During the shakedown, the Olympic champion and ambassador for the Italian round of the FIA WRC took the co-driver’s seat in Adrien Fourmaux’s car for a run on the Cabu Abbas stage, fully equipped with helmet and racing suit. “An electrifying experience – the heat was the toughest part.”

Olbia, 5 June 2025 – Rally Italia Sardegna, the Italian round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is in full swing ahead of the event’s conclusion on Sunday, 8 June. This morning, during the ‘Olbia – Cabu Abbas’ shakedown, the crews had their first chance to fine-tune setups and prepare for the challenges ahead.

All eyes were on Adrien Fourmaux, who had the honour of welcoming Olympic gold medallist and Italian sporting icon Federica Pellegrini for a hot lap. As ambassador of Rally Italia Sardegna, she took the co-driver’s seat in a Rally1 car – the most powerful and spectacular machine in the world of rallying – tackling the 2.19 km Cabu Abbas stage.

“Sitting in an official Rally1 car during the 2025 Rally Italia Sardegna was a breathtaking experience. The impact was really strong – something truly unique. It wasn’t just the speed, the braking, or the incredible jumps that impressed me, but the fact that, for once, I wasn’t the one ‘driving’ my performance. I want to sincerely thank Rally Italia Sardegna for this opportunity, and of course the driver, for letting me feel such pure and intense emotions,” said Federica.