Monza Rally Show 2018, MAFRA in the front row on the track as well

Published on: 06/12/2018 Updated on: 20/02/2025

From Friday, December 7, until Sunday, December 9, we are at the 2018 Monza Rally Show, an opportunity to close out in style a year that has seen us as protagonists around all of Italy.

MAFRA is there, again at the 2018 Monza Rally Show, as a sponsor but also on the track, alongside the Bernini Rally team and with the inflatable arch to indicate the finish line of all special stages.

As per tradition, the 2018 Monza Rally Show is the event with which the motorsport season ends. An event that has become a mandatory stop, where drivers compete for as many as 3 days.

It all starts on Friday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. with the first practice sessions on the track, leading up to the ninth and final special stage starting at 11:44 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. The grand finale takes place along the central straight of the Monza track, where the top finishers in each category compete in the Masters' Show, a knockout duel, for 1.5km of pure adrenaline.

MAFRA is a sponsor of the event and its inflatable arch makes a fine display, indicating the finish line of all the special stages planned over the 3 days of the race. An element of high visibility that is also captured by RAI and Sky cameras, which will follow the event live with dedicated programs.

In the paddock, then, you cannot miss the traditional MAFRA hospitality where, between trials, you can also meet the protagonists of the race.

Massimiliano Mattioli looking for an encore performance

Last year, Massimiliano Mattioli, one of the owners of MAFRA, participated as the navigator of Andrea Nucita, the top driver of the Team Bernini Rally, achieving a prestigious victory in the R3T class with the Fiat 124 Abarth Rally.

This year the Nucita-Mattioli pair will be driving a stunning 1985 Mazda RX7, participating in the competition dedicated to historic cars and looking to repeat their 2017 success. The car's livery has been completely customized with the MAFRA logo and the colors of the Italian flag, testifying to the company's "Made in Italy" spirit.

MAFRA alongside Team Bernini Rally

MAFRA also takes to the track as the technical sponsor of Team Bernini Rally, a partnership now in its 3rd year that also consists of supplying technical products for car preparation and maintenance. Just to give a few examples: Deterjet Rapid, ideal for vigorously and quickly cleaning any part of the braking unit; Sviting, instant-action screw and bolt release agent; Reset, a descaling cleaner for injection and fuel systems.

At this year's 2018 Monza Rally Show , Team Bernini Rally will field five cars: two Hyundai R5s, driven by crews Mabellini-Lenzi and Tempestini-Boccardo, and three Ford Fiesta R5s, with crews Modanesi-Paganoni, Riccio-Rossetto and Manole-Dorca.

Monza Rally Show 2018 : a success also for the public

Now in its ^39th edition, the 2018 Monza Rally Show manages to gather more than 50,000 fans who, over the course of the 3-day event, have the opportunity to admire their idols competing in gripping time trials, characterized by very spectacular traverses and accelerations. This year there are 120 cars at the start, 97 modern and 23 historic. In the WRC group there are no less than 19 cars entered, among them are the four Ford Fiesta WRC Plus with Teemu Suninen, Roberto Brivio, Alessio Salucci and the always-awaited Valentino Rossi, dominator of the 2017 edition, at the wheel. As for the 15 2016 WRCs, however, among the drivers who will take to the track are Piero Longhi, Mark Reed Chad and Tony Cairoli in Hyundai, Alessandro Perico, Marco Bonanomi, Rhys Yates, Pierfranco Uzzeni in Ford Fiesta and Stefano D'Aste in Citroen DS3.

There are 64 R5 class cars entered, captained by the Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi crew who, not surprisingly, will have No. 11 on the sides of their Peugeot 208 T16, like their eleven Italian titles won. Other drivers entered for this edition of the 2018 Monza Rally Show include Luca Rossetti, Simone Tempestini, Kevin Gilardoni(Hyundai), Giacomo Ogliari(Citroen C3), Alessandro Re (who will bring the Volkswagen Polo R5 to its Italian debut), Andrea Crugnola, Andrea Dalmazzini(Ford), Giandomenico Basso, Aku Pellinen, Giacomo Scattolon, Giuseppe Testa(Skoda), and Rachele Somaschini(Peugeot).

Also taking part in the race will be Guido Meda, driving a Fiesta R5, and Davide Valsecchi in a Ford Fiesta. Finally, there are 7 R2 cars entered with Damiano De Tommaso, Tommaso Ciuffi and Patrizia Perosino, 2 R3T cars and 5 R3C cars completing the lineup of modern cars.

Among the historic cars, in addition to our Mazda RX7d with Andrea Nucita driving and Massimiliano Mattioli as navigator, we point out Lucky and Fabrizia Pons with the Lancia Delta Integrale 16V and Totò Riolo, who is participating with a turbocharged Subaru Legacy Sedan 4WD.