The Italian star seals his third career victory at the Rome-based event organised by Max Rendina, extending his lead in the Italian Championship. Andrea Mabellini finishes second, scoring key points in his European title chase. Marczyk completes the podium. A time penalty for Crugnola with three stages to go proved decisive.
Rome, 6 July 2025 – Giandomenico Basso is king of Rome for the third time. After victories in 2019 and 2021, the driver from Treviso secured his third triumph at the Rally di Roma Capitale, round five of the FIA European Rally Championship and the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco 2025.
Co-driven by Lorenzo Granai in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 prepared by Delta Rally and fitted with Pirelli tyres, the multiple Italian and European champion showed all his experience and speed to secure crucial points in his national title chase.
“I’m really happy. I’ve wanted to win another round of the European Championship for a while, and to do it here in Rome – and in such a demanding edition – is a huge satisfaction. Thank you to the whole Delta Rally team, my family and all the friends who support me. I’ve enjoyed every moment,” said Basso at the finish.
With this result, the Cavaso del Tomba-born driver becomes the most successful competitor in the history of the Rome event, sealing a record-breaking edition. With 103 crews at the start, nearly 50 Rally2 cars, and the longest stage of the European season, the 2025 running proved dramatic and intense until the very end – culminating in Basso’s name being etched once again in the event’s roll of honour.
A huge celebration greeted Giandomenico and Lorenzo in Corso Nuova Italia, Fiuggi, where the crews were welcomed by a large and enthusiastic crowd, as tradition dictates. On stage to welcome them were Fiuggi mayor Alioska Baccarini and ACI’s Special Commissioner Gen. Tullio Del Sette, together with tourism councillor David De Santis and traffic councillor Quirino De Santis of the Comune di Fiuggi. It was the perfect conclusion to a weekend that had already opened in spectacular fashion with Friday night’s ceremonial start at the Colosseum – a moment broadcast live to more than 9 million viewers around the world.
Applause also went to Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi, second overall in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Representing Racing Factory and Pirelli, the Italian duo delivered a smart and consistent performance, pushing hard in the final stages to close to within just 3.7 seconds of victory.
“It’s been an emotional weekend – racing in Italy in front of our home crowd. That’s who we are. Thanks to everyone who supports us. It was important to finish strongly and score good points. We did leave a few seconds here and there that might have made a difference, but overall we’re very pleased,” said Mabellini.
The key twist in the fight for victory came off the stages. Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto, who led with three stages to go and were locked in a close duel with Basso, were penalised 20 seconds for checking out late from the final regroup. The reigning Italian champion and two-time winner in Rome couldn’t recover from the setback and wisely opted to stay out of trouble, finishing fifth overall and third among the CIAR contenders.
Miko Marczyk and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk completed the podium, securing third place on the final Power Stage. The Polish driver had been among the front-runners throughout the rally, and in the closing kilometres held off a charging Roberto Daprà. His stage-winning run through “Jenne-Monastero” also earned him a special award in memory of Domenico Petrini, former mayor of Subiaco, presented at the finish by his wife Claudia Palmieri.
One of the most emotional moments of the rally was the tribute to Matteo Doretto, the young driver who recently passed away in Poland. Bostjan Avbelj and Elia De Guio, winners of the Colosseum stage named in his memory, received a commemorative award from ACI’s Gen. Tullio Del Sette. Both drivers compete for MS Munaretto, the same team Doretto drove for. Avbelj also sealed the Campionato Italiano Rally Promozione title thanks to his ninth-place finish – with two rounds to spare.
Fourth overall went to ACI Team Italia’s Roberto Daprà, co-driven by Luca Guglielmetti in a Pirelli-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. After an early spin, the young driver from Trentino launched a strong recovery and finished on the CIAR podium, with Marczyk classified as a non-eligible ERC entrant.
Sixth overall were Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton in another Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, just behind Crugnola. After a tougher Saturday, the pair bounced back on Sunday with two stage wins and much stronger pace. The final standings were incredibly close – the top six covered by just 16 seconds, less than one tenth of a second per kilometre across over 200 timed kilometres. All of the top ten crews were ERC-registered, including Llarena-Fernandez (ESP), Ostberg-Eriksen (NOR) and Stritesky-Krajka (CZE).
The Italian 2WD title race was won by Simone Di Giovanni and Andrea Colapietro in Fiuggi. In his home event, Di Giovanni led from Friday morning’s opening pass of “Torre di Cicerone” and never looked back. Driving a Pirelli-equipped Peugeot 208 Rally4, he combined pace and tyre management to seal a long-awaited victory by 27 seconds.
A crucial second place went to Gianandrea Pisani and Nicola Biagi in the Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF. With Pesavento forced to retire after the opening stage, Pisani took over the championship lead. He also dominated both legs of the Lancia Trophy. Third in 2WD was Andrea Mazzocchi, co-driven by Nicolò Gonella in another Ypsilon – more than a minute adrift, but effective in tyre management throughout the rally.
In the ACI Sport Cups, Luca Daprà topped the Under 25 standings, while the Over 55 class was won by local driver Fabio Angelucci and co-driver Massimo Cambria in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The first all-female crew at the finish was Rachele Somaschini and Giulia Zanchetta in a Citroën C3.
In the FIA ERC Junior category, reserved for young talents, victory went to Calle Carlberg and Jorgen Eriksen in an Opel Corsa Rally4 after a dominant performance. Behind them, a tense battle played out between Estonia’s Jaspar Vaher-Sander Pruul and Ireland’s Craig Rahill-Conor Smith. It was Vaher – driving a Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally4 – who took second by just 3.1 seconds.
In the Coppa Rally di 8ª Zona, which delivered plenty of excitement and suspense, victory went to Emanuele Giannetti and Marco Lepore in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. They edged out Carmine Tribuzio and Mattia Cipriani in a Citroën C3 Rally2 after a closely fought battle decided on the final “Canterano-Subiaco” stage, where Tribuzio suffered a driveshaft issue. Third overall and Rally4 class winner was Francesco Tuzzolino, co-driven by Mario Colella in a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
“We’re extremely satisfied. Seeing so many people at the start, the finish, and all along the stages is truly rewarding. I want to thank all the institutions who support us – the Lazio Region, the Ministry for Sport, Roma Capitale, ACI, the local authorities and the municipalities we pass through – and of course my staff, who work all year round to make this possible. We are the number one rally in Europe, and I believe that’s one of our biggest achievements,” said Max Rendina at the finish.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION XIII RALLY DI ROMA CAPITALE: 1. Basso-Granai (Škoda Fabia RS) In 2:04’11.2; 2. Mabellini-Lenzi (Škoda) +3.8; 3. Marczyk-Gospodarczyk (Škoda) +7.4; 4. Dapra’-Guglielmetti (Škoda) +10.1; 5. Crugnola-Ometto (Citroën C3) +14.2; 6. Campedelli-Canton (Škoda) +16.1; 7. Llarena-Fernandez (Toyota Gr Yaris) +35.0; 8. Ostberg-Eriksen (Citroën C3) +41.8; 9. Avbelj-De Guio (Škoda) +49.6; 10. Stritesky-Krajca (Škoda) +1’19.4.
