Over 100 entries with a record number of Rally2 cars, the most high-performing. The prologue at the Colosseum is awaited worldwide, and there will also be an end-of-rally party in Fiuggi. International media coverage is expected.
Rome, July 16th, 2024 – The official press conference for the presentation of the 2024 Rally di Roma Capitale took place today in the Protomoteca Hall at the Capitoline Hill in Rome. The event, organized by Max Rendina and Motorsport Italia, serves as the sixth round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the fifth round of the Italian Rally Championship Sparco 2024, also including the Italian 8th Zone Rally Cup title.
Present at the event were Alessandro Onorato, Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism, and Fashion of Rome; Flavio Siniscalchi, Head of the Sports Department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers; Elena Palazzo, Councillor for Tourism, Environment, Sport, Climate Change, Energy Transition, Sustainability of the Lazio Region; Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d’Italia; Giuseppina Fusco, President of the Automobile Club Roma; Giovanni Mottura, President of ATAC; and Max Rendina, the event’s creator.
Also participating via video message were Jerome Rousell, FIA Regional Rally Category Manager, and Iain Campbell, ERC Championship Manager. From the audience, speeches were delivered by Roberto Mainiero, President of Peter Pan Odv, and Moreno Paggi, President of SS Lazio Basket in Carrozzina.
This premier Italian event, repeatedly awarded as the best national and European rally, and the only one in the series to receive three stars in the FIA Environmental Programme for its attention to environmental sustainability, will take place from July 26th to 28th. It will be one of the most prestigious sporting events of the italian summer, featuring over 100 teams from more than 20 countries, including the top drivers from both continental and national series. The 2024 Rally di Roma Capitale has set a record for the number of Rally2 cars, the most high-performing vehicles.
The grand show within the event will kick off on Friday, July 26th, with a spectacular start from the Colosseum and the SSS1 “Colosseo ACI Roma” stage, made possible through collaboration with Councillor Alessandro Onorato. The cars will be parked at Bocca della Verità, and from there, escorted by the Rome Municipal Police, they will parade in groups of 15 from 19:00 through the scenic streets of the city center to the Colosseum, where they will regroup. The parade route is still being finalized and will be announced in the coming days.
Upon reaching Colle Oppio, competitors will ascend the starting platform from 20:00 and then take part in the spectacular opening show stage, a sporting moment whose images from previous editions have already traveled the world, confirming the Rally di Roma Capitale as the most anticipated moment of the entire season. The opening evening at the Colosseum will be free for all, with VIP lounge areas accessible by invitation. Fans, onlookers, and tourists can witness the grand spectacle of the special stage at the Colosseum, the most awaited sporting moment of the entire race.
After this prologue, the cars will move to Fiuggi, the logistical hub of the event with the Race Direction, paddock and pits, the arrival ceremony, and the new grand final evening “Power Stage Party” that will enliven the post-race on Sunday, July 28th. This final party is another novelty of the 2024 edition, an event open to all, animated by the music and entertainment of Radio Globo, which will take place in the outdoor area of the Fiuggi Pala Congressi, the event’s headquarters.
From a sporting perspective, the race will resume on Saturday from 7:15 with six special stages, including the long “Santopadre – Fontana Liri” of 28.74 kilometers, particularly technical and selective. Saturday’s program also includes the “Alatri” and “Guarcino-Altipiani” stages, all to be repeated twice. Sunday will feature the second and final section, distinguished by the longest stage of the entire European and Italian season, the “Rocca di Cave-Subiaco” totaling 32.30 kilometers. Great anticipation also surrounds the return of the “Monastero-Jenne” stage with its scenic route dotted with tunnels, in addition to the Fiuggi stage close to the town. The grand arrival ceremony will be in the center of Fiuggi starting at 17:15.
The event will place a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. The Rally di Roma Capitale, the first competition in Europe to achieve three stars in the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme, has further intensified its focus on these themes for the 2024 edition. Efforts will include the use of electric or hybrid service vehicles, partnerships with certified suppliers for best ecological practices, the use of materials made from certified recycled plastic, and the provision of energy through low-consumption generators and renewable sources. There will also be strict waste collection control and a plastic-free catering service in the Fiuggi paddock, accompanied by specific awareness and communication campaigns in the local press and on social media.
The initiative “The road is not a video game” continues to be of interest and importance. This year, the Rally di Roma Capitale’s campaign for road safety and education will be conveyed through a series of social media video clips offering tips for proper road behavior, using the rally as a promotional tool.
The event also maintains its social commitment. The Rally di Roma Capitale continues its support for the Peter Pan Odv association, which has been ongoing since 2014. Peter Pan Odv is a volunteer organization based in Rome that offers free accommodation to families of children with cancer during therapy periods. Founded in 1994, it provides support and services to restore normalcy during treatment, hosting families in the “Grande Casa di Peter Pan” with the help of volunteers and a small staff. To date, over 900 families have been accommodated. More information is available at www.peterpanodv.it.
