ERC
Rossel rises in Rome with ERC Colosseum stage win
Yohan Rossel leads Rally di Roma Capitale as the FIA European Rally Championship’s four tyre suppliers all featured in a closely contested top six through the iconic Colosseum super special tonight.
At the wheel of a Hankook-equipped Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 Integrale, Rossel took 59.5sec to complete the spectacular 1.30-kilometre Colosseo ACI Roma test, edging out Michelin-supplied European champion Miko Marczyk by 0.2sec in the process.
Dominik Stříteský was 0.1sec further back in another Michelin-shod Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 as Erik Cais went fourth quickest in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 run on MRF tyres.
Nikolay Gryazin and Pirelli-supported Roberto Daprà rounded out the top six with Andrea Mabellini seventh and Boštjan Avbelj – the Colosseo ACI Roma winner 12 months ago – in eighth. Yoann Bonato and Simone Tempestini rounded out the top 10 with thousands of fans following the action from beside the stage.
Andrea Crugnola, twice a Rally di Roma Capitale winner, was 11th fastest followed by Tristan Charpentier and Giandomenico Basso, who finished first in Rome last season. Fabio Andolfi, and Tuukka Kauppinen completed the leading 15 runners.
Third-generation rally driver Matteo Fontana was quickest in FIA ERC3 on his championship debut with Craig Rahill and Ville Vatanen second and third for an all-Ford Fiesta Rally3 top three.
Ford Fiesta Rally4-driving Colin Dünker scored a maiden stage win in FIA Junior ERC ahead of fellow German Timo Schulz (Opel Corsa Rally4) and Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed Kyle McBride (Peugeot 208 Rally4). Dünker and Schulz also topped ERC4 with Alexandre Villiod third fastest in a Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF.
Rally di Roma Capitale, round three of the 2026 ERC season, resumes tomorrow, Saturday with the Vallecupola stage from 08:05 local time.
More to follow…
