Entries open, regulations and official programme ready: Rallylegend 2026 gets into gear
Less than four months to go, and Rallylegend 2026 is taking shape in increasingly definite terms. Entries for the 24th edition are officially open: crews have until Thursday 10 September to complete the procedure and confirm their participation in San Marino from 8 to 11 October. The sporting regulations and entry forms are already available on the official website www.rallylegend.com.
The programme is now fully defined. Eleven special stages covering a total of 72.96 competitive kilometres, spread across three days of racing: Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October. The route takes in some of Rallylegend’s most beloved stages: I Laghi, Chiesanuova, San Marino, Le Tane, La Casa, The Legend and Piandavello. Maps and the complete time schedule and distances are already available online. The shakedown is scheduled for Thursday 8 October. The categories admitted are Historic, Classic, WRC/Kit and Legend Stars, the latter reserved for cars and crews of particular spectacle value, without time recording.
The fortieth anniversary of Group B is drawing closer and promises to be one of the most eagerly awaited moments in Rallylegend history. A concentration of Group B cars like the one we will see this year is something that may never happen again: some of these legendary machines will be competing in the various special stages, while others will be on display at the Rallylegend village, where spectators will be able to admire them up close. For enthusiasts, this will be a unique occasion, and there is every reason to believe that no one will be disappointed. The programme is growing week by week with important new names and iconic cars which, announced in the coming weeks, will undoubtedly fire up fans and the public alike. To stay up to date, simply follow Rallylegend’s social media pages and official website.
MEMORIAL BETTEGA: READY TO RELIVE A LEGEND
Announced last March, the return of the contest that captivated audiences at the Bologna Motorshow for years has finally taken on a clear identity. It will take place on Sunday 11 October, at the end of the day’s special stages, on an adaptation of “The Legend” stage: the first car is due to start at 11:00 from the La Ciarulla Industrial Zone.
The format mirrors the spirit of those years: two cars, two runs with reversed starting order. It begins with the semi-finals and concludes with the finals for 3rd/4th and 1st/2nd place. A straightforward structure, designed to deliver pure spectacle right to the very last metre.
Each lap will cover 1,550 metres, for a total head-to-head distance of 6,200 metres across the two reversed runs: between semi-finals and finals, each car may cover a maximum of 12,400 metres. Twelve cars will take to the stage, divided into three categories: WRC, Group B and ex Group A (Classic), four per category. The Group B cars will be the stars of the fortieth anniversary of their last appearance at the Memorial Bettega, back in 1986.
TICKET SALES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES: AN EDITION ALREADY BREAKING RECORDS
There is one figure that, more than any words, tells the story of the anticipation surrounding this edition: ticket sales. Since sales opened on 1 April, online requests have already nearly doubled compared to the same period last year. A clear signal, which goes hand in hand with an increasingly evident growth in media interest: Rallylegend is now an event that reaches well beyond the boundaries of the rally world.
SAFETY: WORKING ON EVERY DETAIL
Behind the scenes, the organisation is working on multiple fronts. An ongoing dialogue is open with San Marino’s safety authorities and law enforcement, with the aim of improving every aspect of the operational machine compared to previous editions.
On the technological side, the monitoring system already in place last year is being confirmed and enhanced: drones, fixed and mobile cameras and a dedicated control room will keep all areas involved in the event under real-time surveillance.
The special stages have been revised to better distribute the public across wider areas. On Friday evening in particular, the programme moves from two to three special stages, with the return of the I Laghi stage: a spectacular test that can accommodate a large number of spectators in an easier-to-manage area, reducing congestion in the most critical zones.
The highest-footfall areas will be staffed well in advance of the start of the special stages, to ensure the public is correctly positioned and to prevent situations from becoming difficult to manage. A dedicated safety communication campaign will also be activated, both on the official website and on social media channels, covering code of conduct guidelines and designated spectator areas.
PAOLO VALLI
organizzatore Rallylegend
“There is a close collaboration between our organisation, the law enforcement agencies and all the specialist personnel who will be deployed on the ground. On Friday evening, with the return of the I Laghi stage, we will have three stages instead of two: this will help dilute the concentration of spectators far more effectively.
The most critical areas will be staffed well in advance, and we will do our best to share as much information as possible through all communication channels.”
VITO PIARULLI
organizzatore Rallylegend
“We are working on every front to give the public one of the most beautiful editions in Rallylegend history. The Memorial Bettega will bring to a historic stage like ‘The Legend’ a spectacle that has been missing for forty years, and ticket sales, already well above last year’s average, tell us that public anticipation is sky-high.
On safety, we are committed to leaving nothing to chance. We are pushing as hard as we can on every front.”
PRESS OFFICE
Leo Todisco Grande
Cell.+39.335.8298326
E-mail leotodisco@rallylegend.com
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Alen Bollini
Cell.+39.338.6601713
E-mail media@rallylegend.com
