Italian Rally Championship titles go to Pirelli’s young guns
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| Giuseppe Testa won the Italian Junior title with Pirelli |
The Pirelli-equipped Peugeot crew of Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi won the latest round of the Italian Rally Championship, the Rally w Valli, but not even their fourth victory from eight events could deliver a 10th Italian title, with the new points system that has been introduced this year. Instead, it was Pirelli’s younger drivers who took centre stage by wrapping up a number of titles: fitting in perfectly with Pirelli’s philosophy of putting the accent on up-and-coming talent. The prestigious Italian Junior title went to the Pirelli duo of Giuseppe Testa and Daniele Mangiarotti, driving a Peugeot 208 R2. They join Pirelli’s European Junior champion Marijan Griebel, who claimed success in the under-28 category of the European Rally Championship at the wheel of an Opel Adam R2 this year, as well as Fabio Andolfi, who has starred on the World Rally Championship in an another Peugeot 208 R2, thanks to a programme supported by Pirelli and ACI: the Italian motorsport federation. Pirelli also claimed the Italian asphalt championship, with Alessandro Perico in a Peugeot 208 T16 as well as the Italian Ladies’ Championship with Corinne Federighi (Renault Clio R3C). Gianluca Tavelli won the Peugeot Trophy in Italy, which guarantees him an entry on the Monza Rally on December 3, in a factory Peugeot 208 T16 on Pirelli tyres. Luca Panzani will take the start of next year’s Rallye Monte-Carlo in a factory Renault Clio R3T, having won the Italian Clio R3 Trophy, which is also equipped exclusively by Pirelli. The final Pirelli success on the Rally 2 Valli was in the historic section, where Massimo Pedretti won in his Lancia Rally 037. Pirelli’s rally activity manager Terenzio Testoni said: “Conditions were extremely challenging on the rally, ranging from heavy rain to dry asphalt. This meant that grip levels were often very scarce, so our excellent results are testament to the quality of the P Zero tyres. While it’s a shame that Paolo Andreucci couldn’t claim another title, our tyres allowed every driver to perform to the maximum of their potential all year on a variety of surfaces, as the fantastic title-winning performances of so many young drivers have shown: a key priority in Pirelli’s sporting strategy.”
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For further information please contact: Anthony Peacock • +44 7765 896 930 • anthony@mediaticaworld.com