SPRINT LEGEND RACE OPENS RALLYLEGEND
A fantastic show of cars and champions delivering thrilling performances while vying for top positions. An immense crowd of enthusiastic fans gathered along the 2.2-kilometer track of the Sprint Legend Race that opened the 22nd Rallylegend. A big celebration welcomed around sixty Legend Stars, serving as a delightful “appetizer” based on counter steering, featuring top drivers like Stig Blomqvist, Armin Schwarz, Andrea Aghini, Patrick Snijers, and more.
Then came the race— a blend of showmanship and competition, with all participants focused on achieving the best time.
Among the WRC competitors, the long-awaited Adrien Fourmaux with Coria in the Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid faced a hydraulic steering issue (later solved by technical assistance), allowing Luca Pedersoli and Anna Tomasi in the Hyundai i20 WRC Plus to take the lead, just four seconds ahead of former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen and Janne Ferm in the Citroen C3 WRC Plus. Third place for Swiss driver Sebastien Carron with Lambiel, who showcased speed in the less powerful but nimble Skoda Fabia R5, closely trailing Kovalainen. In the Classic category, Simone Romagna with Lamonato as co-driver stood up in the Martini Racing Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, only 1.2 seconds ahead of the mixed Uruguayan-Argentinian duo Gustavi Trelles and Jorge Del Buono in the Subaru Impreza 555. Only 2.6 seconds behind, the San Marino duo Marcello Colombini and Marco Selva got the third place competing in their two-wheel-drive BMW M3 E30.
Leading the Historic category were San Marino’s Stefano Rosati and Corrado Costa, who gave their best with their Talbot Lotus, boasting a 7.6-second advantage over Simone Brusori and Fernando Carrugi (Porsche 911 SC RS), just three-tenths of a second ahead of the English duo Nick Whale and Ian Windress (Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII) in third place.
The start of the Sprint Legend Race was preceded by interviews on stage with distinguished guests including Adrien Fourmaux, Ari Vatanen, Stig Blomqvist, and Miki Biasion, alongside four representative vehicles for Rallylegend 2024: the Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid, Peugeot 405 T16 GR Dakar, Audi Quattro S1 and Lancia 037.
THE OFFICIAL START WITH THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Stig Blomqvist, Adrien Fourmaux, Arturo Merzario, and Miki Biasion are the ambassadors of Rallylegend who expressed their enthusiasm for the event during the crowded opening press conference of the 22nd edition.
On behalf of the government of the Republic of San Marino, Federico Pedini Amati, Secretary of State for Tourism, Posts, Cooperation, Expo, and Information, together with Elia Rossi, Personal Secretary to Rossano Fabbri, the Secretary of State for Industry, Handicrafts, Commerce, Technological Research, Telecommunications, and Sport, who could not attend the event, conveyed their greetings and sincere and tangible appreciation.
“We reaffirm the importance of Rallylegend as a premier event in the sporting and tourist calendar of the Republic of San Marino” was the shared opinion. “It attracts tens of thousands of enthusiasts and promotes the country worldwide. It is an international showcase supported by high-profile sponsors and meticulously curated by top experts in such initiatives. The institutions of San Marino have always been firmly alongside Rallylegend and appreciate its organization and enthusiasm.”
Then Paolo Valli and Vito Piarulli described Rallylegend 2024, with the technical aspects illustrated by Mauro Zambelli, Race Director Coordinator, and Gianluca Marotta, Race Director. Among the active partners of Rallylegend, Sparco CEO Niccolò Bellazzini spoke on behalf of all the sponsors.
PRESS OFFICE
Manager: Leo Todisco Grande
Mobile +39.335.8298326
E-mail leotodisco@rallylegend.com
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