A two-wheel champion getting back in the game for the first time with four-wheelers: gracing the Monza Rally Show, scheduled to take place at theAutodromo Nazionale Monza, Dec. 6-8, 2024, will also be Vincenzo Nibali at the wheel of a GR Yaris R1 T4X4 of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Italy team in collaboration with Visit Malta.
The 40-year-old Sicilian is a legend of Italian cycling: in his 18-year pro career he has won all three grand tours, two Giro d’Italia (2013 and 2016), a Tour de France (2014) and a Vuelta (2010), as well as two historic classics (twice the Giro di Lombardia in 2015 and 2017 and a Milano-Sanremo in 2018).
“I have always dabbled with four wheels and now, that I have stopped racing, I cultivate this passion for sports driving. Hence the decision to take part in this new adventure, which is beautiful and special, also physical because it is a car, the Toyota Yaris, which is very demanding, at least from what I have seen in the first tests. Monza then is a historic circuit, where I have often been a guest and which has always given great emotions. I’m sure it will do so again this year,” explained Nibali, at the press conference launching his participation held at the Milan headquarters of Automobile Club Milano (from which he obtained a competitor’s license).
“For us at TGR Italy it is a great satisfaction to be an integral part of such an important project. Bringing to rally debut a super champion like Vincenzo Nibali will be really exciting and doing it thanks to a partner of excellence like VisitMalta fills us even more with pride. The exclusive context such as the Monza Rally Show will certainly make the experience special. From our side we are looking forward to see Vincenzo on the Toyota GR Yaris in Cup version,” added Tobia Cavallini, team principal Toyota Gazoo Racing Italy.
The Monza Rally Show will start on Friday, December 6, and conclude on Sunday after nine special stages, all on asphalt, and 154.38 timed kilometers. In the afternoon, on a 1.5-kilometer track, the Masters’ Show challenges, scheduled on the pit straight, which will also feature the WRC cars: the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid, Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid and Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid. The stars of the World Championship will put on a show for all three days at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.