Andrea Crugnola secures the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale’s first Italian win for Lancia

• Historic victory at the 2026 Rally dei Laghi: Andrea Crugnola and Andrea Sassi claim overall victory with the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale on its Italian debut, bringing Lancia back to the top step of a national rally for the first time since 2012.
• A dominant and symbolic performance: Crugnola secures his fifth win in Varese, equalling Ogliari’s record, controls the race even under the final downpour, and dedicates the victory to the memory of Sandro Munari.
• Further validation of Lancia’s motorsport strategy: a Ypsilon one-two-three in Rally4 confirms the strength of the Lancia Corse HF pathway, from the Trofeo Lancia to the Rally2 programme, as part of the brand’s broader motorsport relaunch plan.

Lancia returns to winning ways in Italy, and does so in the most symbolic manner: by dominating the Rally dei Laghi with Andrea Crugnola and Andrea Sassi at the wheel of the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, making its absolute debut on Italian roads.

The victory across the 7 special stages in the Varese area represents a result of historic significance. It marks Lancia’s first overall win in an Italian rally since 2012 and, above all, the first national triumph for the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale.

Crugnola thus secures his fifth victory at the Rally dei Laghi, equalling the record held by Giacomo Ogliari, after a race led with authority and completed with a margin of 1’33”1 over the closest challenger.
 

A winning debut, even in challenging conditions
The rally was far from straightforward. After controlling the first part of the event, the final two stages were hit by a sudden and intense downpour that put crews and cars under severe pressure, with many competitors running on dry tyres.

In this scenario, the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale demonstrated reliability, balance and competitiveness even in low-grip conditions, confirming the quality of the development work carried out in recent months together with the technical team and Crugnola himself.

Participation in the Rally dei Laghi had a dual objective: to deliver a prestigious result in front of the home crowd and to continue the development programme ahead of the 2026 Italian Rally Championship (CIAR) season, where Crugnola will compete as Lancia’s official driver. Both goals were achieved.

A victory with strong symbolic value
The weekend was also marked by a moment of deep emotion for the rally world and for Lancia: the passing of Sandro Munari, a legend of the brand and a symbol of an unforgettable era.

On the very weekend of Lancia’s victorious return in Italy, the crowd at the Giardini Estensi paid tribute to the “Drago di Cavarzere” with a long and heartfelt applause. A coincidence that makes this success even more meaningful and charged with emotion.

Ypsilon one-two-three in Rally4
Beyond the overall Rally2 victory, the Rally dei Laghi also highlighted the strength of the Ypsilon Rally4 HF.

In the Rally4 category, Nicolò Ardizzone and Valentina Pasini claimed class victory after a tightly fought battle, ahead of Simone Di Giovanni and Andrea Colapietro, also competing in Ypsilon Rally4 HF cars. A result that confirms the competitiveness of the project in the feeder category and reinforces the coherence of Lancia’s sporting pathway.

A new sporting chapter
The victory at the Rally dei Laghi forms part of the broader relaunch of the brand’s motorsport programme, inaugurated with Lancia’s official return to competition and the rebirth of Lancia Corse HF.

From the Ypsilon Rally4 HF to the Trofeo Lancia and the Rally2 programme, Lancia is rebuilding a complete sporting ladder, fully aligned with its heritage and focused on talent development and international competition.

With this success, Lancia does not merely celebrate a win. It marks the tangible beginning of a new sporting phase, founded on ambition, technical expertise and respect for a unique rally legacy.

Lancia is once again writing new pages of history — where passion belongs: on rally stages.

Media contact:
Lancia:
Simona Magnarelli: +39 366 6729414
simona.magnarelli@stellantis.com

Team Lancia Corse HF / Stellantis Motorsport:
Mathilde Ponceau: +33 6 58 81 43 01
mathilde.ponceau@external.stellantis.com

Lancia
With 119 years of history, Lancia embodies timeless Italian elegance, a brand that has captured the imagination of the world with its iconic vehicles, the elegance of the Flaminia and Aurelia B24 Spider, the exceptional performance of the Delta, Stratos and 037, and the eclecticism of the Fulvia, Beta HPE and many others.
Today, Lancia is ready to begin its renaissance with a ten-year strategic plan that is progressing by leaps and bounds.
Innovation and timeless design have always been the brand's founding principles. Today, sustainability, customer focus and social responsibility are becoming fundamental, as Lancia is determined to look to the future with great commitment and ambition.

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Turin, 3 March 2026