Rome Rally: Several candidates for victory

The fifth round of the 5 European Championship will take place south of Rome. While temperatures promise to be high, the level of battle is also expected to be intense, with a huge field of 2025 Rally46 entries. As has been the case for the past four years, will a local crew prevail? Meanwhile, will the contenders for the European crown be forced to contend with the Italians and several guest stars?

Published 01/07/2025 à 13:44

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Rome Rally: Several candidates for victory

Currently leading the ERC, will Mikolaj Marczyk manage to increase his lead in Rome where Italians and guest stars will come to mix things up? (Photo: Red Bull)

Each year, rally Rome is one of the hottest rounds on the calendar. This should be the case again for the 13th^e edition (the 9th^e en ERC) which will be run around Fiuggi (July 4-6), the spa town that hosts the service park located 80 km southeast of the capital. There should be some action in the special stages with several points of interest.

This rally is the 5th^e round of the Italian championship. Most of the players will be present. Leading the competition, Giandomenico Basso (Fabia) has only a 9,5-point lead over Andrea Crugnola (C3), so both will be aiming for the top of the standings, especially since the coefficient is 1,5. Both have already won in Rome, Basso in 2019 and 2021 and Crugnola in 2023 and 2024. They will be serious contenders, but we must not forget Fabio Andolfi (Yaris), Simone Campedelli (Fabia) or Roberto Daprà (Fabia), the recent winner of Sardinia in WRC2. The locals will certainly come to play the disruptors as happens at all ERC rounds, but there should also be a fight between those vying for the crown.

After 4 races, including all those that were supposed to be held on gravel, Mikolaj Marczyk (Fabia) leads by just 16 points over Mads Ostberg (C3). The Norwegian has 5 points more than a trio composed of Roope Korhonen (Yaris), Isak Reiersen (Fabia) and Andrea Mabellini (Fabia). Among these 5 drivers, the Swede is the only one missing, which means that this ranking is bound to change. The Polish leader went to train by winning a rally in Italy (Montecatini Terme) last weekend. His main rival should be Mabellini while Ostberg returns to an event where he suffered a major crash last year. In addition to these crews, several individuals will bring a little more spice to this race.

In the learning phase on land, Jos Verstappen (Fabia) should be more comfortable on the Italian tarmac. Having put in some good performances, but still making too many mistakes, will Jon Armstrong (Fiesta) be able to channel his energy? 4^e Last year in Rome, will Simone Tempestini (Fabia) reach the podium this time? Several competitors are also coming to Rome for a one-off appearance, and this prospect makes them very dangerous for victory. Always very competitive on tarmac, will Emil Lindholm (Fabia) manage to get back on track after a difficult period? Not competing in the championship, will Efren Llarena (Yaris) have the means to shake up his former teammates? Finally, Jan Solans (Yaris), who is a regular in WRC2, will also be an interesting attraction to follow.

The ERC3 category welcomes 11 cars and the fight should involve the French Tristan Charpentier/Florian Barral (Fiesta), several Poles and the FIA Rally Star driver Taylor Gill (Fiesta). Finally, in Junior ERC, will Calle Carlberg (Corsa) continue his series of victories (2 consecutive) against Loan Lloyd (208), Sergi Pérez (208) and Jaspar Vaher (208)?

After the qualifying stage on Friday morning, the competitors will have to compete in the superspecial (1,3 km) around the Colosseum in Rome. There will then be 12 more stages for a timed 206,52 km.

Championship

Marczyk 81 points, 2. Ostberg 65, 3. Korhonen 60, 4. Mabellini 60, 5. Reiersen 60, 6. Armstrong 46, 7. Johansson 41, 8. Sesks 35, 9. Gryazin 34, 10. Brynildsen 31, 11. Tempestini 27, 12. Bonato 26…