RALLY ROMA CAPITALE, CRUGNOLA DOMINATES AND PIRELLI MAKES THE EUROPEAN-ITALIAN ONE-TWO
With today's victory, the Lombardy driver not only takes the European race but also the absolute Italian rally championship
The other Pirelli-tyred cars also did well, taking the entire podium, with Basso's Skoda Fabia in second and Paddon's Hyundai i20 in third
Testoni: “Despite extreme conditions, due to the extremely high temperatures, the hard RA5A version of the P Zero, also developed for the WRC, ensured performance and reliability”
Pirelli again dominated the Fia European Rally Championship. In the eagerly awaited race in the capital of Rome, the P lunga scored a hat-trick, taking the entire podium and bringing the total number of victories in the European competition to three out of six races.
Not only that. The Rome Rally, which opened with a spectacular stage under the Colosseum, was dominated from the start by the Pirelli-tyred Citroen C3 driven by Andrea Crugnola, who with this victory not only won the Capitoline Rally but also the CIAR Italian title, for the third time in his career.
Behind the Lombardy driver came two other drivers supplied and assisted by Pirelli: Giandomenico Basso in a Skoda Fabia and Hayden Paddon in a Hyundai i20, who thus strengthened his leadership in the overall European Championship standings.
The fate of the race was clear right from the first of Saturday's two long stages (SS3 Rocca di Cave-Subiaco, 32.30 kilometres), 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 a very challenging stage marked by high temperatures. A dominance that Crugnola also confirmed in the afternoon repetitions. On Sunday, the Lombardy driver administered the advantage, without giving up on winning the morning long stage (SS10 Santopadre of 29.08 kilometres). Paddon also did well, who improved his position in the Santopadre repetition and took advantage of his direct competitor's tyre problems to move into third place overall behind Basso.
"The Rally of Rome confirms itself as a race not only of great charm, but also very challenging. - commented Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager - The asphalts around Fiuggi due to their winding nature require great driving experience and precision, and do not forgive mistakes. Despite extreme conditions, due to the very high temperatures, the hard RA5A version of the P Zero allowed Crugnola to dominate the race and Pirelli to occupy the entire podium, guaranteeing reliability and performance, both on the crucial long and short stages. Congratulations to Andrea for his victory in the CIAR and to Hayden for his perseverance".
The P Zero Hard RA5A made its successful debut last year in the FIA ERC as an evolution of the RA5, the protagonist in previous years of numerous victories in the top continental trophy. The Pirelli hard tyre, also developed for the WRC World Championship, is designed to cope with dry abrasive asphalts and features a renewed tread compound and construction compared to the past, with the aim of providing better performance and reliability in the toughest race conditions and longest stages, even at high temperatures, without sacrificing a quick warm-up.