COUNTLESS CHAMPIONS AND MORE THAN 200 CREWS WITH DREAM VEHICLES: RALLYLEGEND RETURNS!
For the twenty-third time in its history, having begun in 2003, Rallylegend prepares to amaze. Once again, the incredible work of Vito Piarulli and Paolo Valli, together with a tireless team, builds to a 2025 edition – to take place on 2-5 October in the heart of the Republic of San Marino – that will light up the eyes of the many fans who will “invade” the special stages and the legendary Rally Village.
PAST AND PRESENT HISTORY IN THE SPECIAL STAGES
Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera, a young driver who continues to make history in world rally, will be reunited with the Toyota Starlet with which he started out at just 8 years of age. He will be joined by a long list of drivers with a legendary past: Markku Alen, with the loyal Ilkka Kivimaki, Miki Biasion, two-time world champion with Lancia, Stig Blomqvist, who brought Audi the world title in 1984 and who will be back with the Audi Sport Quattro Group B, the spectacular Gigi Galli with Alex Gelsomino in memory of Ken Block, Gustavo Trelles, multiple Production world championship winner, with “Bicho” Del Buono on the notes, who will line up in the “McRae Subaru Group A Rally Trophy, together with Alister McRae, brother of the unforgettable Colin, Armin Schwarz, Simon Jean Joseph, Patrick Snijers, European rally champion in 1994, Tony Fassina and Adartico Vudafieri, multi-title winners in Italy in Europe. And Francois Delecour, a last-minute entry, who comes on board with a Subaru Impreza 555.
Big Italian names include Piero Longhi, Italian rally champion in 2000 and 2005, at Rallylegend with his Subaru Impreza Group N, Luca Pedersoli, who continues to star in Italy’s main rallies, with the Hyundai i20 WRC Plus and “Pedro”, four-time European champion in the historic rallies who will line up with a Peugeot 206 WRC.
Regular attendees with a large fan following are the “kings of drift”, or rather Paolo Diana, Frank Kelly and Giorgio Mela, the latter with the all-powerful Audi Quattro Pikes Peak, the leading light in a stellar group of vehicles.
Gian Maria Gabbiani, son of Beppe, former F1 driver, has amassed wins and titles on tracks across Europe and the US. But he’ll be at Rallylegend with a Lancia Integrale 16V, flanked by a skilled navigator in the shape of San Marino native Daiana Darderi.
And speaking of those from San Marino, an impressive 38 local drivers and co-drivers will take part, a real record, with 16 full San Marino crews.
Among the 185 starters are also two crews we might call ‘racing sponsors’: those comprising Andrea Tonella–Mattia Pedretti (Porsche 911 SC 3.0) and Gianpietro Bendotti–Giuliano Vaerini (Subaru Impreza). Both drivers support Rallylegend not only behind the wheel, but also through the brands of their companies, AT Group and TIS.
The forerunner car with the number 0, a Peugeot 208 Step 2, will be driven by “Dedo” De Dominicis.
RALLYLEGEND 2025: KEY FIGURES AND EVENTS
The numbers promise a standout 23rd edition of Rallylegend, with an extensive entry list of cars and crews (over 200, of which 185 will compete in the rally, divided between Historic, Classic and WRC, along with the incredible Legend Stars) and representing 24 countries around the world.
Fourteen Subaru Impreza and Legacy vehicles are registered for the commemorative “McRae Subaru group A Rally Trophy”, within the “Colin McRae WRC 1995”, which remembers the late great Scotsman’s world championship title.
There will also be a record number of Audi Quattro cars, fourteen in all, with various versions coming together at Rallylegend. Not to mention the World Rally Cars, all nineteen of them, set to line up in the race and Legend Stars, a sight to behold!
Then, the Lancia Delta S4 vehicles making up the “Delta S4 Tribute”, forty years after the presentation of the Italian brand’s most powerful weapon for Group B.
The “pioneering” history of rallying will be showcased with “Seventies”, a select group of around fifteen cars (including a Lancia Fulvia HF, Fiat 131 Abarth, Lancia Stratos, Alpine Renault A110, Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV, Fiat Ritmo) that represented the golden age of the Seventies, alongside many drivers of the day, such as Tony Fassina, Gabriele Noberasco, Maurizio Verini and Adartico Vudafieri. Vudafieri will be reunited with the Lancia Stratos with which he came so close to winning the Sanremo World Rally in 1978, running off the road just before the end. Markku Alen won that race with Ilkka Kivimaki, at the wheel of the beautiful Stratos with Pirelli livery that Markku will drive once again at Rallylegend, alongside Adartico in fact, who will be at the wheel of the Stratos Broms Car with which he won that year’s Italian championship.
And in “Rallylegend style”, all these events will have a static section, with the vehicles exhibited in Rally Village, as well as a dynamic part. Those vehicles not competing in the rally itself will have the chance to shine in parades around “The Legend” special stage, driven by big names from the past.
PRESS OFFICE
Manager: Leo Todisco Grande
Mobile +39.335.8298326
E-mail leotodisco@rallylegend.com
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