The most loved car race in the Biella area has reached its 34th edition: it was held on 10 and 11 July 2021.

Rally della Lana 2021: what it is

The most loved car race in the Biella area has reached its 34th edition: it was held on 10 and 11 July 2021 and, despite the difficulties brought about by the Covid pandemic, it recorded three-digit registrations, in fact almost 150 participants.

STRENGTH, CONFIDENCE, FUTURE. This is this year’s slogan: strength in restarting a sporting event despite the difficulties of the period; trust, received by all enthusiasts and above all by the participating crews, in taking over the reins of Rally Lana; future, which we hope will be better for everyone.

The event was held in full compliance with the anti-covid regulations, according to the format chosen by ACI Sport: more concentrated and shorter than in past editions; a choice that allowed Italy to restart with rallies, unlike other European countries.
The scheme of last year has therefore been reconfirmed, but with some decisive innovations: the spectacular night tests have been re-proposed, the classic Biella-Oropa has been reinstated, the historic test of the Biella track, and the start and finish were in Piazza Martyrs of Freedom, central location in Biella.

Unfortunately this year too it was not possible for the participants to have the warm support of the public as, at the request of the Prefecture, the event will be held behind closed doors for the containment of the pandemic. However, all those interested were able to watch the live streaming on the Facebook page on 10 July from 7:30 to 21:15 and 11 July from 12:40 to 16:30.

There were six special stages, for a total length of about 60 km:

  • Special stage 1-3 – Tracciolino – km 7,400. Extremely difficult test due to the route in some very narrow sections with no reference points.
  • Special stage 2 – Biella–Oropa – 6.750 km. The most fascinating event of the Biella rally. The roadway is wide and allows speed and sustained smoothness.
  • Special stage 4-5-6 – Caprile – km 11,700. Stage also characterized by a narrow roadway; – in particular, pay attention to the Ailoche-Caprile crossroads in counterslope where it is easy to go off the road – suggests Fabrizio Ratiglia, a former rally driver who has participated in the Rally della Lana in the past.

Rally della Lana 2021: how it went

During the 34th edition of the Rally della Lana there was no shortage of twists and turns.

The 2021 event, marked by the Covid pandemic, took place behind closed doors, or so it should have been. In fact, the fans of the historic event who were already unable to participate last year gathered along the routes of the special stages to cheer on them. Due precisely to the public amassed on the Oropa test, the most spectacular and exciting of all, this one was cancelled. However, she is not the only one: the first of the three Tracciolino stages was also cancelled, due, this time, to the heavy rain that fell on the town at the foot of the Alps. The special stages therefore went from 6 scheduled to 4 completed.

The general classification was led by the host and co-organizer of the race, Corrado Pinzano and Fabrizia Pons until the last race, at the beginning of which, however, the transmission of their Volkswagen Polo R5 gave way.

The podium was won by Davide Caffoni and Massimo Minazzi from Ossola on their Skoda Fabia, followed after only nine tenths by Elwis Chentre, champion of the 2019 edition, and Fulvio Florean, also on board a Skoda Fabia, while third place goes up Gregoire Hotz and Pietro Ravasi with their Citroën C3.

For more information on the race, the official magazine is available.

We at Max Application, as far as we are from Biella, can only be proud to continue supporting the historic Rally della Lana, a collaboration that has been going on for years and that always excites us.