The word to the engines at the 21st Rally del Tirreno Messina. The race, organized by Top Competition with the collaboration of the Automobile Club. Messina and valid for the Coppa Italia Aci Sport 9th zone and for the Sicilian Championship, has entered its hottest phase with the shakedown that has provided the protagonists with adequate indications for the competition that will start this evening at 22.39 from the spectacular Piazza Duomo in Messina, in front of the world-famous bell tower.
Preceding the cars of the protagonists as a trailblazer on one of the 0 cars will be Anna Andreussi, ten-time Italian Champion navigator and 9-time winner of the Targa Florio. The co-driver from Friuli knows the dangers of the Messina roads well and wanted to be there in the charm of the Peloritan night in an important role, for which her expertise and winning experience will be invaluable. A truly prestigious presence that enhances the Messina competition, placing it ever higher in the Italian automotive panorama.
The first to take to the start of the shakedown was Frenchman Francois Delecour, vice world champion in 1983 and winner of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1994. After a ride with the Skoda Fabia, adorned with the colours of the partners who supported his participation, Sicilia and Marcolino, the expert French driver returned to assistance having suffered some problems with the gearbox which the technicians of the Pavel Group immediately fixed.
“The team was very efficient – said Delecour – it allowed me to immediately return to test the car which immediately seemed generous and effective, allowing me to obtain a chronometric response that satisfies me. I viewed the tests and in particular 2 and 3 which are fast, with downhill sections I liked them a lot” -.
In his best lap together with his navigator Romain Roche he clocked 1’28”5.
Excellent references also for the crew from Messina, already winner of the race in 2022, composed of Marcello Rizzo and Antonio Pittella who were among the most consistent and resolute in the short central section of the “Colli 4 strade” chosen by the organizers as Shakedown, obtaining the fastest time of 1’26”9. “ “We had a good pace – said Rizzo – we raised the car, until we found the right set up”
Thumbs up from Totò Riolo and Maurizio Marin who return to the Volkswagen Polo Gt of Team MFT evidently satisfied with their passages. “Car OK and we in form” are the incisive words of the Cerdese ace three-time winner of the Rally del Tirreno and also on these roads of the International Rally of Messina in 2003. The crew from Palermo recorded 1’28”3, as their best performance.
Also convinced by the pre-race test was the young Palermo driver Alessio Profeta who pushed himself to a time of 1′ 27”4, for the occasion with Roberto Longo from Patti on the Team Lion Skoda: “I immediately felt at ease, of course we need to make some adjustments to be even more effective, but I have collected some important data and we are ready for tonight’s challenge”.
On the Shakedown there were also many very aggressive youngsters with the Peugeot 208 in the two Turbo and Aspirated versions. Among these, the sons of art Ernesto Riolo with Giulia Marin, Giuseppe Oieni with Fulvio Lombardo, Rosario Cannino with Giuseppe Buscemi who pushed hard for the last check before the start.