Italy admits under-age rally drivers

Revised regulations from the Italian federation will permit foreign rally drivers under the age of 18 to compete in their country.   

Conditions are that the driver must produce the written consent of both parents, the driver must successfully pass a driving test at the Federal School, the co-driver must be over 18 and holder of a driving licence and international licence, and the co-driver must drive the road sections, immediately after leaving the time control zone.  

During the reconnaissance the juvenile driver may be transported in the car as a third person, but not drive the car.  

Following the permission granted by the Finnish federation to allow 16-year old Kalle Rovanpera to compete in his own country, Rovanpera has recently been testing in Italy on tarmac and gravel, with different R5 specification cars, in the hope that Italian federation officials would permit him to compete in their country as well.  

It’s interesting to note that both Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen both spent time competing on small events in Italy in their early days, albeit not as young as Rovanpera will be.
 
- Martin Holmes  

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