Fiuggi, July 4th, 2025 – Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi set the benchmark time in the Qualifying Stage of Rally di Roma Capitale, held this morning on the fast and technical Fumone stage. Driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, the Italian crew stopped the clock at 3:34.267 over the 6-kilometre course, securing first choice in the road order selection for Saturday. A strong statement from one of Italy’s top hopes in the FIA European Rally Championship, who are also expected to challenge the CIAR Sparco contenders.
Behind them came ERC leaders Marczyk-Gospodarczyk, while a strong performance from fellow Italians Roberto Daprà and Luca Guglielmetti saw them claim third overall, just 2.6 seconds off the lead. After recent success in WRC2 in Sardinia and a podium in Verona, the young ACI Team Italia driver once again showed excellent form.
Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton also got off to a solid start, placing fourth with a gap of just over three seconds. The gaps were very close in the top ten, with four crews separated by only six tenths, including Slovenia’s Bostjan Avbelj alongside Elia De Guio.
There were early setbacks for two key Italian names. CIAR Sparco points leader Giandomenico Basso suffered a right-rear puncture and lost more than 40 seconds, while defending Roma winner Andrea Crugnola, paired with Pietro Ometto in a Citroën C3, finished outside the top ten – over five seconds off Mabellini’s pace.
The focus now shifts to one of the most iconic moments of the entire ERC calendar: the ceremonial parade through central Rome and the official start at the Bocca della Verità. That will be followed by the spectacular “Colosseo ACI Roma” Super Special Stage – a 1.3-kilometre course set among the city’s historic streets, in the shadow of the Colosseum. The stage is scheduled to begin at 20:00 and will be broadcast live to a global audience.
