Renato Travaglia

Renato Travaglia is an Italian rally driver who captured more than ten national and international rally titles. He was the European Rally champion two times, in 2005 and 2002. In the World Rally Championship, he recorded 13 starts, nine of them at Rallye Sanremo, which is some kind of his home event.

Renato Travaglia

WRC debut in an Opel Kadett

Born in October 1965, Travaglia started a rally career in the early 1990s with Opel Kadett GSI. It was also his car in maiden WRC appearance, at Rallye Sanremo in 1991, where he retired.

He was also driving a BMW M3 in several rally events, including a victory at Rally Alpi Orientali and second place in Rally Piancavallo, a part of the European Rally Championship.

Class victory at 1993 Rallye Sanremo

In 1992, Travaglia switched to Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 and then to Ford Escort RS Cosworth in 1993. At 1993 Rallye Sanremo, a part of the World Rally Championship, Travaglia finished sixth overall and the winner in the Production WRC/N4 category.

In 1994, Travaglia started to race in a Renault Clio Williams, staying in that car for two seasons. He retired at Rallye Sanremo two times, in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, Travaglia captured Italian 2WD title in a Clio. His championship-winning navigator was Flavio Zanella.

Travaglia's Peugeot 306 Maxi in 1999

Six Italian 2WD titles in a row

In 1996, Travaglia switched to Peugeot 306 S16 and defended his 2WD Italian rally championship title, together with Zanella. In 1997, Travaglia and Zanella were the champions for the third year in a row, one more time in a Peugeot 306 S16.

The fourth title in a row came in 1998 in a Peugeot 306 Rallye. For the 1999 season, a car was the Peugeot  306 Maxi and the result was the same – championship trophy in Travaglia's hands. In 2000, he captured the sixth title in a row, still driving a Peugeot 306 Maxi.

Renato Travaglia at 2000 Rallye Sanremo

Seven WRC starts from 1997 to 2000

While dominating in the Italian 2WD championship, Travaglia recorded seven WRC starts from 1997 to 2000. At 1997 Rallye Sanremo, he was driving Subaru Impreza 555, not finishing the race. In 1998, he recorded DNF at Acropolis Rally with Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III and 14th place (3rd in the A7 class) at Rallye Sanremo with Peugeot 306 Maxi.

In 1999, he retired in two WRC events, at Rally Finland with Mitsubishi Lancer and at Rallye Sanremo with Peugeot 306 Maxi.  In 2000, he was A7 class winner and 14th overall at Rallye Catalunya with Peugeot 306 Maxi. At 2000 Rally GB, he finished 24th overall with Mitsubishi Lancer  Evo VI.

Peugeot 206 WRC was Travaglia's championship winning car in 2002

European and Italian champion in a Peugeot 206 WRC

In 2001, Travaglia made a debut in a World Rally Car. He was driving Peugeot 206 WRC for FPF Sport, scoring four wins and finishing third in the European Rally Championship. In the Italian championship, he was second, behind Paolo Andreucci. His only WRC event was the Rallye Sanremo, where he finished in the fifth place.

In 2002, Travaglia has won two titles, both in the European and Italian championship. He scored seven ERC wins in a Peugeot 206 WRC and added four more wins in the Italian championship. The Rallye Sanremo was again his only WRC event but in a Peugeot 206 S1600. He was 14th overall and the A6 class winner. It was his last WRC event in a career.

Travaglia was the 2005 European Rally champion in a Renault Clio S1600

European rally champion again in 2005

In 2003, Travaglia switched to Peugeot 206 S1600, continuing to drive in the European and Italian championships. He was third in the Italian championship, behind Paolo Andreucci and Giandomenico Basso. He had a similar programme in 2004, finishing seventh in the Italian championship in a Peugeot 206 S1600.

For the 2005 European Rally Championship season, Travaglia changed a car. He was driving Renault Clio S1600, scoring three wins and taking his second ERC title. Flavio Zanella was still his navigator. In the Italian championship, they were sixth.

Renato Travaglia in 2007

Third place in the 2007 European Rally Championship

Another change of a machinery followed in 2006, but also a change of navigator. Travaglia and his new co-driver Lorenzo Granai started a season in a Subaru Impreza STI and then switched to Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, participating in the Italian and European events. Travaglia finished second in the European Rally Cup South.

In 2007, Travaglia/Granai continued to compete in a Mitsubishi, scoring an ERC victory at Rally Poland. The second win came at Rallye Antibes Cote d'Azur in a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000. Travaglia finished third in the final ERC standings, behind Simon Jean-Joseph and Volkan Isik.

Third place in the 2009 Italian Rally Championship

In 2008, Travaglia spent a full season in a Fiat Abarth Grande Punto S2000, finishing fifth in the Italian championship and sixth in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

In 2009, Travaglia was combining three cars on a way to the third place in the Italian championship – Grande Punto S2000, Škoda Fabia S2000 and Peugeot 207 S2000.

Renato Travaglia

Last championship title in 2014

In recent years, from 2010 onwards,  Travaglia was contesting in different European and Italian competitions with different cars. He was driving Grande Punto S2000, Peugeot 207 S2000, Škoda Fabia S2000, Ford Fiesta S2000 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX.

He scored some notable results, such was third place at Rally Mille Miglia in 2010 and 2011, second place at 2011 Rally San Marino or victory at 2014 Rally Costa Smeralda – Sardegna.

The season 2014 was his last season in some competition. He scored four wins and took the title in the Italian Trofeo Rally Terra.

Photos: Marek Felt, Petr Sagner, Petr Fitz/ewrc-results.com, rallyitaliatalent.it,