Trofeo Lancia: First points for Island Motorsport

After the setback at the “Due Valli”, young Island Motorsport standard-bearer Simone Rappa, at the wheel of the Ypsilon HF Rally6 and co-driven by fellow Sicilian Roberto Interdonato, is eager for redemption as he prepares for a double commitment in the prestigious Lancia Trophy, within the XIV Rally di Roma Capitale, valid for both the FIA European Rally Championship and the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco.

Rome, July 1, 2026 — An exceptional sporting setting, rich in prestige and with a truly international dimension. This, and much more, is what the XIV Rally di Roma Capitale will offer, counting both for the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco (CIAR), scheduled for the coming weekend.

The event has become a regular fixture for Island Motorsport, once again in partnership with Tempo srl, which will field young standard-bearer Simone Rappa in the prestigious Lancia Trophy, at the wheel of the Ypsilon HF Rally6 prepared by Sportec.

Coming off a bitter debut at the Rally Due Valli in early June, where he was forced to retire after making contact, despite showing more than encouraging signs for the future, the 19-year-old second-generation driver, co-driven by fellow Sicilian Roberto Interdonato, now faces another debut as well as a double challenge on the asphalt roads around Rome, the Rieti area and part of the Sabina region. These roads will host the second and third rounds of the one-make series reserved for the Rally6 cars, spread across the two scheduled legs.

With the Due Valli behind us, which unfortunately did not end the way we had hoped, we are ready to restart. We are prepared to face another brand-new challenge, with the desire to get back into the cockpit and do things the right way.

Rappa said on the eve of the event.

The Roma Capitale will be tough, long and very technical, on difficult and selective roads, worthy of a European-level event. On top of that, it will effectively be two rallies in one, so concentration, composure and rhythm will be needed from start to finish. The goal is clear: to do well, grow step by step and, above all, reach the finish, so we can truly understand the full potential of this car. Hopefully, we can start on the right foot.

Engines will begin to roar on Friday, July 3, with the shakedown in the municipality of Frascati, followed in the afternoon by the parade through the streets of the Eternal City. In the evening, the start ceremony will take place in the central Via degli Annibaldi, before the spectacular Colosseo ACI Roma special stage gets underway in the Colle Oppio area.

After such a rich opening, Saturday and Sunday will serve up the main course, with the remaining ten timed stages, before the rally concludes on the finish ramp set up in Via della Conciliazione, with St. Peter’s Basilica providing the backdrop.

Article by Daniele Fulco