Giandomenico Basso (pictured below), a double European champion, was voted best of the best ahead of 15 other ERC legends in an online poll to mark the championship’s 70th anniversary celebrations last year.

Despite turning 51 in September, Basso remains at the peak of his powers with one victory and two podiums so far in the Italian championship, which shares the billing with the ERC on the all-asphalt Rally di Roma Capitale.

After topping the ERC Greatest Driver poll with 85 per cent of the final vote, Basso said: “The European Rally Championship has always been in my heart and, whenever I could, I did my best to honour this competition.”

Basso, who became European champion in 2006 and again in 2009, scored his 32nd ERC podium when he finished runner-up spot on Rally di Roma Capitale last July. He’s one of the favourites for victory aboard his new-for-2024 Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 but faces opposition from 27 other ERC priority drivers in headlining Rally2 cars.

They include defending ERC champion and current points leader Hayden Paddon, his predecessor Efrén Llarena, World Rally Championship event winner Mads Østberg, double 2024 ERC podium finisher Mathieu Franceschi, V-Híd Rally Hungary winner Simone Tempestini, ERC3 champion Jon Armstrong and rising Italian star Andrea Mabellini (pictured below).

For Mabellini, the event takes on added significance. Not only does it provide another opportunity for the 24-year-old Team MRF Tyres driver to demonstrate his huge potential, it’s also a chance to compete in front of his home fans, even though he lives some four hours from event hub with co-driving partner Virginia Lenzi.

“It’s not an easy rally but nothing in the ERC is easy against these big guys,” Mabellini said of the high-level competition. “They’re very fast drivers and the weather will be very hot like always, but I will try to find a way to be on top, especially on some stages.”

After tyre damage on the penultimate stage denied him a shot at the top five in 2023, Mabellini is more than aware of the pitfalls that can strike on Italy’s ERC counter.

“For sure the overheating factor is crucial and it’s not easy on the Tarmac you have,” Mabellini said. “It’s so abrasive and with a lot of heat it’s not easy.”

“It should be like a dream [result], but it will probably remain like a dream,” he added. “We know perfectly where we are, we are improving and for sure we will try to develop more to get something a little closer to the others.”

Of the bulging 90-car entry list, 42 crews are eligible for ERC points. Click HERE to find out who else will be in action on Rally di Roma Capitale.

Newcomers increase the competition in ERC3
Kerem Kazaz, Filip Kohn, Martin Ravenščak and Igor Widłak continue their pursuit of FIA ERC3 success in Rome with the quartet also eligible for the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, a new-for-2024 contest from M-Sport Poland in partnership with Pirelli and Gulf Race Fuels.

ERC rookie Hubert Kowalczy brings Renault Clio Rally3 power to ERC3 with Aleksandar Tomov stepping up from ERC4 to ERC3 in another Clio Rally3.

ERC4 to the fore as wheelchair user Lupu returns
The ERC4 category for front-wheel-drive Rally4 and Rally5 cars attracted an eight-car entry. It includes Michael Rendina, the son of event organiser Max Rendina, former Italian Junior champions Giorgio Cogni and Davide Pesavento, Italian 2WD champion Gianandrea Pisani, female drivers Cristiana Oprea and Ekaterina Statieva, Martón Bertalan, who used to play futsal with Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ciprian Lupu. Lupu, who is tetraplegic, became the first wheelchair user in Romania to be issued with a competition licence and made his ERC debut on last year’s Rally di Roma Capitale with the aid of hand controls having gained experience in his national championship. He finished 17th in the ERC4 category and 10th among the RC5 class contenders.

Rome is where the heart is
Once again the focus of Rally di Roma Capitale will be on the Eternal City this Friday (26 July) when it hosts the opening ceremony and first timed test in front of the Colosseum, one of the most famous landmarks in the world. There’s also a spectacular driving parade through the capital’s streets prior to the competitive action getting under way with crews setting off in 15-car convoys from the Bocca della Verità and passing by several famous sites. Fiuggi, located to the southeast of central Rome and made famous by its natural spring water and the healing powers it possesses, takes over as the event’s hub on Saturday and Sunday. Two loops of three stages are run on each leg with the 28.74 kilometres of Santopadre - Fontana Liri Saturday’s longest stage and the 32.30-kilometre Rocca di Cave – Subiaco stage covering the furthest distance on Sunday. The event concludes with the new Monastero - Jenne Power Stage, described by event organiser Max Rendina as, “very difficult but also spectacular”, from 17:05 local time.

How to watch?
Fans across the globe can experience the excitement and drama of the ERC with every stage of every rally broadcast Rally.tv platform. In addition, the ERC is broadcast in a number of countries around the world and fans are advised to check local listings for details.

Rally di Roma Capitale 2024: the key numbers
Stages: 13
Competitive distance: 189.52 kilometres
Total distance: 797.68 kilometres