This weekend, the Italian Asphalt Rally Championship will hold the second round of its 2026 calendar at the legendary Targa Florio, although it no longer bears much resemblance to its illustrious predecessor. All the best Italian drivers in the discipline will be there, starting with the winner of the opening round, Andrea Crugnola, in his Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, and also Roberto Daprà (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), who competed last weekend in Portugal. Also worth keeping an eye on is the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix winner, Heikki Kovalainen, who has since moved into rallying. rally and at the start of the event aboard a Citroën C3 Rally2. But France will not be left out, since Benjamin Boulenc and Chloé Barozzi-Gauze will also be making their second appearance of the season there in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Benjamin Boulenc and Chloé Barozzi-Gauze in the midst of their apprenticeship
Winners of the 2024 Clio Trophy France Terre, the Catalans ventured to Italy last year to participate in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally Cup, which they won. Thanks to this victory, they have a factory-backed car this season competing in the top category and finished 17th in their first rally with it, the Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio. “The car is incredible and requires the crew to adapt. We knew that, and we’re there. In rallying, we often measure and compare the performance of one crew in seconds per kilometer against another. On this first rally, the bar has dropped from 3,7 seconds to 1,6 seconds, which is very encouraging.””That’s what the person most concerned confided upon arrival at this first event. On the program this week: the Shakedown, this Thursday May 14, then two days of racing on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May.”
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