YET ANOTHER SUPER RALLYLEGEND!
The years pass by, with so many iconic editions already in the books, but Rallylegend continues to amaze. And sometimes even amazes the Organisers themselves.
Rallylegend edition number 22 promises another scintillating line-up, bringing a host of great champions and spectacular vehicles that can only be seen in October, in the Republic of San Marino.
Taking place on 10-13 October, this not-to-be-missed event presents cars from across the Historic, Classic and WRC categories, as well as the Legend Stars, with the full history of rallying on display both around the special stages and in Rally Village, inside San Marino itself, during this one-of-a-kind celebration.
COUNTLESS GREATS FROM EVERY RALLYING ERA
From Stig Blomqvist, joining the Legend Stars at the wheel of an Audi Quattro and the star of celebrations to mark 40 years since his 1984 title win, to Adrien Fourmaux, a rising star of WRC and factory driver of the Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1.
Forty years of rallying that is also represented by countless other greats, and not just from the rallying world, who will be welcomed at Rallylegend, whether competing in the racing, lining up with the Legend Stars or simply making exhibition laps during “The Legend” special stage during this incredible four-day event.
Three legendary names like Jacky Ickx, with the Porsche 953 Rothmans, Ari Vatanen, back at the wheel of the Peugeot 405 T16 GR Pioneer and Jutta Kleinschimdt, driving a Mitsubishi Pajero, will be “masters of the house” in the LegenDakar, new for 2024. A window onto the iconic African rally raid, with these champions at the wheel of some historic Dakar vehicles.
The rally will again be the focus of attention and passion for the crowds of spectators, coming from all over Europe, and beyond.
Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen, who has previously competed in Formula 1, Super GT and now rallying, will challenge Fourmaux at the wheel of a Citroen C3 WRC Plus, flanked by expert co-driver Janne Ferm, who announced his retirement from WRC at the recent Rally Chile. 1993 championship runner-up Francois Delecour returns to Rallylegend with a Peugeot 306 Maxi, while the eclectic Romain Dumas will drive a spectacular Porsche Carrera GT3.
German Armin Schwarz, who enjoyed a successful career as a factory WRC driver, will be at Rallylegend with an Audi Quattro Coupè Group A and Peter Thul, Senior Director Sport at WRC Promoter, on the notes. Joining him in San Marino is son Fabio Schwarz, who will be driving a rare Hyundai Accent WRC. Norwegian driver and World Rallycross star Ole Christian Veiby (Volkswagen Polo WRX) also returns. Long-time Rallylegend fan Miki Biasion is a cert, and will exhibit with an Eberhard&Co-branded Lancia 037, as is Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles, who scored four consecutive Production world titles between 1996 and 1999, joined by loyal Jorge Del Buono aboard a Subaru Impreza Group A.
Another Rallylegend enthusiast is Raymond Breen, who is set to line up with his Subaru Legacy. Father of the late Craig, a talent taken far too soon, he is adored by the fans and very attached to Rallylegend.
Belgian Patrick Snijers, 1994 European Rally Champion, will again take on the special stages in San Marino at the wheel of a Ford Sierra Cosworth in Bastos colours.
Ready to make some exhibition laps around “The Legend” on Saturday and Sunday are two iconic Italian champions, at the wheel of two stunning Lancia Stratos cars: Arturo Merzario, Formula 1 and Prototype driver whose successful career and international titles could fill the pages of a book, and “Tony” Fassina, European and Italian Rally champion in the legendary 70s and 80s.
Italy will also be represented by the multi-titled Piero Longhi, lining up with a Skoda Fabia Rally2, Andrea Aghini, among the Legend Stars with a Ford Sierra Cosworth 4X4 and Andrea Crugnola, the winner of four recent Italian titles who will put on a show aboard a Peugeot 106 Maxi. Joining them is the experienced Luca Pedersoli, entered with a Hyundai i20 Coupè WRC Plus and youngster Alberto Battistolli, bound to thrill the fans with his spectacular driving of the Lancia 037 among the Legend Stars. The Italian contingent also comprises Fabrizio Ratiglia, who competed in the Two Wheel Drive and Production classes a few seasons ago and will complete exhibition laps with a former Aghini Peugeot 405 MI16. Taking to the wheel of the opening car, the unique Peugeot 208 N5 Step2 will be be “Dedo” De Domicis,. Fans should also look out for Piergiorgio Bedini (Ford Sierra Cosworth), with experience in both Italian and World Production categories, and husband and wife from Imperia Paolo Duberti and Lucia Dominoni, lining up with the Opel Ascona 400 among the Legend Stars and known to rallying enthusiasts as an unbeatable duo with the Peugeot 205 GTI Group A in the late 80s and early 90s. Sicilian Giuseppe Bosurgi, who will line up with the Legend Stars aboard a Lancia 037, has had a successful career, particularly in national rallying. Marco Gramenzi, the holder of many Italian hill climb titles, also returns to Rallylegend with his beautiful Lancia Delta S4.
