RALLY ROMA CAPITALE, CRUGNOLA WINS IN PIRELLI-SHOD CITROEN C3
The other Pirelli runners also did well, taking second place on the podium with the Skoda of Campedelli and sixth place with the Hyundai of Paddon
Pirelli-shod drivers also dominated in the other categories: in ERC3 Kohn won, while in ERC4 victory went to Cogni in a Peugeot
Testoni: "The hard version of the P Zero, the same as the Rally2 cars in the WRC, once again ensured performance and reliability".
Fiuggi, 28 July 2024 - Again Andrea Crugnola in a Citroen C3, again Pirelli. For the second year running, these were the names on the top step of the podium at the Rally di Roma Capitale, a round of the Fia European Rally Championship and the Italian Asphalt Championship, which, as is often the case, provided a great show, not only in the first leg at the Colosseum, but also on the winding roads around Fiuggi.
Together with Crugnola, who drove a well planned and strategically sound rally there was another Pirelli runner on the podium, namely Simone Campedelli, who finished second in a Skoda Fabia thus ensuring the Italian Championship battle is still wide open.
Sixth was reigning champion Hayden Paddon in a Hyundai i 20, thus retains the lead in the championship standings.
The fate of the rally was decided on Saturday morning, especially in the first long stage (the 28.74 km SS3 Santopadre - Fontana Liri) and in the following one, in which Crugnola extended his lead over his pursuers, thanks also to the excellent performance of the P Zero Hard RA5A tyres, which ensured grip, resistance and low wear in very challenging stages, marked by high temperatures. On Sunday, the Lombardy driver managed his lead, while still winning most of the stages, including the 32.30-kilometre Rocca di Piave-Subiaco and the Power Stage.
PIRELLI QUOTE
Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager: "Once again this year the already challenging conditions of the Rally of Rome were particularly severe due to the extremely high temperatures, and once again the RA5A version of the P Zero, the same one used by the Rally2 cars in the world championship, allowed Crugnola to win and our other drivers to obtain excellent placings. In particular, the performance characteristics and resistance to abrasive asphalt and high temperatures of the hard tyre proved to be crucial in both the long and short stages. This Rome Rally win is the second well-deserved victory of the season in the FIAERC, which makes us look forward to the continuation of the championship with confidence".
OTHER CATEGORIES
Pirelli-equipped drivers also dominated in the smaller categories. The ERC3 was won by Czech Filip Kohn, who also won the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, sponsored by Pirelli, while in ERC4 the top of the podium was taken by Giorgio Cogni in a Peugeot. Also noteworthy is that in the CIR Junior, supported by Pirelli, Matteo Doretto won, while in the GR Yaris cup, a series also supported by Pirelli, Thomas Paperini won.
THE TYRES AT THE ROME RALLY
The P Zero Hard RA5A, the star of the Rome Rally, is a tyre also intended for WRC Rally2 cars and is designed to cope with dry abrasive asphalt. It features a tread compound and construction that ensure performance and reliability in the toughest rally conditions and longest stages, even at high temperatures, without sacrificing a quick warm-up. Also completing the range available to drivers at the Rome Rally are the medium P Zero RA7D, the soft P Zero RA7+C and the wet RWC tyre.
