Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton set the pace on the opening day of the Rallye Sanremo, clinching three of the first four stages, including a dramatic night run, as they took control in the final round of the CIAR Sparco Championship. Piloting a Škoda Fabia RS, the duo holds a narrow lead of just 2.7 seconds over Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai in their Toyota GR Yaris. Meanwhile, champions Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Ometto, driving a Citroën C3, trail more cautiously at 11.8 seconds behind the leaders.
Day One highlights
The rally kicked off with a series of high-stakes stages on the iconic Ligurian asphalt. From the short yet intense Power Stage to the demanding 26-kilometre “Ghimbegna-Soldano” run under the cover of night, conditions were anything but forgiving. Rain, fog, and standing water made the going tough, but Campedelli and Canton rose to the challenge, delivering three consecutive fastest stage times.
The pair responded brilliantly to Crugnola and Ometto’s initial success in the Power Stage, asserting themselves as the team to beat heading into the final day. At the close of the first leg, Campedelli and Canton’s Škoda RS sits atop the leaderboard, narrowly ahead of Basso and Granai, who remain in close pursuit, keeping their championship hopes alive.
Tight battles and early setbacks
The multi-time Sanremo winner Paolo Andreucci, alongside Rudy Brani in another Škoda Fabia RS, showed glimpses of his old form, finishing the day in fourth, 25.4 seconds off the lead. In fifth, ACI Team Italia’s Roberto Daprà and Luca Guglielmetti faced brake issues but stayed within striking distance, trailing by 38.4 seconds.
It was a more challenging day for others, including Marco Signor and Daniele Michi, who encountered trouble on SS2 after brushing a barrier, though they avoided damage to their Toyota GR Yaris. They managed to stay ahead of Slovenian rivals Bostjan Avbelj and Damijan Andrejka, both teams vying for a strong finish in the CIAR Sparco standings.
Nightfall brought more difficulties for several crews. Nicola Sartor and Lorenzo Mattucci struggled with lighting issues, while Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi suffered a puncture, losing valuable time and slipping down the order. Despite the setbacks, both Škoda crews remain in the top ten, joined by Ivan Ferrarotti and Massimo Bizzocchi.
2WD and Junior Rally highlights
Gabriel Di Pietro, piloting a Peugeot 208, dominated the Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) category. With nothing to lose after a challenging season, Di Pietro, partnered with Andrea Dresti, delivered three stage wins and built a commanding lead of over 30 seconds. In the night stage alone, they extended their advantage by 22.3 seconds.
Giorgio Cogni and Simone Brachi trail in second place in the 2WD battle, with a slim 9.6-second lead over reigning champion Gianandrea Pisani and Massimo Moriconi. Pisani’s third-place standing puts him in a position to secure another title, though he’ll need to fend off a late push from Lucchesi-Bracchi, just 12.8 seconds behind.
In the Italian Junior Rally Championship, Francesco Dei Ceci and Niccolò Lazzarini made a perfect start, winning all four stages in their Renault Clio Rally5. Their efforts included victory in the Power Stage, netting them crucial points. Matteo Doretto and Marco Frigo, the current championship leaders, had a tough day, missing the chance to secure the title after falling outside the points. Their struggles continued throughout the day, leaving them over 90 seconds adrift in third place.
Cup Competitions
The Suzuki Rally Cup saw Sebastian Dallapiccola shine on day one. Navigated by Fabio Andrian, the young driver won every stage, holding a narrow 3.8-second lead over Alessandro Forneris and Mattia Rodighero. Trophy leaders Fichera-Colombaro finished third, trailing by 41.6 seconds, with Pellé-Andrian further back at 1 minute 36.1 seconds.
In the GR Yaris Rally Cup, Fabrizio Andolfi took the upper hand on home roads, edging out Thomas Paperini, who had already secured the class title. Andolfi’s performance on familiar terrain gave him a slight lead heading into the final stages.
Final day showdown awaits
With six more stages scheduled for Saturday, the final day of Rallye Sanremo promises more drama. Campedelli and Canton will look to fend off Basso and Granai’s relentless pursuit, while Crugnola and Ometto may take greater risks to reclaim their spot at the top. The championship is still wide open, and every second will count in the fight for glory on the storied roads of Sanremo.
Overall Standings after SS4
01: S. Campedelli / T. Canton (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 31m 38.9s
02: G. Basso / L. Granai (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 2.7s
03: A. Crugnola / P. Ometto (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 11.8s
04: P. Andreucci / R. Briani (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 25.4s
05: R. Dapra’ / L. Guglielmetti (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 38.4s
06: M. Signor / D. Michi (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 1m 02.6s
07: B. Avbelj / D. Andrejka (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 07.9s
08: N. Sartor / L. Mattucci (Škoda Fabia Evo Rally2) + 1m 34.5s
09: A. Mabellini / V. Lenzi (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 55.1s
10: I. Ferrarotti / M. Bizzocchi (Škoda Fabia Evo Rally2) + 1m 55.8s