More than ready to add to the spectacle are the trio comprising Paolo Diana, with the Fiat 131 Racing, Irish driver Frank Kelly with the Ford Escort MKII, and the powerful Audi Quattro Sport Pikes Peak of Giorgio Mela.
Female rally champs include Argentinian Karina Dobal (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX), the only woman to win, in 2016, the Argentine Federal Rally Class N4 championship, open to everybody and thus ending up also in front of all men. And Swiss driver Chantal Galli (Lancia Delta Integrale 16V) who enjoyed a long and impressive career in the Italian Rally Championship.
Fifteen drivers and nineteen co-drivers in attendance at Rallylegend hail from San Marino itself. An impressive number, in both quantity and quality, several of whom will no doubt stand out in the various categories.
As is tradition, Flaviano Polato, with his incredible Fiat 126 Bis, rounds out the long list of race entrants. Just as he has done since the very first edition of Rallylegend. Many are in love with this San Marino event, but actually he seems to have ‘married’ it.
“LEGENDAKAR”: RALLYLEGEND CELEBRATES THE LEGENDARY “DAKAR”
Twenty-three historic Dakar vehicles. From the Porsche 953 to the Pandakar, from the colossal Man trucks to the impressive Nissan and Mitsubishi off-roaders. Each with their original livery and a big-name driver, not least Jacky Ickx, Ari Vatanen and Jutta Kleinschimdt. They will join Miki Biasion, a Dakar veteran with both trucks and the little Pandakar. The LegenDakar is set to be a very special event, dedicated to the great desert race, invented in 1979 by the brilliant Thierry Sabine.
Legendary pages of history that will be reread in the Rally Village. As well as a static exhibition over the four-days of Rallylegend, there will also be a show taking place at times compatible with the rally, on both Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, cars and trucks from the “LegendDakar” will take to “The Legend” stage. Among the Dakar stars in attendance in San Marino is Gianluca Tassi, who has a particular story to tell. In 2003 he crashed in Peru with his off-road motorcycle and fractured his spine. Despite losing the use of his legs, he has continued to live by his motto, “Will has no limits”, going on to win in both Cross Country and in the Dakar, with a specially adapted off-road vehicle.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST WRC TITLE FOR THE ICONIC LANCIA STRATOS AT RALLYLEGEND
Exactly 50 years ago, in 1974, the Lancia Stratos brought the Italian manufacturer the first of three consecutive Constructors’ World Rally titles. This model is still considered an icon today, unmatched both technically and aesthetically.
The Rallylegend celebration will feature a dozen original and unique Stratos, the stars of both dynamic and static exhibitions over the course of the event, the schedule of course featuring some key drivers and personalities who have made history. Flaunting the colours of Alitalia, Marlboro and Pirelli and driven by Sandro Munari, Adartico Vudafieri, and Tony Fassina, who will bring his unmistakable, white Stratos with which he competed in the 1979 Sanremo Rally, beating off the ‘official’ competition and winning the race as a privateer.
40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE AUDI WORLD TITLE WITH STIG BLOMQVIST
The last World Rally titles won by Audi Sport date back to 1984, a mere forty years ago, when the manufacturer secured both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ crown after Stig Blomqvist won five events and placed second in one. A great result that deserves a celebration, and where better than at Rallylegend? The “special event” involves a host of Audi Quattro cars from all over Europe, along with key drivers from that season, including Blomqvist himself and Armin Schwarz.
Fans will be touched to see the return of the Audi Quattro A2 that belonged to ‘king of drift’ Christof Klausner, killed in a motorcycle accident in 2021. Having undergone lengthy restoration work after being destroyed in the 2020 Janner Rally, the vehicle will be driven by Christof’s brother Thomas Klausner at Rallylegend.
A total of fifteen Audis will be line up either in the races or among the Legend Stars.
PRESS OFFICE
Manager: Leo Todisco Grande
Mobile +39.335.8298326
E-mail leotodisco@rallylegend.com
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