The media and television coverage of the event will be truly extraordinary, with continuous live broadcasts on Rally.tv, the official on-demand channel of the FIA European Rally Championship promoted by Red Bull, with global reach and millions of viewers each year. Images will be broadcast on every continent, from Africa to America, from Australasia to Europe. In Italy, the special stage broadcasts will be handled by SKY Sport, while ACI Sport, the promoter of the Italian Absolute Rally Championship Sparco, will organize a dedicated schedule on ACI Sport TV (Channel 228 SKY), with involvement from RAI Sport and the Federation’s social and web channels. There will be in-depth coverage and reports on all national and local broadcasters and on the Motorsport Italia TV web channel.
Alessandro Onorato – Councillor for Major Events, Sport, Tourism, and Fashion of Rome
“The Rally di Roma Capitale is a major sporting and social event that we are proud to host. It enhances our tourist offer, in a year when we will surpass the 50 million visitors of 2023, generating significant economic benefits for the area. There will be over 100 cars and about 5,000 people involved, including volunteers, staff, and organizers. The gamble taken a few years ago has paid off. The Roman leg of the rally is also a showcase to promote the image of the Capital worldwide, with stunning images of the cars in a unique historical and monumental context. No other track in the world can boast such a panorama. Additionally, I am pleased that the Rally di Roma Capitale combines sport with social aspects, involving the Peter Pan association and emphasizing respect for the environment with a sustainable approach. We support the organizers in making the Rally of Rome a stage of the world championship.”
Flavio Siniscalchi – Head of the Sports Department of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers “Rally di Roma Capitale 2024 will be an opportunity to promote not only sport but also the beauties of our country, emphasizing the importance of environmental sustainability and raising awareness on road safety and education. This event once again represents a high-profile international showcase for Italy, combining sport with tourist, cultural, and environmental promotion.”
Elena Palazzo – Councillor for Tourism, Environment, Sport, Climate Change, Energy Transition, Sustainability of the Lazio Region
“The Lazio Region is focusing on revitalizing Lazio through major sporting events and is supporting the Rally di Roma Capitale for its multiple positive impacts on the area, starting with tourism. This competition showcases our beauties and is also a powerful attraction for enthusiasts who want to enjoy the spectacle of cars racing on our roads. There is also the aspect of sports promotion. Following the races and preparation moments closely encourages interest in motor sports. Finally, there is the environmental aspect, thanks to the adoption of sustainable measures throughout the event.”
Angelo Sticchi Damiani – President of the Automobile Club d’Italia
“Rome has found, thanks to Max Rendina, this opportunity to have racing cars run in the center of Rome in front of an enthusiastic and curious audience. A high-level rally hosted in the most beautiful capital in the world is a mix of great intensity that is set to deliver a great show. Italy once again shines on the international stage.”
Giuseppina Fusco – President of the Automobile Club Roma
“We have reached the twelfth edition, and year after year the event grows in both sporting and value content. The latter is perhaps the least understood aspect by enthusiasts, who are carried away by the adrenaline of the sporting event. But the Rally di Roma Capitale is also about the environment, with numerous practices aimed at environmental protection, road safety, inclusion, and much more. A big thank you to Max Rendina and his team, and best wishes for another splendid edition.”
Giovanni Mottura – President of ATAC
“I invite everyone to attend this unique and exciting event using public transport. Let’s start using it again if we don’t use it every day and consider it an essential tool for movement. ATAC also brings the topics of road safety and safe driving into the debate, which we are increasingly incorporating into our services that cover 1,340 square kilometers. Road safety must always be at the forefront, even in public transport, and it will be so for the Rally di Roma Capitale as well.”
Roberto Mainiero – President of Peter Pan Odv
“Once again this year, it is a joy to know that the children of Peter Pan Odv are always in the hearts of our dear friend Max Rendina and the entire organization of the Rally di Roma Capitale. Thanks to the visibility they provide, we want to thank the sponsors and the public who decide to support us in aiding children with cancer from all over the world who come to Rome for treatment. For the duration of their therapies, these families find free accommodation within the Grande Casa di Peter Pan. Together, we can be part of their care.”
Max Rendina – Creator of the Rally di Roma Capitale
“I am always very emotional. The Rally di Roma Capitale started its journey 12 years ago, and initially, few people, apart from the ACI Sport Federation, believed in us. Today, we achieve 60% share of the European Championship, the Colosseum stage is awaited worldwide, and we are ready to grow. A big thank you to all the institutions that stand by us, support us, and help us, to our partners, to the law enforcement agencies, and to our tireless collaborators. I hope everything goes well, that it is a success, and that once again Italian motorsport is the protagonist on the global stage.”
