The 33rd Coppa Città della Pace is ready to go, with 80 crews entered for the third round of the Italian Historic Regularity Championship (CIREAS). This year’s edition introduces an important novelty, as the event moves its operational centre to the city of Trento, with both start and finish located in Piazza Fiera, beneath the historic Roman walls.
Organised by Adige Sport with the support of Automobile Club Trento and the Municipality of Trento, the rally will start on Saturday, March 7 at 9:00 AM. The competition will conclude in the afternoon with the Power Stage Classic, a precision challenge on pressostats that will award valuable championship points.
The finish is scheduled from 3:45 PM, while the prize-giving ceremony and competitors’ buffet will take place at the new headquarters of Automobile Club Trento in Via Lunelli.
After the first two events of the season, the fight for the CIREAS title is already becoming clear.
Leading the standings is Francesco Gulotta, navigated by Paolino Messina in a Fiat 600 entered by Franciacorta Motori, with 67 points collected so far.
Second place belongs to Vincenzo Bertoli and Doriano Vavassori, also representing Franciacorta Motori, driving a Fiat 508 C with 59 points.
In third place are Gianmario Fontanella and Giovanni Scarabelli, winners of the latest round at Lake Como, currently sitting on 50 points.
Just behind them are Mario Passanante with Alessandro Molgora in an Autobianchi A112 Abarth and Roberto and Andrea Paradisi in a Lancia Fulvia Rally.
This situation is reflected directly in the starting order: from this season onwards, the first ten race numbers are reserved for the drivers leading the championship standings, making the title contenders immediately visible on the starting list.
As a result, all eyes will be on the front runners, with Gulotta, Bertoli and Passanante expected to headline the fight on the Trentino roads.
The starting list features many of the top specialists in average regularity competition, spread across five vehicle categories.
In RC2, which includes 19 cars, the field features Andrea Luigi Belometti and Cristian Ricca (Fiat 508 C), Lorenzo and Mario Turelli (Lancia Aprilia), Alberto and Giuseppe Scapolo (Fiat 508 C), Antonino Margiotta with Riccardo Casini (Fiat 1500 6C) and Andrea with Roberto Vesco (Fiat 508 S).
Also in RC2 are Guido Barcella and Ombretta Ghidotti, three-time winners of the Coppa Città della Pace.
The RC3 category, also with 19 entries, includes championship leaders Gulotta and Messina, as well as Massimo Zanasi with Corrado Corneliani (Fiat 110 Special) and Roberto with Andrea Paradisi (Lancia Fulvia).
The largest group is RC4, with 24 competitors, including Mario Passanante with Alessandro Molgora, Francesco Commare with Giuseppe La Chiana and Alberto Aliverti with Stefano Cadei.
In RC5 appear Claudio Lastri and Valter Pantani (Alfa Romeo Giulietta), Andrea Malucelli with Monica Bernuzzi (Fiat Duna) and Isaia Zanotti with Roberto Gasperoni (Fiat Ritmo).
Finally, the RC6 category features Angelo Monachella with Stefano Galuppi (Lancia Y10) and Andrea Giacoppo with Marco Serafini (Fiat 500 Sporting).
The 33rd edition introduces a redesigned course centred around the Trentino capital.
After the start in Piazza Fiera, the competitors will head towards Sardagna and Monte Bondone, following the entire route of the famous hill climb. They will then descend into the Valle dei Laghi, passing through Cavedine and Dro before reaching Arco, Nago, Mori and Rovereto, where the lunch break is scheduled.
In the afternoon, the rally continues towards Villalagarina, before returning towards Trento through Santa Massenza and Bus de Vela, avoiding a second ascent of Monte Bondone.
The event covers 190 kilometres in total, including 61 regularity tests.
For the organisers of Adige Sport, led by Luca Manera, this new layout represents an important test as they evaluate the possibility of establishing Trento as the permanent centre of the event in the future.
