Javi Martin
RallyLegend 2024 has been another success with the public and, of course, the spectacleThis edition has been dominated by the official M-Sport Ford driver with the Puma Rally1 Hybrid, while among the World Rally Cars, Simone Romagna with his Lancia Delta The Integrale 16v was the winner, while Simone Brusori's Porsche 911 SC RS was the leader among the historic cars.
The world of rallying has an annual date with the celebration of the Rally Legend, an event that brings together the best of the world of rallying, both current and past, but which also has new features in the 2024 edition. This year, Legend Dakar has premiered, a static and dynamic review of the history of the legendary event, which began its journey in African lands and has also passed through South American and Arab tracks, without losing an iota of its aura or its complexity.
There have been a total of 25 “Queens of Africa” who have told the story of a mythical, almost heroic career, with the presence of names like Jacky Icks, Ari Vatanen or Miki Biasion, who were in San Marino to talk about their great victories and, of course, to drive once again the cars that brought them success and history. mythical Dakar. Furthermore, the Peugeot 405 T16 Grand Raid participant was loaned by a Spanish collector.
SPRINT LEGEND RACE, THE RALLYLEGEND 2024 BEGINS
RallyLegend 10 kicked off on October 2024 with the sprint race, a race that welcomes the participants and, of course, the public, always very numerous year after year. A celebration that was later accompanied by the race, which, like every year, started with a spectacle from the first moment.
Right from the start, Adrien Fourmaux's Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid had hydraulic steering problems -solved during service-, leaving Luca in the lead in the WRC category with his Hyundai i20 WRC Plus, followed by Heikki Kovalainen in a Citroën C3 WRC Plus. Sebastien Carron's Škoda Fabia R5 took third place.
Among the classics, Simone Romagna and his Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v -with the Martini Racing colours- took the lead, followed by Gustavo Trelles at the wheel of a Subaru Impreza 555. Marcello Colombini, with a bmw m3 e30, finished third, a remarkable performance considering that his car did not have all-wheel drive.
The historic category started with Stefano Rosati's Talbot Lotus leading the race, while Simone Brusori followed him with his Porsche 911 SC RS and defended himself from the attacks of Nick Whale, who was driving a Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII.
FOURMAUX AND ROMAGNA UNSTOPPABLE IN THE SECOND ROUND
After troubleshooting the steering, Fourmaux and his Puma Rally1 Hybrid were unchallenged by completing all the scheduled stages of the second leg of the Rally Legend. Behind him, the Spaniard Victor Senra with a Citroën C3 WRC Plus and Luca Pedersoli, who is still getting the measurements of his new Hyundai i20 WRC Plus.
In the classics category there were not many changes. Simone Romagna led with his Delta Integrale, followed by the Impreza 555 of Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles and the M3 e30 of Marcelo Colobini. All very close, as they were separated by just over two seconds between each position.
The historic cars saw Simone Brusori's 911 SC RS take the lead and the Talbot Lotus led by Stefano Rosati had to settle for second place. In third place came the Lancia Stratos by Philippe Olczyk.
FOURMAUX, BRUSORI AND ROMAGNA REAFFIRM THEIR LEAD
The third day of RallyLegend was almost a mirror image of the previous day in terms of leaders, with Fourmaux, Brusori and Romagna in the lead. Behind them, there were some changes in the rest of the positions.
Fourmaux won again with his hybrid Puma in all the special stages, proving that they are in very good form. Second place went to Luca Pedersoli at the wheel of an i20 WRC Plus followed after a comeback by Heikki Kovalainen at the wheel of his C3 WRC Plus.
The classic category was once again dominated by Delta Integrale from Romagna, who saw the war raging behind them. Trelles had to retire due to a broken clutch on his Impreza 555, Colombini had problems with the fuel pump on his M3 e30 and Andrea Saccheggiani had to battle it out with his Impreza 555 against “Il Valli” and his BMW M3 e30, who eventually finished second and third respectively.
There were not many changes among the historical ones, with Brusori leads with his fast Porsche 911 SC RS, followed by Rosati's tireless Talbot Lotus, albeit 48 seconds behind. Third place went to Alessandro Bonafe, driving a Porsche 911. Olczyk's Lancia Stratos, which finished third the day before, was further delayed after receiving a three-minute penalty.
END OF PARTY SCHEDULED: FOURMAUZ, ROMAGNA AND BRUSORI WIN RALLYLEGEND 2024
On the final day of RallyLegend 2024, everything happened as it had to: the Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid led Adrien Fourmaux to victory, while the Lancia Delta Integrale 16v gave the same joy to Simone Romagna and the Porsche 911 SC RS copied the party for Simone Brusori.
Again, Fourmaux won all the scheduled tests and completed an undisputed Rally Legend. “I am happy to be back at RallyLegend, where I took part in 2020. I found an even warmer atmosphere and even more passionate spectators. It was fantastic to bring the Puma Rally1 Hybrid to this rally festival.”, Fourmaux commented after the test.
Among the classics, The Martini Racing colours returned to the rally podium with Simone Romagna's Lancia Delta Integral 16v, with Andrea Saccheggiani second with his 555 Impreza 1997. Third in contention was “Il Valli”, with his 3 BMW M30 e1988.
Simono Brusori, with his 911 Porsche 1981 SC RS, showed that he was eager to RallyLegend 2024 and finished in first place again, although Stefano Rosati, in his 81 Talbot Lotus, did his best to make the celebrations a little different. Third place went to Alessandro Bonafe in a Porsche 911.
Images by Carlos Villanueva and RallyLegend.
