Tutta Terra Toscana 2003
The event preview
The first round of the Italian Rally Championship spots an unusual entrants
list, which reflects the modifications in the national championship rules, such
as the Italian one.
What we wil find in the upcoming springtime weekend in the Tuscan hinterland
around Montalcino, between thousands of vineyards of the prestigious Brunello
and delicious dishes of the local cuisine, it will be one of the best rounds of
the world rally championship, the rallye Sanremo, when the stages were located
on the gravel rounds of Tuscany.
After the WRC cars have been banned from the Italian national title, all the drivers
can choose between two categories of cars: they are allowed to use group N cars,
i.e. the Mitsubishi Lancer or the Subaru Impreza STi, or the Super1600 cars, which
are available in several tastes, from Fiat Punto to Renault Clio.
Let us understand better the confused rally championships at its very start: three
main titles are going to be assigned during the season, like the previous one:
the organizers drew up, in decreasing order of importance, the Italian Rally Championship
(CIR), the Challenge Rally Terra (CRT), and the Italian Rally Trophy (TIR).
With three groups of events, the ACI-CSAI, Italian federation chose not to
ban completely the WRC cars, but to exclude them only from the CIR: the Italian
drivers who drive WRC cars in the rounds of the CIR don't take points for that
championship, but they are admitted to the events and score possibly points for
the CRT, if the events are listed in the CRT events.
This is in fact the round of the Tutta Terra Toscana, which is theatre also
the gravel championship: this is why Andrea Navarra, driving a Subaru Impreza
WRC by Aimont Racing, will defend the CRT title won in the season 2002. Andrea
Navarra will repeat the rounds with the same car, but he wil face less drivers
than the previous year: only Grossi will be able to pace with ERG's Focus WRC.
Also the Greek gentlemen Vovos on Peugeot 206 WRC, and Papadimitriou on Focus
WRC will run with a WRC car.
All the other drivers made a more budget-conscious decision and opted for a
Group N car, for more championships, but mainly for the CIR. An acceptable amount
of gravel rallies will be disputed against the tarmac events, where the Super1600
cars are expected to be faster, but on the stones and the dusty grounds of Tutta
Terra Toscana, the Adriatico, the San Marino and the Costa Smeralda events the
Group N cars driven by Galli, Pianezzola, Cunico, and Zanchi are going to demonstrate
those production cars are still faster and more spectacular than smaller kit cars.
Almost all the top drivers are however believing that real bargain is driving
a Super1600 car for all the events. Renato Travaglia, the Italian 2002 CIR champion
and the European 2002 champion, will continue to drive with FPF Peugeot Italia,
moving from the customer spec Peugeot 206 WRC to a less brilliant Peugeot 206
Super1600. Andrea Aghini, one of the testers of the Peugeot Sport WRC Team, will
return to the Italian rallies after a long absence, with the same car.
Apart some talented drivers like Ratiglia and Bizzarri with Renault Clio Super1600,
and Perego with an Opel Corsa Super1600 from Rubicone Corse team, the remaining
crews will be at the wheel of the local Super1600 cars, the Fiat Punto.
In fact Paolo Andreucci, the 2002 Italian Super1600 champion, will continue
his partnership with Procar and N Technology onboard the Torinese car. Excluded
from the Junior championship by the newly age rule, the same car, supported however
by HF Grifone, will be natural choice for Andrea Dallavilla, and for Giandomenico
Basso, assisted by Trico Motor Sport.
Last, but not least, some drivers, not obliged with some constructors to drive
the same car for all the events because of the Italian constructors championship,
are worthly to be mentioned, because they will contrast seriously the top drivers
in the long season. Piero Longhi is going to drive a production car for the gravel
events, namely a Subaru Impreza STi, while for the asphalt events the driver is
expected to drive the Renault Clio Super1600 by Autorel. Same move for Rossetti,
who will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII and a Citroen Saxo by Vieffecorse.
The event report
The Rimini based hotel keeper Giuseppe "Pucci" Grossi, codriven by Alessandro Pavesi, with the Ford Focus WRC developed by Procar has won the 9th rally Tutta Terra Toscana, first round of the Italian Rally Championship and the Italian Challenge Rally Terra. The event, organized by GIP Servizi & Promozioni, finished on Saturday 1st, in square of Popolo di Montalcino, after two epic days of pure sport, with 19 special stages, which showed always the lead of Grossi, who won with relevant gap over the direct challenger, the Cesena's driver Andrea Navarra (Subaru Impreza WRC/Aimont). Grossi took the lead in the second stage, after Vovos, the Greek driver with Peugeot 206 WRC by Racing Lions, went out.
