Peugeot Italia driver Paolo Andreucci is aiming to give the Peugeot 208 T16 its first Italian Rally Championship success on gravel, with the help of Pirelli’s renowned XR and K family of Scorpion tyres in San Marino this weekend: round five of the Italian Rally Championship. The multiple Italian champion has already racked up a win on asphalt, at the famed Targa Florio, using Pirelli’s P Zero tyres – but a win on loose surfaces on only the car’s second gravel event on the Italian series is his ambitious objective.
The other leading Pirelli-backed drivers on the San Marino Rally include Stefano Albertini in a Peugeot 207 S2000. San Marino is also a round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship, with Luigi Battistolli driving his usual Lancia Rally 037. Underlining its commitment to the next generation of rally stars, Pirelli additionally supplies the Renault Clio Trophy, competing within the Production class.
About the event:
The gravel roads around the independent state of San Marino are some of the best in Europe: low to medium speed with a hard base, loose gravel on the top, and stunning scenery. Rally San Marino is one of the most well established events in Italy, and it was formerly a round of the European Rally Championship.
It covers 12 stages on Friday and Saturday, totalling 120 competitive kilometres (four stages on Friday and eight on Saturday). The finish takes place at 19:15 in San Marino on Saturday.
Compared to last year, the route has changed and competitors will now cover approximately 17 kilometres of asphalt on the opening leg, using gravel tyres.