Now preparing for its 22nd edition, Rallylegend has become a stand-out event in the calendar as rally fans descend on San Marino to celebrate all that’s great about our sport.
Though primarily reserved for classic machinery and legendary drivers from previous eras, the event has also been recognized for many years now by the very best in the World Rally Championship, who have also graced it with their presence.
In this respect, 2024 is no different. Organizers have put together another tantalizing program, that celebrates two of the most iconic rally cars from the ‘70s and ‘80s as well as the storied history of the Dakar Rally, while also welcoming a bang-up-to-date, stand-out combination of the present WRC campaign.
Here are just some of the highlights to look out for.
Fourmaux back where it all began
Fourmaux will drive the Ford Puma Rally1 with which he's starred in 2024
Rallylegend might be associated more with rallying’s glorious past than its sophisticated and spectacular present, but all three World Rally Championship teams have helped to connect eras by bringing modern machinery to San Marino over recent years. Jari-Matti Latvala brought Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally1 car last year, when Hyundai was also present with the not-so-old i20 Coupe WRC.
In 2024, M-Sport tops the billing with a Ford Puma Rally1 and arguably the breakthrough star of world rallying this year: Adrien Fourmaux.
Where better for the Frenchman to celebrate his coming-of-age season than where everything all began for him in a top category car? He took the spoils on his previous visit in 2020, which served as his debut behind the wheel of a Fiesta World Rally Car before he got the chance to drive one on a more frequent basis the following year.
Another big-name draw in a (relatively) contemporary car is Heikki Kovalainen. The one-time grand prix winner continues his gradual comeback from open-heart surgery by driving a Citroën C3 WRC. Alongside him, Janne Ferm begins life beyond his professional WRC career by getting back into a familiar model of car – that which he and Esapekka Lappi campaigned in 2019.
Secto Automotive founder and executive chairman Matias Henkola drives a similarly-liveried sister car, and there are five C3 WRCs in action altogether, including two that have been competing in Galicia this year still in their Red Bull liveries from 2019.
Celebrating Stig and the Audi Quattro
It's 40 years since Blomqvist's world championship with Audi
Any great celebration of rallying history needs to have Stig Blomqvist in a Group B Audi Quattro – especially on the 40th anniversary of his world championship win. Even at 78, the original Stig remains a regular at such events during the year but this appearance will be particularly special – celebrating the last world titles won by Audi in 1984.
Numerous examples of Quattro will be featured alongside Blomqvist’s S1, including a similar model that Ducati MotoGP star Enea Bastianini will share with Lamborghini GT driver – and San Marino native – Emanuele Zonzini.
Armin Schwarz will drive a Group A version, similar to that in which he spent his early rallying years, leaving his son Fabio to drive something from the other end of his career – a Hyundai Accent WRC.
…and the Lancia Stratos
Fassina and his Stratos on his way to winning Sanremo 1979
Another spectacular car of the past having a special anniversary marked at Rallylegend is the Lancia Stratos. It’s half a century since it claimed the first of three consecutive WRC manufacturers’ titles for Lancia, and the famous liveries of Alitalia, Marlboro and Pirelli are all set to feature in the line-up at Rallylegend.
Among the drivers will be Tony Fassina with his white Stratos that he used to win the 1979 Sanremo Rally as a privateer with Jolly Club, some four minutes clear of the factory Fiat of Walter Röhrl. Fabled former Ferrari racer Arturo Merzario is also expected behind the wheel of a Stratos.
Stars and cars of the Dakar
Ickx will drive Porsche's iconic 953 Dakar challenger
Rally raid will feature at Rallylegend like never before with a special celebration of the Dakar Rally. ‘LegenDakar’ will bring together a varied mix of 23 machines spanning the history of the epic event, including everything from the Fiat ‘Pandakar’ driven by Miki Biasion in 2007 to giant MAN trucks and the Audi RS Q E-tron driven to victory by Carlos Sainz earlier this year.
Three famous champions will be there to headline this part of the event. Jacky Ickx will be aboard the stunning Rothmans-liveried Porsche 953 he drove in 1984 – when he was hit by a cable fire as team-mate René Metge delivered a debut victory to Stuttgart. Ari Vatanen will be reunited with the Peugeot 405 T16 – not the car he used to take his second win in 1989, but actually that driven by team-mate Ickx when Peugeot boss Jean Todt famously decided the winner with the toss of a coin. Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first woman to win the Dakar, will be behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Pajero she drove to victory in 2001.
Delecour drives a 306 Maxi
Delecour in a 306 Maxi is always a fan favorite
As you’ll probably know by now, DirtFish loves a Formula 2 Kit Car. And there are few combinations more evocative from that era than François Delecour in a Peugeot 306 Maxi.
OK, so the particular car that Delecour will drive at Rallylegend is not strictly from the period, having been originally built in 2005. It has a strong track record in France though, winning nearly 30 rallies in the hand of David Salanon, and has now been freshly rebuilt by IKE Racing and prolific historics competitor Andrea ‘Zippo’ Zivian.
The same setup will also be fielding the Best Impreza McRae Edition, as unveiled by Colin’s family at Rallylegend two years ago, in the hands once more of four-time WRC Group N champion Gustavo Trelles.
There will be plenty of ‘90s fever on show. Italian champion Andrea Crugnola will make his Rallylegend debut driving the 306 Maxi’s little brother, the 106, as he has done regularly in Italy over the past couple of seasons. Patrick Snijers and Andrea Aghini meanwhile are both expected at the wheel of a Ford Sierra Cosworths.
And a popular presence once more will be Ray Breen in his Subaru Legacy, on an event where son Craig will again be dearly missed.
The action gets underway with shakedown on Friday morning, while the competition kicks off at 1930 local time. Saturday offers a relaxed re-start to day two at 1300 with Sunday’s final day on the go at 1030 before a 1430 finish.
