Olbia, the presentation of the Rally Italia Sardegna 2021

Olbia, the curtain rises on the Rally Italia Sardegna 2021 with the national presentation press conference held in the council chamber of the Municipality of Olbia. On the Monday that opens the race week, the 18th edition of the Italian stage of the FIA ​​World Rally Championship on the island was illustrated. A rally organized by the Automobile Club of Italy with the support of the Sardinia Region, valid as the fifth world championship round, which offers 58 participants, enriched by the 44 participants expected for the second round of the Italian Rally Terra Championship and the Italian Rally Junior Championship. 102 cars are expected at the start for the event which has returned this year to Olbia as the central location, which will start on Thursday 3 June from Alghero and will end on Sunday 6 June again in the Gallura town.

A total of 25 nationalities represented for a rally that produces an impact of around 88 million euros against an investment of over 3,5 million euros. A sporting product broadcast live and visible all over the world, which will reach over 55 million spectators through the promoter's WRC+ platform for the world championship series and free-to-air on RAI Sport by virtue of the agreement with ACI.

The Rally Italia Sardegna is ready again to best represent the territory rich in unique places and landscapes of the Sardinia Region, the same ones that will characterize the route. Several new, unpublished special stages such as the final Power Stage “Aglientu – Santa Teresa”. Some classic passages, albeit revisited, from the latest editions such as “Monte Lerno” and “Coiluna-Loelle”. In total 303,10 km on 20 special stages immersed in 1.299,02 km of overall route divided over three days of competition. The challenges for the national championships will instead take place only on the 1st stage, on Friday 4 June.

From the first in Olbia in 2004, then in Alghero until a year ago, then the return today to the north-eastern side of Sardinia, in the heart of Gallura. “An opportunity to promote our land through a sporting event of extreme international importance”. “A pride for Sardinia”. “An exceptional heritage in such a difficult historical phase” are just some of the descriptions of the speakers, representatives of the Sardinia Region, the local authorities and the organization by the Automobile Club of Italy and ACI Sport who illustrated the characteristics of this renewed appointment.

In this order the interventions:

Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club of Italy: “thanks to the Sardinia Region, to the Regional Tourism Department, which continues to support this strategic initiative of the Rally d'Italia, thanks to Mayor Nizzi who cared a lot about us returning to the Gallura and thanks to the great work of the AC Sassari President Giulio Pes, who has always demonstrated concrete work. Thanks to my ACI Sport staff who are at work. We will see each other on Thursday, we will have the President of the FIA ​​Jean Todt with us, a presence that will give further prestige to our national event".

Settimo Nizzi, Mayor of Olbia: “I express the happiness of the Olbia community for the collaboration found by the leaders of the National and Provincial Automobile Club of Sassari, in particular the collaboration of Giulio Pes. This is not a sporting event that concerns only the city of Olbia, but an event for the whole of Sardinia and aims to continue to represent the entire Region. So wherever the headquarters are, the race belongs to the Island. I say this as a native of Olbia because I strongly believe in it. We are grateful to Antonio Turitto and all the collaborators for what they have done during this period. We will continue to support the race as we have done. On behalf of the city and the entire territory, I thank you for believing in the event. We have a concrete dialogue with our Regional Administration. Thanks go to those who supported the event. As we have always done, this time too we will not disappoint the interests of all of Sardinia."

Giovanni Chessa, Councilor for Tourism of the Sardinia Region: “My thanks go to everyone, for what we are doing together for Sardinia and the Sardinian territory. Thanks to my fellow administrators of Gallura for the constructive dialogue. We managed to bring everyone together, for this I am grateful to the Mayors of Alghero and Olbia. We will have unparalleled visibility, as the race will bring Sardinia to the world. We must walk together, our competitors are outside the Region. We need to start again and we'll start again with a 'bang'. I understand that Olbia is currently fully booked and from Olbia we reach other municipalities, over 20. Our supply chain is large. We promote uniqueness. You need to provide a business card that is up to par. Based on the enthusiasm that the race brings, I feel like saying "let's start again from the Rally".

Giuseppe Calvisi, Head of Cabinet of the Tourism Department of the Sardinia Region: “this race is in its 18th time in Sardinia and there is a welcome return to Gallura. The entire territory involved offers a unique scenario. The event opens what we hope will be an important season for the Island. The hope is that the event will be peaceful but above all profitable."

Giuseppe Fasolino, Councilor for Planning and Budget of the Sardinia Region: “our territory has always been married to this sport and in particular to this event, the Rally Italia Sardegna. We fully welcome it for the extraordinary impact. It is important that the competition is held in Sardinia, the Region will always be at the side of this and other events that bring real benefits to the economic fabric. Rallying is based on passion, which amplifies its positive effects. It is the first event that gives us the opportunity to celebrate this beginning of restart. The Region invests 1 million euros allocated and then another ongoing part of around €300.000".

Giulio Pes, President of AC Sassari: “the Rally d'Italia turns 18 in Sardinia, a sign that the island has responded well and is there. The Region has always adequately supported the event, an important investment alongside the Automobile Club D'Italia which plays the most important part. It is essential that the race remains in Sardinia with the Sardinians, the event brings an impact of 88 million euros, as highlighted by a study (on a 2019 basis) by the University of Sassari. Last year we had to move the event from June to October. With a new location also for the special tests. It was an opportunity to get to know other municipalities and their administrators, who immediately supported the competition. A sign that Sardinia feels like its own. Stands will be set up in the Service Park to promote the Sardinian territory in its entirety. Other collateral events are planned with the Mirtò Association, aimed at crafts and food and wine. We see the collaboration from everyone and we thank everyone."

Antonio Turitto, General Manager of Rally Italia Sardinia: “I start from the figure of the unforgettable Nicola Imperio, one of the characters who marked the history of the organization of the Rally d'Italia in Sardinia. A person passionate about this sport, he meticulously tried all the ways to ensure the transition from Sanremo to Sardinia was painless. With kilometers and kilometers of reconnaissance. The event ultimately took over the territory and was conquered by the territory. Every municipality, even the smallest, when it has the opportunity to be involved, offers what it has available. We are a reality that, as a prerogative of the Automobile Club of Italy, promotes the host territory. We will have 25% capacity, so several people have planned to arrive in Sardinia. We will discover new places with unpublished tests, we will try to make the most of TV production and promotion in general. We will try to create a situation that can promote Sardinia and its peculiarities to the maximum. We have important TV coverage, thanks to the effort of ACI which has acquired the rights for RAI which will broadcast 4 special stages live. The promoter's production guarantees a following of approximately 50 million spectators worldwide. The Italian Rally Terra Championship enriches the RIS and brings 44 competitors, including the best specialists. The race costs €3.598.000 each year. In 18 years, the ACI has invested around 2 million euros for each edition”.