The Tindari Rally, organized by CST Sport in Sicily, Italy, is set to break records with 126 entrants for the ninth edition, making it the largest event of the season. The race, scheduled for September 21-22, marks the final round of the CRZ 9th Zone and will be decisive for the Sicilian Championship for both Modern and Historic Cars. The event promises intense competition between top drivers, not just from Sicily, including Pollara, Casella, Princiotto, Rizzo, and Aosta Valley’s Claudio Vona. In the Historic Cars category, Riolo, Fullone, Oliva, and Savoca are expected to be among the main contenders.
Strong Field of Entrants
For this year’s edition, the Tindari Rally has once again proven its popularity, attracting 126 crews. Organized by CST Sport, the event will take place on Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22, serving as the final race for the 9th Zone Rally Cup and a crucial round for the Sicilian Rally Championship, both for modern and historic cars.
A total of 11 top-class Rally2-R5 cars will be competing, promising a spectacular show. Leading the charge is 2023 winner and former Italian Junior Champion Alessandro Casella, who will team up with veteran co-driver Rosario Siragusano. Also returning to the competition is Palermo’s national champion Marco Pollara, familiar with the Tindari roads, and his co-driver Maurizio Messina. Both are representing the event’s organizing team. Santangiolese driver Carmelo Galipò, of Nebrosport, will be behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia, with Antonino Marino as co-driver. After missing out on victory last time, Messina-born Marcello Rizzo and Antonio Pittella from New Turbomark are back to compete. Joining the lineup are Salvatore Di Benedetto and co-driver Giovanni Barbaro, as well as Aosta Valley driver Claudio Vona, who will be navigated by Pietro Catroppa for CFF Motorsport. Local favorite Giuseppe Princiotto will compete in a home race with co-driver Gaetano Caputo. Additional competitors include brothers Nunzio and Roberto Longo for Sunbeam Motorsport, as well as drivers like Luca Ferro, the Schepisi duo, Giovanni Celesti, and Luigi Aliberto.
Among the N5 competitors, Maurizio Rizzo will take on the challenge in a Volkswagen Polo, while Carmelo Molica Franco and Alessandro Scalia will pilot a Peugeot 207. Mitsubishi Lancers will also be in the spotlight, with drivers like Filippo Bellini, Agostino Capraro, and Angelo Di Dio competing in Evo X and Evo IX models. In the Super 1600 category, drivers such as Giuseppe Gianfilippo, Salvatore Armaleo, and Sergio Scuderi will race in Renault Clio and Fiat Punto cars. In the 2-Wheel Drive Rally4 category, up-and-coming drivers including Ernesto Riolo, Giuseppe Oieni, Emanuele La Torre, and Antonio Damiani will compete in Peugeot 208 GT Line cars. The Rally4 category also features Rosario Cannino, Jerry Mingoia, and Enzo Pintaudi. Other notable entrants include Gabriele Domenico Morreale and Franco Alibrando in Renault Clio models. In the Racing Start Plus category, Tino Pintaudi will drive a Citroen C2, with Paolino Fragale and Tindaro Segreto also competing in Citroen and Peugeot cars.
Historic Cars Set to Thrill
In the Historic Cars category, notable participants include Salvatore “Totò” Riolo and Maurizio Marin in a Porsche 911 SC RS from the 4th group, fresh from their victory at the Targa Florio. Pierluigi Fullone, representing Island Motorsport, will compete in a BMW M3, as will Angelo Diana. Giovanni Spinnato will be a key contender in the 2nd group with his Porsche 911, while Pippo Savoca will race in a Ritmo 75 for the 3rd group, joined by Letterio Oliva and Giovanni Bonafede in BMW 2002 ti cars.
Detailed Programme
Saturday, September 21
– Technical and sporting checks will take place from 9:00 a.m. between Via del Mare and Via Roma in Oliveri, followed by a 2.6 km Shakedown on the Ps Moreri Sp119 stage. A mandatory briefing will be held at 3:00 p.m. at the Riviera Azzurra hotel in Oliveri.
– Cars will leave the service park at 5:00 p.m., with a presentation of the crews scheduled for 5:45 p.m. at Patti Marina. The competition begins with two passes on the “Gioiosa Marea” special stage (9.20 km), at 6:11 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. The evening will conclude with a regrouping at Gioiosa Marea’s Canapè seafront, followed by a night regrouping in the shadow of the Tindari Sanctuary in Oliveri.
Sunday, September 22
– The day’s action includes three runs on the “Moreri” stage (5.64 km) at 9:36 a.m., 1:33 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., as well as the challenging “Santa Maria – Polverello” stage (9.40 km) at 9:59 a.m., 1:56 p.m., and 5:53 p.m. The total distance covered will be 302.85 km, with 63.03 km of timed sections.
– The rally will conclude with the awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. on Via Capitano Zuccarello in Patti.
The 2024 edition of the Tindari Rally promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with top-level competition across both modern and historic car categories.