Boštjan Avbelj and Elia De Guio finish third overall in front of St Peter’s,
in an intense weekend that also rewarded Johansson’s solidity and Buteikis’ progress.
MS Munaretto closes the 2026 Rally di Roma Capitale with an overall podium of significant sporting and emotional value, claimed by Boštjan Avbelj and Elia De Guio in the number 26 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, at the end of a complex, selective and anything but predictable event.
The Rome-based round, valid for the FIA European Rally Championship and the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco, once again confirmed its importance within the international calendar, testing crews and teams on technical, fast special stages capable of reshuffling the order more than once.
For Avbelj, joined on this occasion by Elia De Guio, who stepped into the car in place of Damijan Andrejka shortly before the event, the Roman podium carried the taste of redemption. After the bitter ending at Due Valli, the Slovenian driver arrived in Rome needing to put his pace back on the road straight away, and he did so without looking for shortcuts, quickly building a valuable understanding with the Italian co-driver in a weekend where nothing could be taken for granted.
An issue on the final stages could have compromised the result, but at the most delicate moment the crew found a way to respond, changing the momentum of the rally and overturning a fate that had seemed almost written. What followed was a weighty podium finish, earned with tenacity and with the ability to stay in the fight even when circumstances appeared to be working against them.
The result fully reflects the value of the crew and rewards the work of the entire team, called upon to manage a high-pressure weekend in one of the most prestigious settings of the season. The image of the finish in front of St Peter’s yesterday afternoon made the result even more special. Under a sky crossed by the Frecce Tricolori, MS Munaretto was able to share with Avbelj and De Guio the emotion of a podium that will remain among the most intense moments of the entire 2026 ERC season.
Mille Johansson and Johan Grönvall also delivered an excellent performance, finishing sixth overall in the number 33 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. The young Swede tackled Rally di Roma Capitale with maturity and consistency, remaining on strong times throughout and confirming very effective management across the weekend. In a field of such high calibre, sixth place overall was far from a straightforward result, but the product of pace, focus and the ability to read a particularly demanding event.
Very positive signs also came from Markas Buteikis and Titas Čapkauskas, competing in the number 76 Lancia Ypsilon Rally4. At his first experience on asphalt and on his Rally di Roma Capitale debut, the young Lithuanian produced a steadily improving performance, gradually adapting to a technical context far removed from his usual environment. His pace continued to stand out even on less familiar ground, confirming important qualities and an ability to learn that represents a meaningful sign for the future.
Andrea Nucita and Maurizio Messina endured a more unfortunate weekend in the number 100 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. The Sicilian driver had opened the rally in the best possible way, winning the first special stage on Friday evening and immediately confirming his speed and experience. On Saturday, however, a road excursion forced the crew to retire, bringing an early end to a rally that had started with very promising foundations.
There was also a bitter outcome for Aatu Hakalehto and Niklas Heino in the number 81 Lancia Ypsilon Rally4. Up until the moment of their road excursion, the Finnish driver had shown that he could compete on merit within the qualified Rally di Roma Capitale field, displaying pace and determination. The retirement inevitably leaves some regret, but it does not erase what had been shown in the first part of the weekend.
The rally also came to an early end for Louis Constant and Maxime Martini in the number 37 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. The French crew was forced to retire on Saturday due to an injury sustained by the co-driver. Nothing serious, but the circumstances made it necessary to stop, cutting short a weekend that could have offered further confirmation after the podium achieved at the San Marino Rally.
It will be hard to forget the emotion of this 2026 ERC round. Rome, with its unique setting and sporting intensity, gave MS Munaretto a weekend destined to remain.
