Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF stars in CIAR Junior with ACI Team Italia

• After the splendid 2025 Lancia Trophy season, which confirmed the competitiveness of the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, the car makes its debut in CIAR Junior as the ideal springboard towards the ERC and, step by step, towards the World Championship.
• The partnership between Lancia and ACI Team Italia strengthens the Youth Project with a modern, high-performance car that plays a leading role in the FIA pyramid, reaffirming the brand's role as the natural guide for new generations of rallying.
• Applications for CIAR Junior 2026 are officially open, with the December selection process set to test the best under-28 drivers and award six steering wheels on the Ypsilon Rally4 HF for ACI Team Italia.
   

Lancia is increasingly taking center stage in the Italian rally scene alongside ACI Team Italia, becoming the technical partner of ACI Sport. The main protagonist will be the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF, chosen as the single-make car for the youth series, a true sporting laboratory in which to develop the best Italian rally talents, accompanying them on their journey towards the ERC and, step by step, towards the WRC.

Thanks to the collaboration between Lancia and ACI Sport, the Youth Project is enriched with a fundamental element: the continuous use, for three seasons, of a modern, high-performance car perfectly aligned with the rally pyramid defined by the FIA. A long-term commitment, therefore, that demonstrates Lancia's desire to once again become a reference point for new generations in the most technical discipline of motorsport, relaunching a sporting tradition that has written unforgettable pages in the history of competitions.

For the 2026 season as well, the championship will consist of six rounds, four on asphalt and two on gravel, accompanied by training sessions at the Junior Academy with theoretical lessons and tests supervised by the ACI Sport Federal School. The final prize pool of €75,000.00 is also confirmed, intended to support the participation of the best driver in an international series in 2027, with the aim of facilitating the transition to the ERC and aiming for the WRC. The season calendar includes the Targa Florio Rally on May 17, the San Marino Rally on June 21, the Rally Regione Piemonte on August 2, the Rally del Lazio on September 20, the Rallye Sanremo on October 18, and the Rally del Brunello on November 29 (coefficient 1.5).

Roberta Zerbi, CEO of the brand, said: "We are delighted with the partnership with ACI Sport, a true reference point for those who want to practice motorsports in Italy, because we deeply believe in the value of training and developing young drivers. Offering them a modern, competitive car and a structured path means investing in the future of this sport and giving continuity to Lancia's rallying tradition."

Ypsilon Rally4 HF, a team effort

Designed for ambitious private drivers and professional teams, with particular attention to operating costs, the Ypsilon Rally4 HF bears the iconic HF logo with the red Elefantino. In particular, this spirited car was born from the synergy between Lancia, the most successful brand of all time in the world of rallying, and the Stellantis Motorsport team, which boasts 11 Dakar victories and 27 constructor titles in the World Rally Championship. All enhanced by a very Italian DNA, thanks to prestigious partnerships established between Lancia and some of the most famous racing excellence. Under the hood, the 1.2 Turbo engine with 212 HP has proven to be powerful, progressive, and perfectly matched with the 5-speed SADEV sequential gearbox.

All embellished by high-performance tires from the MICHELIN Pilot Sport range - two for dry asphalt and one for wet conditions - all available in 19/63-17 sizes. From the first races of last season, the car impressed with its corner-entry precision, braking effectiveness even in the most technical sections, and the ability to give the driver great confidence, even in the most challenging conditions. Credit goes to the winning combination of a light but extremely rigid chassis, McPherson suspension with 3-way adjustable Ohlins dampers, and a top-tier braking system with 330 mm ventilated discs. Furthermore, front-wheel drive has been maximized thanks to the mechanical limited-slip differential and refined setup that allowed deep braking and aggressive acceleration. For the setup, the brand relied on Miki Biasion, a motorsport legend who, between the '80s and '90s, linked his name to Lancia, becoming the most successful Italian driver of all time. Finally, Lancia's return to rallying is an integral part of an industrial and cultural project that recognizes motorsport as a strategic laboratory for technical innovation, the training of new talents, and the strengthening of brand identity.

Turin, December 11, 2025

Simona Magnarelli: +39 366 6729414 – simona.magnarelli@stellantis.com 

Lancia
With 119 years of history, Lancia represents timeless Italian Elegance, a brand that made people around the globe dream, thanks to its iconic vehicles: the elegant Flaminia and Aurelia B24 Spider, the high-performance Delta, Stratos and 037, the eclectic Fulvia, the Beta HPE and many others.
Lancia embarked on its Renaissance with the launch of the New Lancia Ypsilon and with a 10-year strategic plan that is moving ahead in leaps and bounds.
Innovation and timeless design have always been the founding principles for the brand. And now sustainability, customer centricity and social responsibility have also become essential, because Lancia is determined to look to the future with great commitment and ambition.

LinkedIn Lancia Instagram Lancia Facebook Lancia X Lancia YouTube Lancia TikTok Lancia