The “divine” Federica Pellegrini will be the godmother of the Rally Italia Sardegna 2025, the Italian round of the Wrc World Rally Championship that will take place in Olbia on 4-8 June, organized by Aci sol with the support of the Sardinia Region. She will participate in all the crucial phases of the event, from the starting ceremony on Thursday evening (8 pm at the Isola Bianca Service Park) to the awards ceremony on Sunday (4 pm).
Pellegrini was the first Italian to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming (in the 200m freestyle, in Beijing 2008), also capable of winning 6 golds and 7 silvers at the World Championships, the only one in the world to have won a medal in eight consecutive world finals, she also boasts 14 European titles (including the short course) and held the world record in the 200m freestyle from 2009 to 2023 (1:52.98), a time that still gives her the Italian and European records.
"I am thrilled and honored to be the godmother of Rally Italia Sardegna 2025," said Federica Pellegrini. " It will be my first time ever attending a rally race and I couldn't be happier that this incredible experience will take place right here in Italy, in the splendid setting of Sardinia . I can't wait to get on board a rally car for a co-driver experience that will make me breathe the unique adrenaline of this sport, driving through the wonderful Sardinian landscapes from a completely new perspective. I love putting positive energy into the things I do and I like to dedicate myself to what gives me back enthusiasm. I am convinced that this experience will be truly immersive. I thank the organizers from the bottom of my heart for this invitation. It will certainly be an unforgettable experience and I am ready to live every emotion that Rally Italia Sardegna will have to offer."
General Tullio Del Sette, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Automobile Club d'Italia, added: « We are happy to welcome Federica Pellegrini to the four-wheel world, through a prestigious stage such as that of the Rally Italia Sardegna . A combination of Italian excellence recognizable and appreciated throughout the world. With her talent, passion and determination she has always best represented the fundamental values of the sport that the Aci shares and promotes, as an automobile federation. The presence of Federica Pellegrini in this 2025 edition, in addition to making us particularly proud, certainly represents an added value both for the race and for the world series».
Rally Targa Florio. Among the 206 crews at the start of the 109th edition of the Sicilian rally valid for the Italian Absolute Rally Championship that will be held between tomorrow and Saturday 10, also two Sardinian crews, competing in the Tricolore Junior. Among the 10 Renault Clio Rally5, managed only by Motorsport Italia and with Pirelli tires reserved for the U28s of Aci Team Italia, there will also be those of Mattia Ricciu and Giovanni Mazzone from Olbia, currently second at 3.5 points from Matteo Greco, in the lead after the first two rounds, and that of Giuseppe Bitti and Giuseppe Pirisinu.