San Marino. Big names and dream cars at the Rallylegend
It is always rather complicated, every year on the eve of Rallylegend, to summarize presences, contents, prestigious names and dream cars, which will characterize this 19th edition as well.
From 7 to 10 October, the Republic of San Marino returns to host the Rallylegend, one of the most important events of the year, due to the presence of the public, promotion of the territory and economic impact.
But above all it is the event that award of thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world await with enthusiasm and passion, to witness a moment, lasting four days, unique and unrepeatable.
I am about 150, in total, the entrants to Rallylegend 2021. A list of thrills. From the 1964 Steyr Puch to the latest generation World Rally Cars, the so-called “Plus”, there is the whole history of rallies, on the specials of San Marino. Among these marvels, five Lancia Stratos and seven Audi Quattro, in various declinations, to give an example. And to celebrate Group B, Rallylegend also brings together a good number of Lancia S4, Peugeot 205 T16, Audi Quattro, Ford RS 200, Metro R4 this year. I am about twenty nations from which the crews arrive for an event of worldwide resonance.
Miki Biasion, two times world rally champion in 1988 and ’89, will be at the start with an exclusive car, the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC, namely the “Plus”, great protagonist of the World Rally and will be sailed by his daughter Bettina. A presence that will see the car win the Michelin tires and that will be branded Eberhard & Co, the Swiss watchmaking Maison, which since 2016 has the Bassano driver as its Brand Ambassador.
World championship air also with the presence, or rather the return, at Rallylegend of Craig Breen, Irish driver among the great protagonists of the World Rally, at the start of Rallylegend, which he immediately fell in love with, with a World Rally Car of the 90s and with, at the notes, Tamara Molinaro, a thick pilot too, as well as Breen’s girlfriend.
Loris Capirossi, one of the most loved motorcyclist champions ever, three times world champion, rally enthusiast, will be at the start of the San Marino event, at the wheel of a latest generation Skoda Fabia R5, branded Michelin, while it is a return, awaited by many fans , also that of Gigi Galli, the last Italian driver to wear an official “uniform” in the Rally World Championship, here once again, with the powerful rallycross Kia Rio RX.
It will be Francois Delecour at the start of a Ford Sierra Rs Cosworth 4X4 in Q8 livery, the same one that “dressed” the official car with which he was about to dramatically win the 1991 Monte Carlo rallye, before going off the road, due to a technical problem , on the latest special.
Another presence of rank is that of Franco Cunico, multiple Italian rally champion, who finds the Subaru Impreza WRC, while Tony Fassina will be at the start with the unforgettable white Lancia Stratos, with which he won, as a private individual, the world rallye in Sanremo 1979.
Another great and exciting “first fruit” of Rallylegend 2021 will be to review Maurizio Verini, one of the great drivers of the 70s, get back behind the wheel of the Fiat 124 Abarth with which, in 1975, he won the European Rally Championship. He will do it only on Saturday, on the “The Legend” test, to greet the public.
We will review, then, in overalls and helmet, Michele Cinotto, for the occasion again paired with Emilio Radaelli, who will find the Audi Quattro group 4 in official livery, with which the then twenty-two year old driver from Turin proposes himself to the attention of the world rally, commanding, for one stage, the rallye of Sanremo 1981.
Two great protagonists of the 80s return to Rallylegend: Tonino Tognana, Italian rally champion 1982, together with Massimo De Antoni, will be at the start with an Opel Ascona 1.9 group 2, while Federico Ormezzano he will put on a show with the legendary Talbot Lotus, of which he was a great interpreter.
Even the Uruguayan champion Gustavo Trelles, multiple world production champion in the past, did not want to miss Rallylegend. Always with the trust Jorge Del Buono at the notes, he will be at the wheel of a Subaru Legacy group A.
The beautiful white and blue Lancia Stratos – still in the colors and sponsors of the time – of Pierfelice Filippi And Gianpaolo De Mela will roar again at Rallylegend, recalling and celebrating the victory of the Piedmontese crew in the 1981 TRN Finals.
The list, already substantial, does not end here. Undoubtedly, the presence of Simone Campedelli, one of the fastest Italian drivers in recent years, protagonist in the top Italian championships and fond of Rallylegend, who faces, with promises of great show, with a BMW M3, Ray Breen, father of Craig, also former Irish rally champion, the acrobatic Paolo Diana, always spectacular with the “vitaminized” Fiat 131 Racing, which invited, with a gesture of great sportsmanship and friendship, to read him the notes Martin Passenbrunner, navigator of the lamented Christof Klausner, who died in a car accident last August, which was a regular presence at Rallylegend for years, with his Audi Quattro, and which will be remembered with various initiatives.
