15 Mar THREE CARS RACE THIS WEEKEND FOR POWER CAR TEAM: TWO AT CIOCCO AND THE OTHER ONE AT COLLI SCALIGERI.

Two automobiles start at Ciocco, one is for Mestrini who plunges into the CIR opening race, the second is for Bettini, who fights tooth and nail at Regionale. It’s also ready a Clio S1600 for Pighi at Rally Day Colli Scaligeri.

POWER CAR TEAM deploys the two top cars of the stable, the Peugeot 208 T16 R5, this week-end, at 40th Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio. As usual, the Ciocco, which this year celebrates the 40th birthday, breaks the ice and launches the Italian Rally Championship. 

Leopoldo Maestrini and Francesco Bettini drive “the lionesses” guided by Jacopo Innocenti and Luca Acri.

After “stretching” with two test races, Maestrini starts his path with the first race of the most prestigious league, bringing the best Peugeot car. It starts a six-race programme for him. He will search for vehicle confidence, with the aim to rank himself to the highest positions during the season.

Bettini, back from a brilliant season in 2016, which ranked himself second in the regional, restarts battle hardened to search a high level performance.

Race starts on Friday 17th of March with the evening test show at Forte dei Marmi. Afterwards it follows the transfer to Ciocco, passing through the seafront of Viareggio and the beautiful Lucca walls, to celebrate forty years of rally. Following two intense race days, in which drivers will fight to the Garfagnana roads, for a total amount of 175 kilometers spreaded out on 17 PS. The competition ends on Sunday at 15.30, when cars arrive at Castelnuovo Garfagnana.

The third crew is at work this week-end, through Verona vineyards, at 2nd Rally Day Colli Scaligeri. A Renault Clio S1600 is ready for the event, where Davide Pighi will look for the class victory.

Photo: 208 T16 R5 per Maestrini