Andrea Aghini

Andrea Aghini is an Italian rally driver who recorded twenty-six starts in the World Rally Championship between 1986 and 2000, scoring one victory and five podiums. His only WRC win was at the 1992 Rallye Sanremo in a Lancia Delta HF Integrale.

In 1992, he also won the Race of Champions event, beating Colin McRae in the final. As one of the leading Italian rally drivers during the 1990s, Aghini managed to win two national rally titles, in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, he was also a vice-champion in the European Rally Championship.

Andrea Aghini

Starting a career in 1984, WRC debut in 1986

Born in December 1963 in Livorno, Tuscany, Aghini started his rally career in 1984, driving a Peugeot 205 GTI in national events. In 1985, he participated in one event in the Group B Lancia 037 Rally and then switched to Group A Renault 5 GT Turbo in 1986. He was driving a Renault in his WRC debut at 1986 Rallye Sanremo, not finishing the event due to turbo failure. Aghini's navigator since 1986 was Sauro Farnocchia.

In 1987, Aghini participated in the European Rally Championship events in a Peugeot 205 GTI, using that car also in his second WRC attempt at 1987 Rallye Sanremo. He failed to finish again.

Production class victory at 1988 Rallye Sanremo

In 1988, Aghini started a season in a Peugeot 205 GTI and then switched to Peugeot 309 GTI, participating in Italian rounds of the European Rally Championship.

In October 1988, Aghini scored Production class victory at Rallye Sanremo, finishing 12th overall in a factory-entered Peugeot 309 GTI.

Andrea Aghini was driving Peugeot 405 Mi16 from 1989 to 1991

Three seasons in a Peugeot 405 Mi16

In 1989, Aghini started to drive a Peugeot 405 Mi16 for Peugeot Team Italia,  participating in the national and ERC events. At Rallye Sanremo, he didn't reach the finish.

In 1990, Aghini scored two national rally wins to finish fourth in the Italian rally championship. He spent one more season in a Peugeot 405 MI16, driving a car in the national and ERC events.

1991 - two WRC starts in a Lancia Delta Integrale

In 1991, while rallying with Peugeot in the ERC and Italian championship, Aghini recorded two WRC starts in a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V, driving for Jolly Club, Lancia's second team.

He finished fifth in both events, at Rallye Sanremo and Rally Espana, collecting 16 championship points. That put him 14th in the championship standings.

Andrea Aghini at 1992 Rallye Sanremo

Winning the 1992 Rallye Sanremo in a Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Such a good performance earned him a drive with Lancia factory team. He made a debut in a Martini Racing Lancia Delta HF Integrale at Rallye de Portugal, crashing out on the last day. Aghini then participated in two ERC events, finishing second at Rally Costa Smeralda and winning the Rali Vinho de Madeira.

He finished sixth at Tour de Corse and then scored his only WRC victory by winning the Rallye Sanremo. He managed to win his teammate Juha Kankkunen by forty seconds.

In November, Aghini scored a podium at Rallye Espana Catalunya Costa Brava, finishing third behind Carlos Sainz (Toyota) and Juha Kankkunen. Aghini ended a season with 10th place at Lombard RAC Rally. At the end of the season, he was seventh in drivers' standings and Lancia captured manufacturers' title.

Winning the 1992 Race of Champions at Gran Canaria

In 1992, Aghini triumphed in the Race of Champions event which took place for the first time at Gran Canaria's brand new circuit in Telde.

He beat double world champion Carlos Sainz in the semifinal and then Colin McRae in the final. It was Aghini's only participation in the annual show event.

Victory at 1992 Race of Champions for Andrea Aghini

Rejoining Jolly Club in 1993 WRC season

In 1993, Lancia closed the Martini Racing team so Aghini rejoined Jolly Club to drive a Lancia Delta HF Integrale in the World Rally Championship. He retired at Rallye Monte-Carlo and then reached his third WRC podium, finishing third at Rallye de Portugal, behind Ford drivers Francois Delecour and Miki Biasion.

