Two-time European rally champion Giandomenico Basso managed to hold off ERC 2025 title contender Andrea Mabellini to take his third Rally di Roma Capitale win by 3.7 seconds, with championship leader Miko Marczyk close behind in P3.
Mabellini’s ERC title hopes were boosted with this first podium of the season, beating the Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of current championship leader Miko Marczyk by 3.7sec.
After tying for 10th on Friday’s super special in the centre of Rome – in front of the famous Colosseum – Basso quickly rose up the leaderboard on Saturday, getting locked in an intense battle for victory with compatriot and two-time event winner Andrea Crugnola.
The gap between the two never exceeded five seconds across Saturday with Crugnola taking a 3.3sec lead into Sunday. Basso continued to apply pressure on the final morning, whittling the Citroën C3 Rally2 driver’s lead down to 2.7sec after SS8, before snatching the rally lead by 0.2sec after winning SS9.
Crugnola hit with 20-second penalty while leading
However, Crugnola fought back and reclaimed the lead by 2.5sec going into midday service before his victory hopes were dashed with just three stages to run. Two minutes late coming out of a regroup, Crugnola incurred a 20sec penalty which handed Basso a 9.5sec lead over Marczyk, while Crugnola dropped to fifth.
Basso then headed into the final stage with a 5.1sec margin over Mabellini, who leapt ahead of Marczyk after winning SS13. Basso held his nerve to hang on to take the impressive win.
Marczyk claimed a thoroughly deserved podium, having grabbed the headlines on Saturday thanks to fastest times on SS2 and SS3 which helped the Polish driver into an early rally lead, before an overshoot on SS4 halted his charge. Marczyk ended the weekend on a high by winning the rally-ending Power Stage by 0.1sec from Roberto Dapra.
WRC2 Sardegna winner Dapra delivered a strong showing throughout to finish fourth. Two stage wins on Saturday afternoon helped the young Italian charge up the leaderboard, having sat in eighth position at midday service.
Crugnola finishes in P5 after penalty
Crugnola came home in fifth after his time penalty, while fellow Italian Simone Campedelli enjoyed a strong Sunday, including wins on both passes through Guarcino – Altipiani, to climb to sixth. (Text continues after the photo.)
Efrén Llarena was another moving up the leaderboard on Sunday as the 2022 ERC champion continued to gel with his new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to finish seventh.
Norwegian Mads Østberg found himself locked in a fight for the podium on Saturday before balance struggles with his Citroën C3 Rally2 halted his progress seeing him eventually settle for eighth, ahead of Friday pacesetter Boštjan Avbelj and Czech champion Dominik Stříteský.
Tymek Abramowski won the FIA ERC3 class from Hubert Kowalczyk, with Casey Jay Coleman in third. Opel Corsa-driving Calle Carlberg took the FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC win from Jaspar Vaher (Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF) as Ireland’s Craig Rahill finished third (Peugeot 208 Rally4).
The championship heads to Barum Czech Rally Zlín for round six from 15-17 August.
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ERC Rally di Roma Capitale 2025 – Final results (Top 10)
| # | Drivers | Car | Time / Diff. to 1st |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Basso / Granai | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | 2:04:11.2 |
| 2. | Mabellini / Lenzi | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +3.7 |
| 3. | Marczyk / Gospodarczyk | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +7.4 |
| 4. | Daprà / Guglielmetti | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +10.1 |
| 5. | Crugnola / Ometto | Citroën C3 Rally2 | +14.3 |
| 6. | Campedelli / Canton | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +16.1 |
| 7. | Llarena / Fernández | Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 | +35.0 |
| 8. | Østberg / Eriksen | Citroën C3 Rally2 | +41.9 |
| 9. | Avbelj / De Guio | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +49.6 |
| 10. | Stríteský / Krajča | Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 | +1:19.5 |
ERC 2025 Drivers’ Championship – Standings after Round 5/8 [Top 15]
| # | Driver | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Miko Marczyk | 107 |
| 2. | Andrea Mabellini | 85 (-22) |
| 3. | Mads Østberg | 76 (-31) |
| 4. | Roope Korhonen | 60 (-47) |
| 5. | Isak Reiersen | 60 (-47) |
| 6. | Jon Armstrong | 54 (-53) |
| 7. | Mille Johansson | 42 (-65) |
| 8. | Mārtiņš Sesks | 35 (-72) |
| 9. | Nikolay Gryazin | 34 (-73) |
| 10. | Eyvind Brynildsen | 31 (-76) |
| 11. | Giandomenico Basso | 30 (-77) |
| 12. | Simone Tempestini | 27 (-80) |
| 13. | Yoann Bonato | 26 (-81) |
| 14. | Frank Tore Larsen | 23 (-84) |
| 15. | José Suárez | 22 (-85) |
Content, photos: Red Bull Content Pool