Since the second stage, Grossi increased his advantage, being able to keep Gianluigi Galli (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII gr. N/Ralliart Italy) in the first leg and Navarra in the second one.
"I found the car as left at the end of the last year, we have no troubles at all" said Grossi at the end of the rally. Second place for Navarra, codriven by his wife Simona Fedeli, heavily slowed in the first leg with troubles at electronics and trasmission, which he tried to circumnavigate with his bravery on gravel grounds. The podium is filled by Gianluigi Galli, continuously leader in the group N class, before being slowed by fueling issues, which caused him to leave the lead to Piero Longhi. Galli took again the class leadership just after some stage in the second leg, when the Novara's driver sinked in the leaderboard because of the turbocharger failure. Out of the podium, after being on it during the race, the Greek gentleman Joannis Papadimitrou (Ford Focus WRC), continuously in the higher zones of the board, and Alex Fiorio (Subaru Impreza Sti/Errepi) behind him, who debuted with the car and tried to find the right feeling.
Another 4WD car driver occupies the following position, the Padova's Oscar Vettore (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII gr. N/Marchesini). Seventh position for Paolo Andreucci, with Fiat Punto Abarth/Procar, who ruled with severe authority the bellicose crews of the quick Super 1600 drivers, starting from Andrea Dallavilla (Fiat Punto/Grifone).
Andreucci was always leading in the 2WD car based drivers and concluded in the seventh position, without letting nobody to come closer to him apart Dallavilla. The last top ten standings are filled by Gianfranco Cunico (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII/Nocentini), and Piero Longhi, both slowed down at during the very beginning stages of the second leg, with turbocharger issues.
The very awaited Peugeot 206 Super 1600 cars of the Italian official Peugeot team, driven by Andrea Aghini and the Italian and European 2002 champion Renato Travaglia have traited any expectation, reporting traction problems and never being capable to make both drivers run on the cutting edge.
Excellent performances have been achieved also by the youngster Alan Scorcioni (Fiat Punto Abarth/Procar) and Alessandro Bettega (Fiat Punto Abarth/Grifone), both debuting with important cars, whilst the monomarque trophies Fiat Punto, MG Rally, Opel Astra OPC, Peugeot, and Ibiza Cup have been respectively won by Dallavilla (Andreucci is excluded by this special trophy, because of winner of the last edition), Tognozzi, Martinis, Grifoni, Landini, and Carta.
First drivers of the full starting list
NUM Driver - Codriver Car Class
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1 TRAVAGLIA-ZANELLA Peugeot 206 Super1600 A6
2 FERREYROS-JAVIER Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI N4
3 NAVARRA-FEDELI Subaru Impreza WRC A8
4 GROSSI-PAVESI Ford Focus WRC A8
5 GALLI-D'AMORE Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII N4
6 PIANEZZOLA-ZANATTA Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII N4
7 CUNICO-PIROLLO Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII N4