Later in the season, Aghini recorded DNFs at Tour de Corse and Rallye Sanremo, scoring points with fourth place at Acropolis Rally. At the end of the season, he was 14th in the drivers' standings.

1994 – three WRC starts and one podium in a Toyota

For the 1994 WRC season, Aghini joined Toyota Castrol Team to drive the #8 Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD in two WRC events. He retired at Rallye de Portugal and then scored a podium at Tour de Corse, finishing third behind Didier Auriol (Toyota) and Carlos Sainz (Subaru).

Later in the season, Aghini was driving Toyota Celica for HF Grifone team, retiring at Rallye Sanremo and scoring two ERC wins at Rali Vinho de Madeira and Rallye du Condroz.

Aghini scored his last WRC podium in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III in 1995

1995 – one more WRC podium in a Mitsubishi

In 1995, Aghini participated in three WRC events in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III, scoring points in all three events to finish seventh in the championship. He was sixth at Rallye Monte-Carlo, fifth at Rallye Catalunya and scored his last WRC podium with a third-place finish at Tour de Corse.

He was also driving Mitsubishi at Ypres 24 Hours Rally, which was a part of the European Rally Championship, finishing in the fifth place.  The 1995 Rallye Sanremo was a part of the 2-Litre Championship and Aghini was driving a Peugeot 306 Maxi, not finishing the event.

In 1996, Aghini slowed down his rally activities, participating in just one event. He finished fifth at Rali Vinho de Madeira in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. It was his last event with Sauro Farnocchia as a navigator.

Aghini captured two championship titles in a Toyota Corolla WRC

Two Italian championship titles in 1998 and 1999

In 1997, Aghini joined HF Grifone to drive a Toyota Celica GT-Four in the Italian Rally Championship and European Rally Championship, with Loris Roggia as his new navigator. Scoring one victory, he finished second in the national championship, losing a title to Andrea Dallavilla. In the ERC, he finished fourth with two wins.

In 1998, Aghini switched to Toyota Corolla WRC and captured his first national title. He was also successful in the European championship, finishing as a runner-up behind Andrea Navarra. In 1999, continuing to drive Toyota Corolla WRC, Aghini defended his national title after winning three events.

Andrea Aghini in 1998

Three participations at Rallye Sanremo with HF Grifone

While competing in the national and European events with HF Grifone, Aghini recorded three WRC starts between 1997 and 1999, all three at Rallye Sanremo.  In 1997, he was seventh in the #11 Toyota Celica GT-Four.

In 1998, Aghini and Roggia finished ninth in the #15 Toyota Corolla WRC. In 1999, Aghini returned to Rallye Sanremo in the #16 Toyota Corolla WRC, finishing in the fifth place and scoring his last championship points.

Last two WRC starts in 2000

In 2000, Aghini recorded his last two WRC starts in a career, driving a Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VI for Ralliart Italia at Rally Argentina and Rallye Sanremo. In Argentina, he and Loris Roggia didn't finish the event. In his last WRC attempt at 2000 Rallye Sanremo, Aghini and Dario D'Esposito finished in the 15th place.

Aghini closed his WRC career in 2000 but stayed active in rallying until today, participating in different Italian and European rally competitions with many different cars.

Andrea Aghini in 2009

Variety of race cars from 2001 onwards

In 2001, Aghini was third in the Italian championship and fifth in the European championship in a Subaru Impreza S6 WRC. In 2002, he scored two ERC wins in a Peugeot 206 WRC, finishing fourth in the final classification. In 2003, his race car was a Peugeot 206 S1600 and he was ninth in the national championship.

In 2005, Aghini was fourth in the Italian championship in a Subaru Impreza STI. Next year, again in a Subaru Impreza, he finished fifth in the national championship. In 2007, he was sixth in the Italian championship with Subaru. In 2008, he scored two wins with Subaru to finish fifth in the Trofeo Rally Terra. In 2011, Aghini scored one victory in a Peugeot 207 S2000 to finish sixth in the Trofeo Rally Terra. It was his last competitive season but he stayed active in historic rally events.

Andrea Aghini

Photos: raceofchampions.com, ewrc-results.com, Petr Fitz, Ivo Novak,