The Milanese driver has just competed with good results in San Marino Rally, taken as a psychophysical training to face the demanding Italian round of the European Rally Championship (FIA ERC) 2022
Cusano Milanino, July 18th 2022
Just enough time to wash the dust of Rally San Marino off her Citroen C3 R5 that Rachele Somaschini will have to put her suit back on, to tackle – with #24 on the doors – the Rally Roma Capitale, sixth round of the 2022 European Rally Championship (FIA ERC), scheduled for July 22-24.
In fact, the Milanese driver has just competed with satisfaction (12th overall) in the recent event of the Italian Gravel Championship, hosted between Mount Titano and Marche, just to reactivate her reflexes after about a month’s stop from rallies and get familiar with the high temperatures of the period, which in the cockpit often reach over 50°.
Rally Roma Capitale, which after the departure from the city center develops in Lower Lazio, will be beyond hot not only for the weather, but also for the high level of the competition. For Rachele, it represents the fourth round of her program in the European Championship this season, and the Milanese driver is preparing to approach the event for the second time with a Rally 2 class car – albeit for the fifth time in her career – still flanked by the experienced Nicola Arena at the notes.
In this edition, the route will be even more selective due to the introduction of two very long special stages, including the 32.50-kilometer Cave-Subiaco, scheduled twice on the last day, which will make a real difference on the outcome of the race.
“I am extremely happy to get back into the game on the tarmac of these stages, which are very technical and demanding – comments Rachele Somaschini – I hope that the previous experience in this race and the training gained in other contexts, as well as my constant physical preparation, will allow me to achieve a good performance and an improving result. Sunday’s long test will be the real challenge of concentration and drive, but we will try our best to do well.
I am grateful to the important partners who allow me to be at the start of such a prestigious event – the support of Prima Assicurazioni, Mapei and Bardahl is fundamental, but not forgetting those who have been with me for years – and who allow my solidarity project #CorrerePerUnRespiro to reach a very large audience.
My sporting challenges always go hand in hand with my social goal – the driver explains – of raising awareness about cystic fibrosis and supporting research so that I can defeat my disease, which is still incurable for many.
The visibility of the European Championship and of Rally Roma Capitale itself, which has great media and public response thanks to the organizers’ relentless efforts, provides my message with a very powerful sounding board that I will try to use to the best of my ability. After Rome we hope to be at the start of at least one more round of the continental series, but we are still working on that.”
After free practice on the morning of Friday, July 22, Rally Roma Capitale gets into full swing in the same evening with the start from Castel Sant’Angelo, the parade of competitors which will be going through the heart of the Eternal City and the show trial at the Colosseum.
From there, the center of operations will move to Fiuggi, which hosts the service area on the next two days of the race – July 23 and 24 – in which the drivers will run 12 more special stages for a total of 187.14 Kms of timed stretches; and the awards ceremony on Sunday, starting at 5 p.m.
The entire race can be followed live on the WRC All live web platform.
For those who wish to support the #CorrerePerUnRespiro project, it is possible to choose solidarity gifts at correreperunrespiro.it or make a donation.
(Photos: Rachele Somaschini in action at Rally Islas Canarias)
Contacts:
MOTORSPORT Communication and Press Office
Anna Canata +39 335 5810584
press@rachelesomaschini.com
CHARITY Project #CorrerePerUnRespiro
Paola Ferlini + 39 335 456 809
paola.ferlini@fibrosicisticamilano.it
