Rally del Salento, the official names of the big names competing in the 57th edition have arrived

The official names of the entrants to the 57th Rally del Salento have arrived and the 2025 edition promises to be one of the most spectacular in recent years. The event organized by the Automobile Club Lecce, one of the longest-running in Italy, reaches its 57th edition which will be held on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 May with a logistical base at the Pista Salentina in Ugento. The Rally del Salento will be valid for the Italian Rally Trophy (first race with Coefficient 1.5) and for the 8th Zone Rally Cup. The competition also includes the 7th Rally Storico del Salento (4th Zone Rally Trophy) and the Salento Historic Regularity Rally valid for the Italian Specialty Championship.

With the publication of the entry list, the anticipation for this event is growing, starting with a list of top-level engagements. The important names at the start will elevate this edition of the Salento race to the Olympus of 2025 rally competitions. The event will see a significant number of Italian champions. Andrea Crugnola, the current Italian absolute champion, will start his pursuit of the 2025 TIR from Salento and will do so alongside Andrea Sassi, always with the Citroen C3 Rally2 prepared by FPF Sport. Also on the roads of Salento will be the multiple Italian champion Paolo Andreucci, with Rudy Briani, on another C3 Rally2 for Team MRF Tyres.

All the protagonists of the TIR series will be there, from the reigning champion Corrado Pinzano, with Mauro Turati, on a PA Racing Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, and then again Giuseppe Testa from Molise, with Massimo Bizzocchi, the multiple champion from Brescia Luca Pedersoli, with Anna Tomasi, who won here last year, Simone Miele from Como with Mauro Beltrame and the recent winner of the Coppa Valtellina Alessandro Re, with Marco Vozzo, all on a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Obviously there will be a large representation of home drivers. Among the names of the locals are Francesco Rizzello and Fernando Sorano (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Fernando and Giulia Primiceri (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and the young daughter of art Maria Paola Fiorio, with Giulia Bico, who after the Rally della Marca returns to the Citroen DS3 N5.

In the meantime, on the morning of Monday 19 May, the technical table met at the Prefecture to define the safety measures and changes to the road system in view of the race. The meeting involved the main civil, military and sports authorities, with the aim of ensuring the smooth running of the event and protecting residents and enthusiasts ready to follow the Rally del Salento 2025 with passion. The times of closure to traffic of the roads involved in the competition were therefore defined. The shakedown, scheduled for Friday 23 May, will take place on the San Gregorio road which will be closed from 9:00 to 17:00. Saturday 24 May will instead be the beating heart of the race, with the closure of the special stages of San Gregorio (from 7:30 to 18:00), Ciolo (from 8 to 19) and Specchia (from 8:30 to 19). The Automobile Club Lecce invites citizens to cooperate fully and reminds that all updated information will be disseminated through official channels, media partners and local offices as well as through the website rallydelsalento.eu