Also worth mentioning is the presence of Chantal Galli, Italian rally champion in the 80s, at the start with a Lancia Delta 16V, Carlo Falcone, with the stunning Ford Focus WRC, Marco Gramenzi, present with his Lancia Delta S4, Frank Kellyspectacular with his Ford Escort RS, Giorgio Mela, who will drive the fantastic Audi Quattro S1 E2 Pikes Peak, Giacomo Ogliari, with the rare Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Cp9A, the Danish trio of Poulsen – Ole, Roland and Kristian – with three fantastic cars, the Hyundai i20 Wrc Plus, a Toyota Corolla Wrc and a Skoda Fabia R5.
To underline, as in every edition, the numerous and proud participation of the San Marino crews, which we always find great protagonists of the final rankings of Rallylegend. Between these Loris Baldacci, with the “evergreen” Enzo Zafferani, back with the Porsche 911 SC, there will be the inevitable Marcello Colombini, with the BMW M3, as well as Stefano Rosati, obviously with Sergio Toccaceli and the Talbot Lotus, while Stefano Valli, a driver with good honors on the track, will be at the start with a Peugeot 207 S2000. Paolo Valli, President of the San Marino Automobile Motoring Federation, will do the honors of the house, as usual, driving his Lancia Delta S4.
In the race at Rallylegend, in a regularity competition, about fifteen selected cars, original and technically and aesthetically preserved as when they raced, and won, between the 60s and 80s. from 1969 Triumph Tr6 up to 1982 Opel Manta 400 group B, with Lancia Stratos, Fiat 131 Abarth, Opel Ascona, BMW 2002, Porsche 911, Opel Kadett GTE, Lancia Fulvia, Ford Escort, A112 Abarth in between.
The rally, within Rallylegend 2021, will start on Friday 8 October, at 7.45 pm, to start towards the unpublished special stage, San Marino (km. 6,600), longer than usual, to be repeated twice, interspersed with the suggestive Reorganization in the historic center of San Marino.
We continue Saturday 9 October, departing from the Village at 13.30, with a loop of three special stages to be repeated twice: The lakes (km.3,900), The House (km.9,580), The legend (km. 4,380), interspersed with the Riordino alla Stadio.
The closure Sunday 10 October, with two steps on the The legend (km. 4.380) and final arrival at Rallylegend Village at 1pm.
The event revolves around Rallylegend village. Even bigger this year, and even more engaging, for the thousands of activities it contains.
Rallylegend 2021 will open Thursday 7 October at 15.30 with the Presentation Press Conference at the Departure Box.
To follow, in the stand Sparco, presentation Delta S4 Triflux. A great exclusive: an unprecedented 1986 Lancia S4 will be offered, on which the Triflux engine was mounted, a technical evolution of the volumetric compressor, which, however, never saw use in the race.
Another unique event, on Thursday afternoon: “Best Impreza Group A”, the “super” Subaru Impreza group A, built with a unique project in the world by Best Engineering. Piero Liatti will be present.
A Opening party is on the agenda, then, at the San Marino Outlet Experience, new partner that supports Rallylegend this year.
At 7 pm it is the turn of the Parade of the legend, presentation on the starting stage of the “top drivers” present at Rallylegend.
For Friday 8 October, scheduled at 15.00 a autograph session, at the stand Eberhard & Co, with Miki Biasion
It will therefore be the turn of the presentation of two books, with two separate events: “Those rallies with the horse” with Tonino Tognana, Michele Cinotto, Miki Biasion, Gabriele Noberasco, Federico Ormezzano, Franco Cunico; “Lancia Rally Group B” by Sergio Remondino and Sergio Limone, in the presence of the authors, by Cesare Fiorio and Miki Biasion.
At 7 pm departure of the first stage of the rally, with a parade on the stage of all the crews of the 19th edition of Rallylegend.
Saturday 9 October the day will be opened by an autograph session with the champions present at Rallylegend at the stand Sparco.
At 11 “We are history 1981-2021” meeting, stories and anecdotes with Miki Biasion, Tony Fassina, Michele Cinotto, Federico Ormezzano, Tonino Tognana, Maurizio Verini.
New location for the Rallylegend Accreditation Center, one of the vital ganglia of the event, which this year will be based at San Marino Outlet Experience, perfect location to host guests being accredited. San Marino Outlet Experience is an unforgettable shopping experience, in a welcoming environment, with an innovative and refined design, which hosts prestigious national and international fashion brands, as well as a selection of bars and restaurants with outdoor areas.
The historic Turin-based company Sparco confirms itself as the technical sponsor of Rallylegend. Given the great success of the last edition, Sparco has once again chosen the perfect setting for Rallylegend to present the novelty brought to the Martini Racing collection for 2022. In fact, to complement the highly appreciated Heritage Martini Racing collection, a tribute to the legendary livery, will be presented and In addition to all the products of the current collection, the new Hoodie Big Stripes hoodie, the Field Jacket in technical fabric and the elegant Wool Crewneck sweater are also available to the public at the stand.
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