RALLY DI ROMA CAPITALE 2026 ATTRACTS RECORD ERC ENTRY FOR NEW-LOOK ASPHALT CHALLENGE

RECORD 85 ERC CREWS PREPARE TO TACKLE NEW MOUNTAIN STAGES AND A NEW ROME BASE IN ONE OF THE SEASON'S BIGGEST ASPHALT EVENTS

KEY POINTS

📌 Record 85 crews are eligible to score ERC points at Rally di Roma Capitale 2026.

📌 A record 39 Rally2 cars headline the competitive entry list.

📌 The rally features new mountain stages northeast and east of Rome.

📌 Rome's EUR district becomes the event's new headquarters.

📌 Andrea Mabellini is among the leading contenders after finishing runner-up in 2025.

📌 Lancia Corse HF enters four Rally2 crews.

📌 ERC3, ERC4, Junior ERC, Master ERC and Fiesta Rally3 Trophy all feature strong participation.

📌 France and Italy launch the inaugural National Match Rally competition.

RALLY DI ROMA CAPITALE 2026 ATTRACTS RECORD ERC ENTRY FOR NEW-LOOK ASPHALT CHALLENGE

The Rally di Roma Capitale 2026 promises to deliver one of the most competitive rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship after attracting a record number of entries for the all-asphalt event on 3-5 July.

A total of 85 crews will be eligible for ERC points, including a record 39 Rally2 cars, as competitors prepare to tackle a significantly revised route featuring new mountain stages northeast and east of Rome. The event will also operate from a new headquarters in the city's EUR district.

Italian driver Andrea Mabellini arrives as one of the leading contenders after finishing runner-up on the event last season. He believes the redesigned rally presents an equal challenge for the entire field.

"It's a totally different rally, a new race for everybody. The stages are new, the Tarmac is more abrasive and it will not be easy. It's going to be crazy-hot and the entry list is crazy in terms of the level."

Mabellini is one of four Rally2 competitors representing Lancia Corse HF, alongside two-time Rally di Roma Capitale winner Andrea Crugnola and WRC2 regulars Nikolay Gryazin and Yohan Rossel.

Five-time ERC event winner Gryazin expects another fiercely contested battle despite his experience at European championship level.

"The competition in the ERC is very strong. There are a lot of talented drivers and experienced teams, and the level gets higher every year. To be at the front, you need to perform at your best from the first stage to the last."

Beyond the Rally2 category, the event also features 16 ERC3 entries, 30 ERC4 cars, including 16 Junior ERC competitors, seven Master ERC crews and 10 entries in the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy.

The rally will also introduce the inaugural National Match Rally, with teams from the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) and Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) competing for points, prizes and national bragging rights.