ALPI new opening in Prato - Alpi World
ALPI new opening in Prato - Alpi World
ALPI new opening in Prato - Alpi World
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18<br />
Withcare<br />
aLPi W<strong>in</strong>SPORT & ENTERTAINMENT<br />
I began to follow rallies with some friends older than me - he says<br />
as his eyes sh<strong>in</strong>e with enthusiasm - and I was struck. The first time<br />
I saw the Sanremo Rally was <strong>in</strong> 1989, when the legendary Lancia<br />
Delta 16V made its debut. Com<strong>in</strong>g home from school I got off the<br />
bus and my friends were already <strong>in</strong> the car wait<strong>in</strong>g for me, to go to<br />
Santa Luce, near Pisa, where there was one of the most beautiful<br />
and spectacular special stages <strong>in</strong> the world. It was an <strong>in</strong>credible,<br />
unforgettable feel<strong>in</strong>g”. Who knows what fantasies this unleashed:<br />
“Only one, almost a promise I made to myself: that once I had my<br />
driv<strong>in</strong>g licence I would have done my best up to race <strong>in</strong> rallies”.<br />
1992, Rally of Montecat<strong>in</strong>i Terme, near Pistoia, your official debut<br />
<strong>in</strong> a rally. Not with the steer<strong>in</strong>g wheel <strong>in</strong> your hands, but as a<br />
copilot, on board a Renault 5 GT Turbo. Then, the “promise” made<br />
to yourself <strong>in</strong> the year of “San Remo” was not kept. “I did not have<br />
the f<strong>in</strong>ance to do it as a pilot, but I quickly realized that was not for<br />
me. The role of the codriver is essential and should be done with<br />
dedication and passion, qualities which I did not have, I wanted<br />
to drive”.<br />
The driver’s career started at last the follow<strong>in</strong>g year. The debut is<br />
with a Gr.N Renault Clio at the Pistoia Rally. A good start, as he<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ishes second <strong>in</strong> the one-make stand<strong>in</strong>gs for the drivers of the<br />
French car which, <strong>in</strong> that same year, beg<strong>in</strong>s its great career as a<br />
thoroughbred rac<strong>in</strong>g car.<br />
Then it is the one-make trophies which mark Tobia’s sport<strong>in</strong>g growth,<br />
as he spends three years <strong>in</strong> the Fiat C<strong>in</strong>quecento Trophy<br />
before mov<strong>in</strong>g to the Citroen Trophy and f<strong>in</strong>ally<br />
the Seat Trophy. In 2000 the switch to <strong>World</strong><br />
Rally Cars, the latest produce of rally<strong>in</strong>g<br />
technology, with the debut on board<br />
an Impreza <strong>in</strong> the Monza Rally and<br />
then with the great performance at<br />
the Bologna Motor Show which<br />
seeds him as a “top driver” after<br />
defeat<strong>in</strong>g, as a true outsider,<br />
the ambitions of famous<br />
champions. “Through rallies I<br />
have had the opportunity and<br />
luck to turn my passion <strong>in</strong>to<br />
a job, especially as a driv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong>structor, an activity which<br />
I have been do<strong>in</strong>g for many<br />
years. This allows me to always<br />
be <strong>in</strong> contact with the world that<br />
I like most”.<br />
In 2007, after several years of useful<br />
experience, punctuated by small and<br />
large satisfactions despite the few<br />
resources available, comes the big step: