XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico: A Tribute to the Fiat 131 Abarth, the Queen of Rallying Returns to Where It All Began
22-07-2026 08:00 -
PRESS RELEASE
XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico: A Tribute to the Fiat 131 Abarth, the Queen of Rallying Returns to Where It All Began
The Island of Elba will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the legendary Turin-built car's competition debut, which took place on the island's roads in April 1976. ACI Livorno Sport will pay tribute to one of the greatest icons in Italian sporting and industrial history. A special conference featuring some of the leading figures from rallying's golden era is also scheduled for Thursday, 24 September. The event will take place from 24 to 26 September.
Livorno, 22 July 2026 – Some cars win rallies; others become legends. The Fiat 131 Abarth unquestionably belongs to the latter category. The XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico – Trofeo Locman Italy, taking place from 24 to 26 September and counting towards both the FIA European Historic Rally Championship and the Italian Historic Rally Championship, will pay tribute to one of the most iconic rally cars in history, celebrating its deep and enduring bond with the Island of Elba.
Elba will once again provide the perfect setting for a celebration of outstanding historical and sporting significance, dedicated to the car that wrote the opening chapter of its remarkable competition career on the island's roads. It was in April 1976 that the Fiat 131 Abarth Group 4 made its competitive debut at the Rally dell'Isola d'Elba, then a round of both the Italian and European Rally Championships.
It was a debut destined to make history. The factory cars were entrusted to drivers of the calibre of Maurizio Verini and Finland's Markku Alén, whose performances immediately revealed the enormous potential of the Abarth-developed project. Born from the technical vision of the Turin manufacturer and the expertise of the legendary Scorpion competition department, the Fiat 131 Abarth would go on to become one of the dominant forces in world rallying, securing three FIA World Rally Championship Manufacturers' titles and helping to write some of the sport's most memorable chapters.
Fifty years after that historic debut, the XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico will pay a fitting tribute to a car that defined an era and continues to captivate enthusiasts and professionals alike. The celebration takes on even greater significance because it will be held where the story first began, with the participation of several personalities who played a direct role in writing the competitive history of this legendary machine.
The XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico once again confirms its status as one of Europe's most prestigious historic rally events while providing a unique opportunity to preserve and promote the heritage of motorsport. Every year, the island's roads welcome true masterpieces of rally history, from World Championship-winning cars to the popular and fiercely competitive Fiat and Abarth models that helped spread the passion for rallying throughout Europe.
The celebration of the Fiat 131 Abarth will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the 2026 XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico, bringing together history, passion and sporting culture in honour of a car that still stirs the emotions of rally fans around the world. Because on Elba, it is not simply a car that will be celebrated—it is a legend.
EVENT PROGRAMME
Participation is open to Fiat 131 Abarth Group 4 cars as well as road-going Fiat 131 Abarth models.
The maximum number of accepted entries is limited to 30 vehicles.
Administrative checks, together with the distribution of the route itinerary and all event documentation, will take place on Thursday, 24 September, during the sporting checks of the XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico.
Thursday, 24 September
5:00 pm – Display of participating cars in the centre of Capoliveri.
6:30 pm – Conference featuring leading personalities from rallying's golden era, followed by the screening of historic rally footage on a giant screen. The event will be moderated by Cristiano Marcacci, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper Il Tirreno.
Approximately 10:00 pm – Ceremonial start behind the XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico field on the Capoliveri Special Stage.
Friday, 25 September
Approximately 4:30 pm – Start behind the Rallye Graffiti field on the Due Colli Special Stage.
Approximately 5:30 pm – Start behind the Rallye Graffiti field on the Monte Perone Special Stage.
Approximately 6:30 pm – Aperitif dinner in the village of Poggio.
Approximately 8:00 pm – Finish in Capoliveri followed by the prize-giving ceremony.
The total distance will be 98.630 kilometres, including 35.310 kilometres on rally special stages.
