A New Thrilling Weekend Begins for MS Munaretto, Competing on Three Fronts with the European Championship Opener, the Italian Rally Trophy, and the Zone Rally Cup.
The FIA European Rally Championship kicks off this weekend with impressive numbers: 82 crews are ready to battle on the tarmac roads of Andalusia for the 42nd Rally Sierra Morena. The event will take place from 3rd to 6th April in Córdoba, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with 209.96 timed kilometres spread across 13 special stages, determining the season’s first verdicts.
The Scledense team will field four crews, three of whom are competing in the Junior category.
After the challenging gravel roads of the Rally della Val d’Orcia, Mille Johansson and Johan Grönvall are ready for a new challenge. The Swedish crew will tackle the Spanish tarmac aboard the Skoda Fabia EVO Rally2, sporting number 17 on their doors.
Among the team’s key contenders is Jaspar Vaher, making his return to competition under the MS Munaretto banner with Sander Pruul as his co-driver. While awaiting the Lancia Ypsilon, the young Estonian talent will begin his ERC journey with the Peugeot 208 Rally4, marked with number 45.
A complete debut under the MS Munaretto colours awaits young Friulian Matteo Doretto, who will also be competing in the European Championship with the Peugeot 208 Rally4, alongside Andrea Budoia. Distinguished by his precise driving style and strategic approach to special stages, he will carry number 54 on his car.
Completing the quartet of drivers is young Finnish talent Tuukka Kauppinen, who will benefit from the experience of fellow countryman Topi Luhtinen as his co-driver. Bearing number 58, Tuukka has already showcased remarkable speed in national championships and now aims to make his mark on the European stage driving the Peugeot 208 Rally4 for this first European race.
All vehicles from the Veneto-based team will be equipped with Hankook tyres, the official partner of Junior ERC and supplier of the Swedish former champion’s tyres.
The Veneto Team Ready to Shine on Home Soil
Not just Europe: MS Munaretto will also be in action on Italian roads, fielding two prominent crews.
The Rally della Marca, now in its 41st edition, marks the beginning of the Italian Rally Trophy as well as the Zone 5 Rally Cup, covering nearly 91 kilometres of special stages. The starting line will be in Montebelluna, while the regrouping and starting phases will remain in Valdobbiadene.
Among the key contenders is Francesco Aragno, an experienced driver from Savona, returning under the MS team’s wing with renewed determination. Paired with his trusted co-driver Giancarla Guzzi, the Ligurian driver will aim to maximise the potential of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, making his debut with this car after a long stint with the EVO version.
Another strong contender is local driver Tiziano Panato, who, after debuting with the Czech vehicle at the Rally del Bardolino, is now ready to confirm his progress on the roads of Valdobbiadene. A terrain he knows well, this could provide him with a strategic advantage. He will be joined by co-driver Milena Danese, forming a duo determined to make an impact in what promises to be a highly competitive race.
Bizzarri-Lanera Ready to Compete in the Trofeo Maremma
Rounding out MS Munaretto’s impressive line-up for this action-packed weekend are Stefano Bizzarri and Luisa Lanera, who will officially kick off their season by competing in the Trofeo Maremma aboard the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.
The event, organised by MaremmaCorse 2.0, will see crews tackling a technical and selective course covering 72.25 timed kilometres, divided into eight special stages. This race represents the second round of the Zone 7 Rally Cup, a championship expected to be fiercely contested with numerous challenges ahead.
For Bizzarri and Lanera, the Trofeo Maremma presents the perfect opportunity to get into rhythm and refine their synergy with the car, aiming for a prestigious result in a highly competitive setting.