8 LONGHI-IMERITO Subaru Impreza STi N4
9 ZANCHI-D'ESPOSITO Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII N4
10 ACERBIS-MOMETTI Subaru Impreza STi N4
11 ROSSETTI-DE LUIS Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII N4
12 VOVOS-EL EM Peugeot 206 WRC A8
14 PAPADIMITRIOU-HARRYMAN Ford Focus WRC A8
15 FIORIO-CANTONI Subaru Impreza STi N4
16 ANDREUCCI-ANDREUSSI Fiat Punto A6
18 DALLAVILLA-CANTON Fiat Punto A6
19 AGHINI LOMBARDI-CERRAI Peugeot 206 Super1600 A6
20 BASSO-GUGLIELMINI Fiat Punto A6
21 SCORCIONI-DADDOVERI Fiat Punto A6
22 RATIGLIA-CURTO Renault Clio A6
23 CECCOLI-STEFANELLI Fiat Punto A6
24 BIZZARRI-BOSI Renault Clio A6
25 PEREGO-VISCHIONI Opel Corsa A6
26 BETTEGA-SCATTOLIN Fiat Punto A6
27 VIRAG-BERGNA Renault Clio A6
28 GAMBA-ROCCO Fiat Punto A6
Final classification
POS N Driver - Codriver Car Class Total Diff
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1 4 GROSSI G. /PAVESI A. Ford Focus Wrc A8 2:04'58.8 0'00.0
2 3 NAVARRA A. /FEDELI S. Subaru Impreza A8 2:06'07.5 1'08.7
3 5 GALLI G. /D'AMORE G. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 2:07'42.2 2'43.4
4 14 PAPADIMITRIOU I/HARRYMAN A. Ford Focus Wrc A8 2:07'56.3 2'57.5
5 15 FIORIO A. /BRAMBILLA V. Subaru Impreza N4 2:09'22.0 4'23.2
6 36 VETTORE O. /MARCHETTI M. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 2:09'33.8 4'35.0
7 18 DALLAVILLA A. /CANTON T. Fiat Punto S.16 A6 2:11'24.6 6'25.8
8 7 CUNICO G. /PIROLLO L. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 2:12'10.1 7'11.3
9 16 ANDREUCCI P. /ANDREUSSI A. Fiat Punto Supe A6 2:12'11.1 7'12.3
10 8 LONGHI P. /IMERITO M. Subaru Impreza N4 2:12'13.0 7'14.2
11 2 FERREYROS R. /LOPEZ MARIN R Mitsubishi Evo6 N4 2:12'44.2 7'45.4
12 9 ZANCHI P. /D'ESPOSITO D. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 2:14'55.6 9'56.8
13 21 SCORCIONI A. /DADDOVERI M. Fiat Punto S.16 A6 2:15'05.8 10'07.0
14 1 TRAVAGLIA R. /ZANELLA F. Peugeot 206 S.1 A6 2:15'06.7 10'07.9
15 19 AGHINI LOMBARDI/CERRAI M. Peugeot 206 S.1 A6 2:15'51.8 10'53.0
16 29 LAGANA' F. /GUZZARDI F. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 2:16'12.5 11'13.7
17 25 PEREGO A. /VISCHIONI C. Opel Corsa S160 A6 2:16'33.4 11'34.6
18 23 CECCOLI D. /STEFANELLI S. Fiat Punto S.16 A6 2:17'54.7 12'55.9
19 26 BETTEGA A. /SCATTOLIN S. Fiat Punto S.16 A6 2:18'03.5 13'04.7
20 72 MARTINIS F. /MIRABELLA M. Opel Astra OPC N3 2:20'50.2 15'51.4
21 22 RATIGLIA F. /CURTO E. Renault Clio S. A6 2:21'11.3 16'12.5
22 81 CARTA G. /DI TOMMASO P.P. Seat Ibiza Cupr N3 2:22'27.6 17'28.8
23 50 TOGNOZZI G. /RICCI F. Mg Zr 160 N3 2:22'54.1 17'55.3
24 79 GARUTI I. /ALBERTINI A. Opel Astra OPC N3 2:23'44.4 18'45.6
25 27 VIRAG M. /BERGNA M. Renault Clio S. A6 2:25'54.4 20'55.6
26 85 GRIFONI F. /CARBONAI F. Peugeot 306 R. N3 2:27'15.7 22'16.9
27 46 BOMBARDI F. /MAMBELLI D. Nissan Sunny Gt A7 2:28'31.8 23'33.0
28 52 FORNASIERO C. /FORINA A. Mg Zr 160 N3 2:29'04.5 24'05.7
29 47 LAVAGNA P. /MASELLI A. Opel Astra Gsi A7 2:29'48.7 24'49.9
30 51 BRANCADORI A. /MATEROZZI P. Mg Zr 160 N3 2:30'04.3 25'05.5
31 78 SCIASCIA P. /BIONDI C. Opel Astra OPC N3 2:30'56.4 25'57.6
32 76 MADDII F. /MONTERMINI A. Opel Astra OPC N3 2:31'46.8 26'48.0
33 42 ONGARO G. /BRUNELLO E.C. Seat Ibiza Tdi N4 2:32'30.9 27'32.1
