Rally di Roma Capitale: Pirelli takes another step towards another title and claims WRC victory

Lorenzo Bertelli

Pirelli has taken another step towards the only domestic rally title it is missing from its 2015 collection, thanks to a podium for Peugeot Italia’s Paolo Andreucci on the Rally di Roma Capitale: based in Italy’s historic capital. Pirelli also clinched the WRC section of the event, thanks to victory for Tonino Di Cosimo in a Ford Focus WRC, and the Ladies’ Championship thanks to Corinne Federighi in a Renault Twingo R2. The Zero Car on this highly popular event, making its debut on the Italian Rally Championship, was the Ford Fiesta RS WRC of World Rally Championship star Lorenzo Bertelli, taking the opportunity to test for the next round of the global series in Corsica. But the event did not go entirely according to plan for Pirelli. Alessandro Perico had to withdraw before the start of the event for family reasons, and Paolo Andreucci picked up a puncture while leading on SS4 – probably as the result of running over some debris on the road. It happened on SS4, Monte Livata, which was unfortunately the longest stage of the rally at 30.70 kilometres. Andreucci had to cover most of the stage with the right-rear puncture, doing well to limit the time loss to just over a minute. Andreucci said: “It was just one of those things that happens in rallying. We were in the lead and going really well, as the car and the tyres were perfect. Then we picked up the puncture, which affected the rest of our rally. It’s a pity, but that’s motorsport for you. In any case, third is still a good result, which puts us in a great position to clinch the manufacturers’ championship on the final round in Verona, with a 14-point advantage.” Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli’s product manager added: “Even on this highly atypical event, our RK tyres that made their debut on the Rally del Friuli three weeks ago with first and second places, proved their performance. However, fate conspired against Paolo and he was not able to hang onto his well-deserved lead. Congratulations to Tonino Di Cosimo for victory in the WRC section, and Corinne Federighi for the Ladies’ Championship. Now we turn our attention to helping Peugeot Italia seal the manufacturers’ championship – the only title still missing from our collection this year – at the next round. The final round of the Italian Rally Championship is the Rally Due Valli, based in Verona from October 9-11.

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