The second of back-to-back events on Italian asphalt following on from last month’s Rallye Elba Storico, Sanremo Rally Storico once again underlines the FIA EHRC’s widespread appeal with 26 crews preparing to assemble for action.
Once home to Italy’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Sanremo is located on the Mediterranean coastline of the Liguria region and is part of international motorsport folklore. Its Tarmac-only stages in the hills above the Italian Riviera town have tested generations of star drivers and their cars and this weekend’s FIA EHRC counter will be no different.
The last of seven FIA EHRC events to take place on asphalt in 2024, more history could be made on Sanremo Rally Storico with home hero “Zippo” in touching distance of wrapping up the inaugural FIA European Historic Rally Championship for Drivers, having put the FIA EHRC Category 3 title out of his rivals’ reach in Elba aboard his Audi Quattro.
While James Potter became provisional Category 1 champion on Austria’s Rallye Weiz in July in a Ford Escort Twin Cam, the Category 2 and Category 4 titles remain up for grabs. However, with Angelo Lombardo not competing in Sanremo, László Mekler (Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, above) has a firm grip on the Category 2 silverware.
Flexifly Rally Team’s Ernie Graham (BMW M3) heads the Category 4 title order but Tibor Érdi Jr (Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4) remains firmly in the hunt. He’s taken two outright FIA EHRC wins this year compared to Graham’s sole event victory.
Natale Mirabile will look to capitalise on Piotr Gadomski’s Sanremo absence in the FIA EHRC Front Wheel Drive Trophy division, while James Potter and László Mekler are in a close battle for FIA EHRC 1600cc Trophy honours. Both titles are new for 2024. Meanwhile, Flexifly Rally Team can’t be caught in the FIA EHRC Team Trophy standings, such has been its dominance this season.
Who’s in it to win it?
The latest edition of the ultimate celebration of rallying’s glorious past has once again attracted a stellar entry with 26 drivers and co-drivers set to contest Sanremo Rally Storico.
Fresh from finishing runner-up on Rallye Elba Storico, Valter Pierangioli (below) tops the entry list in his Category 4 Ford Sierra Cosworth 4×4. Tibor Érdi Jr is the number two seed followed by Category 3 leader “Zippo” and FIA Junior WRC event winner Eamonn Kelly, who will compete against his father Donagh in a BMW M3.
Seb Perez (Lancia Stratos HF) will rival his father Steve Perez (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) for Category 2 honours, with Ernie Graham next up in his Category 4 BMW M3, which is co-driven by daughter Anna.
Maciej Lubiak continues in the BMW M3 he first used in Elba, with Veronika Havelková returning to co-drive Vojtěch Štajf in a Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165). Antonio “Tony” Fassina, the 1982 European champion, makes his second start of the season in another legendary Lancia Stratos HF.
Although Guy Trolliet (Porsche 911 SC), Christophe Jacob (Ford Escort RS) and Massimo Guerra (Porsche Carrera RS) are familiar faces on FIA EHRC events, Benoît Boulanger makes his first appearance of the year, while Tim Metcalfe and Eduardo Valente are back on FIA EHRC duty after contesting Rally Costa Brava in March. FIA EHRC returnee Sir Andrew McAlpine brings his spectacular Ferrari 308 GTB to Sanremo Rally Storico.
Antonio Parisi (Porsche 911 S) is the top Category 1 seed with and Carlo Fiorito (pictured below) among his rivals.
Oldřich Kovařík Jr (Škoda Favorit 136L) and János Dunavölgyi (Lada Samara) will chase FIA EHRC 1600cc Trophy success, with Kovařík and Dunavölgyi also set to battle Natale Mirabile (Fiat Ritmo Abarth) and Harold Bunting (Austin Mini Cooper S) in the FIA EHRC Front Wheel Drive Trophy. Click HERE for the Rallye Elba Storico entry list.
Sanremo Rally Storico route in short
A regular on the FIA EHRC calendar over the years, the 2024 Sanremo Rally Storico route consists of 11 tight, twisty and undulating Tarmac stages over a competitive distance of 133.99 kilometres. The action begins with the Montalto – Molini stage from 15:18 hrs local time on Saturday October 19 followed by the 21.02-kilometre Carpasio – Rezzo test from 15:48 hrs. The 10.72 kilometres of Calderara – Testico is next at 16:46 hrs. Following a regroup and service in Sanremo, the afternoon stages are repeated in the evening with the rerun of Calderara – Testico due to begin at 21:19 hrs. The deciding leg on Sunday October 20 begins at 11:35 hrs with the first of two runs through the 14.23-kilometre Vignai stage. Single passes of Ghimbegna – San Romolo and San Romolo – Perinaldo are next. The return to Vignai follows a regroup and service in Sanremo before the 18.86-kilometre Ghimbgna – Perinaldo marks the final stage of the event from 16:15 hrs. At 21.02 kilometres, Carpasio – Rezzo is the longest stage of the FIA EHRC event.
How they stand?
The provisional FIA European Historic Rally Championship standings after round seven are available here: https://www.fia.com/events/european-historic-rally-championship/season-2024/classifications
FIA EHRC 2024: how it works?
The FIA EHRC is for historic rally cars built prior to 1969 and homologated up to 1990. It’s divided into four categories (1-4) based on year of manufacturer with sub-divisions in Categories 2-4 to allow for different levels of car performance. Further details on the categories are available HERE.
Competitors count their best six scores from nine rounds held on asphalt and gravel between March and November. Events typically run for one and a half days following reconnaissance with approximately 150 timed kilometres on offer.
The overall title is contested by all drivers and co-drivers regardless of their category with all rounds counting. The FIA Historic 1600cc Trophy is for cars up to 1600cc from Categories 1-4 with the six best scores counting. The rise in the number of front-wheel-drive cars competing has been recognised with the FIA European Historic Front Wheel Drive Trophy with crews also counting their best six scores.
In addition, the FIA EHRC Team Trophy, which has attracted more than 25 entries for the 2024 season, features a new bonus points system with 10 additional points on offer on the Historic Rally of Asturias and the Historic Acropolis Rally.
Three new titles are up for grabs in the FIA EHRC this season. An overall FIA European Historic Rally Championship crown is being awarded for the first time, while the FIA European Historic 1600cc Trophy and FIA European Historic Front Wheel Drive Trophy titles have also been introduced for 2024.
Although the creation of the all-new titles is partly in response to competitor feedback, their introduction is in line with the FIA’s desire to raise the profile – and spectacle – of the FIA EHRC, while also providing an accessible point of entry to international-level historic rallying.
FIA EUROPEAN HISTORIC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP AND FLEXIFLY: AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP
The FIA European Historic Rally Championship is delighted to welcome FlexiFly, a specialist aircraft hire company, as an official partner of the series.
From last month’s Rallye Elba Storico, FlexiFly is benefitting from promotional opportunities through an official association with the FIA EHRC.
During each round of the FIA EHRC, registered crews will take part in an official photocall and receive a commemorative cap. Bespoke digital content highlighting the partnership between the FIA EHRC and FlexiFly will also be produced.
Under the guidance of FIA EHRC stalwart contender Ernie Graham, FlexiFly has grown to become one of the United Kingdom’s leading providers of private aircraft hire services. It’s also a long-term supporter of the FIA EHRC through its participation in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship for Teams. James Potter is the provisional FIA EHRC Category 1 champion for 2024 in a Ford Escort Twin Cam carrying FlexiFly identity.
Click HERE for the full announcement.
Source : Fia