34 92 LANDINI A. /SACCHI G. Peugeot 106 R. N2 2:32'48.0 27'49.2
35 96 BREZZI V. /CARTOCCI D. Peugeot 106 R. N2 2:33'41.7 28'42.9
36 91 BICCHIELLI G. /BRINZI S. Peugeot 106 R. N2 2:33'47.3 28'48.5
37 57 PISCIOTTU I. /SILECCHIA A. Mg Zr 160 N3 2:36'46.0 31'47.2
38 86 "COCO" /COLOMBO D. Peugeot 306 R. N3 2:37'19.2 32'20.4
39 93 RISSONE R. /BONO M. Peugeot 106 R. N2 2:37'37.0 32'38.2
40 41 EINBERGER A. /SVEJDOVA' V. Subaru Impreza N4 2:38'01.9 33'03.1
41 43 BONATO A. /BUSATO F. Seat Ibiza Tdi N4 2:38'48.7 33'49.9
42 94 SANTINI A. /SPACCASASSI S. Peugeot 106 R. N2 2:40'43.2 35'44.4
43 56 PARIS F. /LAMONATO D. Mg Zr 160 N3 2:41'16.2 36'17.4
44 74 SCOTTO M. /MOLINELLI N. Opel Astra OPC N3 2:41'39.8 36'41.0
45 48 VINCIGUERRA M. /CAMILLA C. Opel Astra Gsi A7 2:46'01.7 41'02.9
46 88 LOCATELLI M. /GREGORI G. Citroen Saxo Vt A6 2:52'46.5 47'47.7
47 87 LINGUANTI M. /LINGUANTI G. Peugeot 306 R. N3 2:55'08.3 50'09.5
Retired
NUM Driver - Codriver Car When
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6 PIANEZZOLA S. /ZANATTA D. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 RET. P.S. 15
10 ACERBIS G. /MOMETTI R. Subaru Impreza N4 RET. P.S. 1
11 ROSSETTI L. /DE LUIS D. Mitsubishi Evo6 N4 RET. P.S. 17
12 VOVOS A. /"EL-EM" Peugeot 206 Wrc A8 RET. P.S. 2
20 BASSO G. /GUGLIELMINI F. Fiat Punto S.16 A6 RET. P.S. 19
24 BIZZARRI S. /BOSI M. Renault Clio S. A6 RET. P.S. 17
28 GAMBA M. /ROCCO T. Fiat Punto S.16 A6 N.P. P.S. 14
31 ERRANI R. /CASADIO S. Skoda Octavia W A8 RET. P.S. 5
32 RECORDATI G. /DELORME F. Toyota Corolla A8 N.P. P.S. 15
33 BRUSCHETTA A. /CIVIERO E. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 RET. P.S. 8
34 GUAGLIARDO D. /GRANATA F. Mitsubishi Lanc N4 RET. P.S. 14
35 OTTAVIANI E. /BUCCI G. Mitsubishi Evo6 N4 N.P. P.S. 9
37 LICERI P. /RUONI M. Mitsubishi Evo6 N4 N.P. P.S. 3
38 PIERANGIOLI V. /CAPOLONGO P. Mitsubishi Evo6 N4 RET. P.S. 4
39 BERTUZZI A. /DE PELLEGRIN V. Subaru Impreza N4 N.P. P.S. 18
40 RICCI L. /AGOSTINELLI M. Subaru Impreza N4 N.P. P.S. 18
44 BETTI L. /ROSSO M. Seat Ibiza Tdi N4 RET. P.S. 18
45 CALDERARI L. /DE ROCCO N. Seat Ibiza Tdi N4 RET. P.S. 12
49 TERENZI C. /PALMISANO N. Nissan Sunny Gt A7 N.P. P.S. 7
53 VALENTE D. /MICHIELET A. Mg Zr 160 N3 RET. P.S. 3
54 COPPOLA S. /AMADORI R. Mg Zr 160 N3 RET. P.S. 2
55 MAZZOLENI E. /CICOGNINI M. Mg Zr 160 N3 RET. P.S. 1
58 COSIMI R. /MARTINEZ C. Mg Zr 160 N3 RET. P.S. 4
59 CIUFFI P. /CASTIGLIONI D. Renault Clio Rs N3 RET. P.S. 18
70 BORGHI N. /ALFIERI E. Renault Clio Rs N3 RET. P.S. 3
71 SCANDOLA R. /LESO M. Renault Clio Rs N3 RET. P.S. 2
73 VEDELAGO G. /ERIGLIO A. Opel Astra OPC N3 N.P. P.S. 2
77 GIORGI V. /REGA G. Opel Astra OPC N3 RET. P.S. 2
80 TARABELLONI L. /BERTOLETTI S. Opel Astra OPC N3 RET. P.S. 1
83 BATISTINI D. /FRASCONI M. Seat Ibiza Cupr N3 EXCLUDED Art. 12.1
84 BENUCCI F. /CANTINI S. Seat Ibiza Cupr N3 OUT MAX TIME
89 LAZZARIN L. /ROSINA C. Peugeot 106 R. A6 NON STARTED LEG 2
90 GAI A. /GAUDENZI M. Peugeot 205 R. A5 RET. P.S. 14
95 PAPI D. /MORGANTI G. Peugeot 106 R. N2 RET. P.S. 13
97 RAPISARDA P.F. /POLLINI C. Rover 216 Si N2 RET. P.S. 17
98 SALTARELLI F. /SPADONI M. Peugeot 106 R. N1 N.P. P.S. 19
99 DI SALVO D. /CILIA G. Peugeot 106 R. N1 RET. P.S. 5