PAJARI, PADDON AND CRUGNOLA: CHAMPIONS AT THE START OF THE MONZA RALLY SHOW

A world champion, the one from WRC2, a European champion and the fresh 4-time Italian overall rally champion: Finland’s Sami Pajari, New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon, the first non-European in 2023 to boast the continental title, and Andrea Crugnola from Varese, from 2022 master of the tricolor where he had already imposed himself in 2020. These names are already enough to give an idea of the caliber of the participants in the Monza Rally Show scheduled at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from December 6 to 8. In addition to the three aforementioned drivers, who will be at the wheel of Toyota Yaris GR, Hyundai i20 N Rally 2 and Citroen C3 RALLY2 respectively, fans will also be able to admire other heavy names in Italian and international rallying: e.g. Nikolay Gryazin (Skoda Fabia Rs), who ended the WRC2 World Championship on the third step of the podium after winning the final race in Japan, or CIAR protagonists such as Slovenian Bostjan Avbelj, who races with an Italian license aboard a Skoda Fabia Rs Rally2, already champion of the 2023 Promotion tricolor series, and Alberto Dall’Era (Volkswagen Polo). Among the crews, symbolizing the racing dynasties, Matteo (21) and Luigi Fontana, grandson at the wheel and grandfather (76), already an excellent rally driver, at the reading of the notes: they will be on board a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Also at the start is Alessandro Perico, another strange name in the national rally scene and the Monza Rally Show: the 48-year-old will line up in a Skoda Fabia RS. Also at the start will be Rachele Somaschini, testimonial of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation and winner of the 2024 European Rally Tour: in Monza she will be at the wheel of her C3. There will also be no shortage of champions who move from the steering wheel to reading the notes, such as Piero Longhi, former tricolor champion in the past, who will navigate Stefano Ruoppolo (Skloda Fabia) or Luca Rossetti, who will sit next to Pietro Porro (Toyota Yaris). As is tradition at the Monza Rally Show, other sports champions such as Vincenzo Nibali, the Shark, who is one of seven cyclists to have won at least one edition of the three Grand Tours: the Vuelta (2010), Giro d’Italia (2013-16) and Tour de France (2014), are among the entrants. The Sicilian will be at the wheel of a Toyota Yaris GR R1 T4x4.

And there is no shortage of racers on the list either: Kevin Gilardoni, star of the Italian GT Championship with Lamborghini, who will drive a Citroen C3 here; Marco Butti, also involved in GT Endurance with Honda, and entered here in another C3. Among the protagonists of the TCR Italy, he lines up, instead, the Venetian Filippo Barberi, who from the Audi RS3 switches on this occasion at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2. The Monza Rally Show includes, in addition to the shakedown, 9 special stages for a total of 154.20 timed km. The top three finishers plus the 9 drivers with the best times in PS Autodromo 1 and Autodromo 2 and the top two finishers in the Yaris Trophy will take part in the Masters’ Show which is scheduled for Sunday, December 8 on the main straight. Tickets can be purchased at www.monzanet.it e ticketone.it