There are not many rallies that can boast such a long tradition full of important stories. Crossing the finish line of fifty editions hands the San Marino rally to the small circle of “icon” races of international motorsport. July 8 and 9 next, dirt roads full of sporting history will therefore host the 50th San Marino Rally which, for the occasion, in addition to celebrating the prestigious anniversary, will present itself with many and important validities.

First of all that for the Italian Land Rally Championship, of which it will be the third round of 2022 and which this year assumes greater depth and significance, in consideration of the fact that the Absolute Italian Rally Championship is entirely on asphalt. The same goes for historic cars than in the contemporary 7th San Marino Historic Rally will be engaged in the fourth seasonal appointment of Italian Historic Land Rally Championship. Furthermore, the dirt roads of the San Marino Rally 2022 were also chosen to stage the challenges among the young talents of the Junior Absolute Italian Championshipin the third of the six tests of the 2022 calendar. It closes the series of validities important for the Italian Cup Rally 5th Zone, of which it will be the second of the four stages on the calendar, fundamental for the “regional” title but also for access to the coveted CRZ Final. Even the new Trophy N5 Italy has included the San Marino Rally in the calendar of its most prestigious series, as well as in the Open N5, as well as the series Italian Trophy Rorganized by Sport Team Equipment, a format reserved for participants in the Zone Rally Cup.

FAMS, the San Marino Automobile Federation, with the active collaboration of ACI Sport, is already working to offer, as and more than ever, a high-level event, worthy of the San Marino Rally sporting tradition.

50th RALLY OF SAN MARINO: A RALLY OF RALLY LOADED WITH HISTORY

When it comes to the history book of rallies, that of “San Marino” is an obligatory chapter.

Scrolling through his Roll of Honor, going to reread the rankings and the enrolled lists, you have a clear vision of how, in these parts, so many great champions competed, many of the champions who have written important pages of the specialty, not only among San Marino and Italy, from 1970 to the present day.

For the duty of chivalry, but also because the fact is more than a prestigious rarity, the story can only begin, from the unforgettable 1988, the year in which the “San Marino” was won by a female crew, the one made up of determination Paola De Martini and Umberto Gibellini, with the Audi 90 Quattro.

Two, on the other hand, with equal merit, are the record holders for the number of victories at the San Marino rally, five each: Piero Longhi, first in 2000 with the Toyota Corolla WRC and then with the Subaru Impreza poker from 2005 to 2008, and Paolo Andreucci, winner in 2001, 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015, the first on Focus WRC, the last four all Peugeot, and the only one this year, barring a surprise presence from Longhi, to be able to improve the record streak. With four victories (1994, 1999, 2003, 2004, all with Subaru, with the exception of ’99 with the Escort Cosworth) is the Cesena Andrea Navarra to follow the two in the lead.

There could only be an equal number of victories, three each, two great champions who, in these parts, gave a great sporting spectacle and divided the fierce fans, for a long time: the San Marino Massimo Ercolani and the Rimini area “Pucci” Grossi, two unforgettable champions who are no longer with us, united by a mocking fate even on the date of their disappearance, a very ugly 20 August of different years. Ercolani signed the San Marino in 1985, with the Lancia 037 and the late Loris Roggia at the notes, 1991 with the Delta Integrale and 1996 with the Subaru Impreza, Grossi won in 1989 and 1993 with the Lancia Delta, in 1995 with Toyota Celica. He also boasts three wins on the resume Umberto Scandolatwo with Skoda in 2013 and 2017 and the last, last year, with Hyundai.

With just these few champions, we are almost half of the total victories in the Roll of Honor.

The small group of drivers with two victories in San Marino is bigger: Giulio BiselliFiat Abarth official driver, who died prematurely in 1983, won in 1972 and 1974 with the Fiat 124 Abarth, “Tony” Fassinawith the Lancia Stratos and the Opel Ascona 400, he excelled in 1979 and 1981, Adartico Vudafieriahead of everyone in 1980 (Fiat 131 Abarth) and 1984 (Lancia 037), Andrea Aghini first in 1998 (Toyota Corolla WRC) and in 2002 (Peugeot 206 WRC), Giandomenico Basso winner with Ford in 2012 and 2016.

Fifteen drivers have put the seal on at least one edition of the San Marino Rally: the first winner in 1970, the late Arnaldo Cavallaripassed away in 2016, to follow Leone Pittoniin 1973 the great Sandro Munariwith the legendary Fulvia HF, then Antonillo Zordan, Tonino Tognanawhich in 1982 delivered the two-time world champion here, to the new Lancia 037, the first victory Miki Biasionfirst in San Marino in 1983, Fabrizio Tabaton, Patrick Snijers, Michele Gregori, Gibo Pianezzola, Franco Cunico, Andreas Mikkelsenthe San Marino Daniele Ceccoli, who fulfills the dream of winning his race in 2018, the Frenchman Stefano Consani and the Bolivian Marquis Bulacia.

As we said at the beginning, a roll of honor that tells a lot of rallying history. A story that continues …