Rally di Alba: 14 Swiss teams at the start
PREMIERE The third round of the Swiss Rally Championship takes place in Alba, Italy. 14 Swiss teams are at the start - including the top 3 of the Swiss championship.
After the Critérium Jurassien and the Rallye du Chablais, the third round of the Rally di Alba will take place on June 24 and 25, 2022. The type 2 rally covers nine special stages or 121.07 kilometers and will be held in Piedmont - between Turin and Genoa.
Strong trio creates excitement in the field
Of the 111 teams on the grid, 14 are from Switzerland. Among them are the current top 3 of the Swiss Rally Championship.
- These include the leader in the intermediate standings, Jonathan Michellod (Skoda Fabia)
- the runner-up Jonathan Hirschi (VW Polo)
- and third-placed Mike Coppens (Citroën C3)
Pure excitement is guaranteed. Coppens has already won the Critérium Jurassien this year. Michellod most recently celebrated his first victory in the SS Rally at the Chablais. His pursuer Hirschi was second at both rallies. Ivan Ballinari also joins this trio with the #24. The Swiss rally champion of 2018 and 2019 will be competing in a VW Polo, as he did at the Chablais.
Championship New territory for the Swiss
The four top drivers from Switzerland have one thing in common: None of them has taken part in the Rally di Alba before. The race, which is part of the Italian championship, is therefore new territory for all of them. If anyone has a minimal advantage, it's Michellod. Its coach Olivier Burri contested the Alba in 2019 and 2021 on a VW Polo.
Jonathan Michellod: "That's true. But of course it's not the same as when you've ridden it yourself. Besides, only two stages are identical from last year. For me, the rally is new. I'm looking forward to it. And because none of us has driven there before, the starting position is the same for everyone."
