 July will see the spotlight turn to “Torre di Cicerone”, the longest stage of the ERC season at 34.57 km. On Sunday, the queen stage will be “Canterano–Subiaco”, again exceeding 30 km. The final podium will take place in Fiuggi, on Corso Nuova Italia, from 18:30 on Sunday after the last stage between Jenne and Monastero, which will be broadcast live on TV.
The event boasts one of the most extensive media coverages in Italian rallying, with live streaming on rally.tv, the official FIA ERC platform, and wide domestic exposure via ACI Sport TV (Sky 228, TivùSat 52, acisport.tv), RAI Sport and leading sports publications including Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport. The total global audience is estimated to exceed 9 million viewers.
But Rally di Roma Capitale is about more than sport. Once again, the event confirms its strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The rally has been awarded the prestigious three-star certification from the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme – the highest recognition granted by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. This confirms the value of the measures adopted: low-impact mobility, waste reduction, and public awareness campaigns.
A highly symbolic moment was held at Colle Oppio during the opening evening: a cypress tree was planted as part of the “One Driver, One Tree” project, promoted by ACI in partnership with the Carabinieri Forestry Command – a gesture made in the presence of sporting and civil authorities.
A strong emphasis is also placed on road safety, with the “The Road Is Not a Video Game” campaign involving adults and young people in interactive education throughout the weekend. The message is clear: promoting a culture of responsibility, both on and off the rally stages.
Andrea Abodi – Minister for Sport and Youth
“This rally gets better every year, thanks to the skill and dedication of the organisers. That’s essential to bring together the passion of the public – not only at the Colosseum, but along the whole route. Collaboration always delivers results, as shown by the close relationship between this Ministry and ACI.”
Alessandro Onorato – Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism and Fashion, Roma Capitale
“Rally di Roma is a major event that creates tourism flows, generates over €40 million in economic impact, and provides jobs for more than 10,000 people. The photo opportunity in front of the Colosseum will be seen around the world – a perfect showcase for a modern, dynamic image of Rome.”
Elena Palazzo – Councillor for Tourism, Environment, Sport, Climate Change, Energy Transition, Sustainability, Lazio Region
“Lazio, together with Rome, confirms itself as the ideal stage for the rally spectacle. From the iconic start at the Colosseum to Fiuggi and the stages through the surrounding countryside, the event highlights the extraordinary landscapes our region has to offer. Rally di Roma Capitale also conveys strong messages about sport and environmental respect – reasons that led us to support an event that truly enhances our region.”
