The eagerness will get you going first. Then the flares and bangers. The spotlights. The tyre smoke. The anti-lag and the wail of revs. Launch management and squealing tires. It’s nice to be again at Rally Legend.
Its been over 4 years since my final go to to San Marino, and by no means in all my travels have I appeared ahead to an occasion fairly like this one. I want this to be good. Like many others, I’ve felt the cruelness of rallying erode my love for it, however Thursday evening’s Rally Legend prologue has lit a spark as soon as extra.
I arrived at Rally Legend Village late within the night to search out the encircling hills already packed, tens of individuals deep in some areas.
Everybody’s right here to have the entire spectrum of rallying distilled down right into a single night’s leisure, and boy did it ship.
Since my final go to, Rally Legend as a model and an occasion has grown exponentially. The 2023 entry record is chock filled with driving superstars, and most WRC groups now swing by the microstate to placed on a present.
Hyundai have Dani Sordo throwing round an i20 Coupe WRC…
Whereas Toyota Gazoo Racing staff boss Jari-Matti Latvala will probably be wrestling the all-conquering GR Yaris Rally1 across the phases over the weekend.
Regardless of their numbers, you could possibly by no means get bored of the best array of 555 Subaru Imprezas ever assembled as they ripped across the opening Legends Race spectator stage.
And loads of different Subarus peppered the entry record too.
Consider any WRC automotive, and most are right here.
That features all of the Group A titans that made ’90s rallying so extremely profitable.
And even throw in a pair of EKS-built Audi A1 World Rallycross Championship Supercars for good measure.
Though solely a enjoyable ‘warm-up’ earlier than three days of correct particular phases, some had been on a push, whereas others pushed past the restrict.
Thursday evening in San Marino jogged my memory why I really like rallying, and this weekend is an opportunity to cement that feeling additional. Make sure that to examine again in subsequent week for a full overview of Rally Legend 2023, as I’ve barely scratched the floor.
Cian Donnellan
Instagram: Ciandon
Fb: CianDonPhotography
