MS Munaretto is gearing up for a true tour de force, with the team set to tackle three events across Sweden, Corsica, and Italy. The squad from Schio is ready to manage a triple challenge across both gravel and tarmac surfaces.
ERC: Mille Johansson at the Royal Rally of Scandinavia
From 29th to 31st May, the FIA European Rally Championship makes its third stop of the season in Sweden. The BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, based in Karlstad in the heart of Värmland, will feature 17 special stages totalling 184.38 km of competitive distance and more than 929 km overall. The route winds through rapid gravel tracks nestled in the forests, with several new technical sections introduced for this year’s edition.
All eyes will be on local talent Mille Johansson, co-driven by Johan Grönvall, in car number 7, a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The young Swede, fresh from an impressive second place in the Under 25 standings at Rally Adriatico, is set to shine on home soil, aiming to showcase his potential against the best of Europe’s rally elite.
Corsica: Double Entry at the Terre d’Aléria
Over in Corsica, two MS Munaretto crews will line up for the Rallye Terre d’Aléria, the third round of the French Gravel Rally Championship. Always a highly technical challenge, the event consists of 10 stages and 132.56 km of timed sections, kicking off with Thursday’s shakedown and concluding Saturday in Aléria.
The first MS Munaretto entry features Jean-Paul Villa and Dominique Corvi, making their season debut in car number 8, a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. After a solid top-ten finish in last year’s edition, the crew is aiming to raise the bar even higher on their home roads.
The second car will be driven by Henri-Marc Venturini and François-Xavier Buresi, in a Fabia RS bearing number 9. Following their appearance at Rally della Val d’Orcia, the Franco-Corsican duo are determined to deliver a strong result, capitalising on their experience of Corsica’s notoriously tricky terrain.
Rally Due Valli: Five Crews on the Start Line
Simultaneously, the team will also feature prominently at Rally Due Valli, taking place on the roads of the Veneto region. This fourth round of the Italian Rally Championship (CIAR) comprises eight special stages, covering 105.80 km.
Leading the five-car MS Munaretto entry is Bostjan Avbelj, co-driven by Damijan Andrejka, in car number 3, a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Fresh from victory at Targa Florio, the Slovenian ace aims to consolidate his lead in the CIAR Promozione category on Verona’s gravel stages.
Also returning to Italy is Finland’s Tuukka Kauppinen, alongside co-driver Veli-Pekka Karttunen, in the trusty Lancia Ypsilon Rally4, car number 30. The young “Flying Finn” has already shown consistency and maturity this season and will now be chasing a clean and fast performance.
Making his Italian debut is another promising Finnish driver, 23-year-old Tommi Heino, partnered by his younger brother Niklas. In car number 42, another Lancia Ypsilon Rally4, the duo is launching their international campaign on Veneto’s tarmac stages.
Local favourite Luca Hoelbling, with Federico Fiorini on the notes, is an unmissable presence at his home event. Driving car number 46, a Skoda Fabia RS, the Veronese driver will look to put his extensive local knowledge to good use.
Completing the MS Munaretto line-up is the experienced pairing of Diego Zantedeschi and Stefano Righetti, competing in car number 48, a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. This well-synchronised duo is ready to make their mark among the vineyards of Valpolicella.
