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Penalty costs Crugnola ERC hat-trick in Rome

ERC – Andrea Crugnola was the quickest driver for the third year running, but a 20s penalty meant he placed fifth

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posted on 21 hours ago — updated on 1 second ago

Andrea Crugnola was the quickest driver for the third year running, but a 20s penalty meant he placed fifth

Photography by Red Bull

Words by Luke Barry

On pace alone, Andrea Crugnola would’ve won his third Rally di Roma Capitale in a row in the European Rally Championship.

But a 20-second time penalty, for a two-minute late check-in to SS11, meant the Italian champion only finished fifth, with Giandomenico Basso emerging the winner.

Championship leader Miko Marczyk was the surprise early leader in his Škoda, but an overshoot on stage four allowed the expected order to establish itself.

Citroën pilot Crugnola has dominated this rally for each of the past two years, and duly took the lead when Marczyk slipped up. But he wasn’t able to disappear, with Basso just 3.3s behind overnight in his Fabia RS Rally2.

Basso then took the lead after SS9 of 13, only for Crugnola to hit back and retake the lead. Seemingly on his way to an ERC and Rally di Roma hat-trick, Crugnola was then suddenly dumped back to fifth, 17.3s off the lead, when he was hit with his 20s penalty.

Basso became the most successful driver in event history

Eventually he fought back to be 14.3s off rally winner Basso – who became the rally’s most successful driver with a third victory – with Andrea Mabellini taking an important second place (+3.7s) on his home event ahead of Marczyk, who extended his championship lead to 22 points; assisted by a powerstage win.

WRC2 winner in Sardinia Roberto Daprà was fourth, 4.2s ahead of Crugnola with Simone Campdelli sixth.

Championship contender Mads Østberg was eighth at the rally where had a scary accident last year, while fellow title hopeful Roope Korhonen lost important ground as he crashed out of 15th place on the penultimate stage.

Calle Carlberg meanwhile won his third Junior ERC event in a row.

Words:Luke Barry

Tags: Andrea Crugnola, ERC, ERC 2025, Giandomenico Basso, Rally di Roma Capitale, Rally di Roma Capitale 2025

Publish Date July 6, 2025 DirtFish DirtFish Logo https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/07/8ZpaUtm6-SI202507060069-780x520.jpg July 6, 2025

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