Danilo Novelli and Roberto Longo on Skoda Fabia R5 won the inaugural time of the 20th Tirreno Messina rally with a time of 3’54″6 achieved on the 5,890 km of the “Messina 1” stage.
The crew of the New Turbomark Rally Team preceded Marco Pollara and Maurizio Messina by 1″8 and Marcello Rizzo and Antonio Pitella by 2″6, all in the Bohemian cars. Francesco Tuzzolino also from Agrigento was fourth on Skoda. Among the two-wheel drive vehicles, with the 5th time, the reigning Junior Rally tricolor Alessandro Casella on a Peugeot 208.
Despite the rain, a dense crowd cheered the 77 competitors who started from Piazza Duomo in Messina, where they received a greeting from the ACI Sport Sicilia Delegate/Trustee Daniele Settimo and the President of AC Peloritano Massimo Rinaldi. The First Citizen Federico Basile passed on the starting stage on car “0”, while the Municipal Councilor for Sport Massimo Finocchiaro was present on the square.
Another 8 sprints are scheduled before the finish line at 7pm, always in the shadow of the Cathedral.