The Marseillaise is tuned in at Rally Sport Evolution HQ and ready for an unprecedented weekend in which the Ranica racing team will field three transalpine drivers, split between an outing in Italy and another within their home walls.
Between Friday 16th and Saturday 17th June, the fourth act of the Absolute Italian Rally Championship will take place, the Rallye San Marino, which will also be about reshuffling the cards of the series as it is about the first dirt track event trades the entire season.
After a good eighth place in the Rally4 class in the Piedmont region and sixth among the tricolor participants, Cédric Cardi will be back with Gaëlle Dumont at his side in the Peugeot 208 Rally4 from Bergamo.
The Frenchman will be looking for more useful points in the Italian Rally Promozione Championship, looking to improve on his 12th place finish due to absences from the Ciocco and Targa Florio.
“It will be our debut on gravel,” says Cardi, “and we’re really excited to see how the car will behave on gravel and how we can adapt to this unprecedented surface.” The level of the Italian Championship is really very high and we are happy to be at the start at this event. A big thank you to Claudio Albini and all Rally Sport Evolution, not forgetting our partners, friends and family.”
From dirt roads in the shadow of Mount Titano to the always treacherous asphalts of Corsica, where the Rallye d’Eccica Suaredda will take place, scheduled for Friday 16th and Saturday 17th June.
The Lombard team will field two flag-bearers, starting with a Thomas Pittilloni who, along with Jean François Muselli, has already shown his potential at the previous Aiacciu Corsica Suttana, finishing ninth overall and second in class.
A second Peugeot 208 Rally4 will be waiting for him to aim for another good result.
“It is the first time that we participate in this event,” says Pittilloni, “and it will be the second time that we race together with Rally Sport Evolution.” The first event in Aiacciu Corsica Suttana went very well, and we will try to do our best here as well. I know the first stage very well, it’s a very fast road that leads to my city. The second is just as fast and passes through the beautiful village of Ocana. Our goal is to bring home an excellent performance, win our group and finish in the top ten. Many thanks to all partners, people and friends who made it possible for me to be at the start of this beautiful rally. Thanks to my parents, my family and my navigator. We are all thinking of our friend Jean Antoine Fiori who tragically passed away here in 2022.”
The trident from across the Alps is completed by a newcomer: Jean Mathieu Padovani, who will be starting with another Peugeot 208 Rally4 together with Christian Dedlcalud.
It is the first appearance of the 2023 season for the third forward flying the French flag as he can count on the playing experience of his color partner.
