Rome became the epicenter of European motorsport today as the opening special stage of Rally di Capitale 2026 delivered one of the most closely contested and technologically fascinating starts to a season. Although the stage lasted less than a minute, it provided definitive answers to the questions fans have been asking for months: the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale is lightning fast, and Mikołaj Marczyk has no intention of backing down without a fight.
The Return of a Legend in Grand Style
The main talking point in the service park was the debut—or rather, the grand return—of the Lancia brand to top-tier competition in the Rally2 class. The Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale project had been surrounded by massive expectations since its announcement, but few expected such a dominant entry.
The winner of the opening stage was Frenchman Yohan Rossel, co-driven by Arnaud Dunand. Representing the “Tricolores” in the brand-new Lancia machinery and running on Hankook tires, Rossel stopped the clock at 59.5 seconds. He demonstrated phenomenal precision, navigating the twisty, technical stage at an average speed of 78.7 km/h. However, this was just the beginning of the drama, as a battle for milliseconds unfolded behind him.
Marczyk Issues a Challenge – Polish Ace on the Podium
Just behind the Frenchman sat Poland’s Mikołaj Marczyk. Driving the proven and reliable Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on Michelin tires, Marczyk once again proved he belongs at the very top of the European hierarchy. Trailing the leader by a mere 0.2 seconds, Marczyk and his co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk showed that their off-season preparation was flawless.
The Polish duo was a breath away from causing a major upset by beating the factory Lancia driver. Marczyk opted for an aggressive yet technically clean run, which was the key to success on such a short, intense sprint. The gap between first and second place is effectively a “blink of an eye” in rallying terms, promising an incredible battle in the stages to come.
Czech Pressure and a Technological Melting Pot
The podium was completed by Czech driver Dominik Stříteský (+0.3s off the lead), also in a Škoda Fabia, confirming that the Czech machine remains the gold standard for the field. In fourth place was Erik Cais in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, trailing Rossel by 0.8 seconds. Cais, utilizing MRF tires, showed that the Indian tire manufacturer is increasingly knocking on the door of absolute victory.
The density of the field was staggering. The top five were separated by only 1.1 seconds, and the entire top ten was covered by a mere 1.7 seconds. Notably, four Lancia Ypsilons made it into the top ten (Rossel, Gryazin, Mabellini, and Bonato), making the Italian brand the most represented manufacturer at the front of the pack.
The Tire War in the Background
Rally di Capitale 2026 is not just a duel between drivers, but also a massive battle between tire manufacturers. The top ten featured representatives from four different brands:
- Hankook (Leaders after SS1),
- Michelin (Marczyk and Stříteský on the podium),
- MRF (Cais and Tempestini),
- Pirelli (Daprà, Mabellini, and Avbelj).
Such equipment diversity combined with minimal time gaps suggests that final success in the rally may be decided not just by raw pace, but by tire management strategy over the longer loops ahead.
Classification after Special Stage 1:
- Y. Rossel / A. Dunand (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2) – 59.5 s
- M. Marczyk / S. Gospodarczyk (Škoda Fabia RS) – +0.2 s
- D. Stříteský / O. Krajča (Škoda Fabia RS) – +0.3 s
- E. Cais / I. Bacigál (Hyundai i20 N) – +0.8 s
- N. Gryazin / K. Aleksandrov (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2) – +1.1 s
- R. Daprà / L. Guglielmetti (Škoda Fabia RS) – +1.3 s
- A. Mabellini / V. Lenzi (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2) – +1.4 s
- B. Avbelj / E. De Guio (Škoda Fabia RS) – +1.5 s
- Y. Bonato / B. Boulloud (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2) – +1.6 s
- S. Tempestini / F. Maior (Škoda Fabia RS) – +1.7 s
Tomorrow, the crews head out to the full-length stages in the mountainous terrain surrounding the Italian capital. Can Lancia maintain its pace? Can Mikołaj Marczyk leapfrog Rossel? One thing is certain—Rally di Capitale 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting rallies in recent memory.
