Two-time European champion Basso managed to hold off title contender and fellow Pirelli-shod driver Andrea Mabellini on the final stage to take the win by 3.7s in stifling temperatures. The triumph follows previous victories at the asphalt event in 2019 and 2021 for Basso.

Mabellini’s ERC title hopes were boosted with this first podium of the season, beating the Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of current championship leader Miko Marczyk by 7.4s.

After tying for 10th on Friday’s super special in the centre of Rome – in front of the famous Colosseum – Basso quickly rose up the leaderboard on Saturday, getting locked in an intense battle for first place with compatriot and two-time event winner Andrea Crugnola.

The gap between the two never exceeded five seconds across Saturday with Crugnola taking a 3.3s lead into Sunday.

Basso continued to apply pressure on the final morning, whittling the Citroën C3 Rally2 driver’s lead down to 2.7s after SS8, before snatching the rally lead by 0.2s after winning SS9.

However, Crugnola fought back and reclaimed the lead by 2.5s going into midday service before his victory hopes were dashed with just three stages to run. Two minutes late coming out of a regroup, Crugnola incurred a 20-second penalty, which handed Basso a 9.5s lead over Marczyk, while Crugnola dropped to fifth.

Basso then headed into the event-deciding Power Stage with a 5.1s margin over Mabellini, who leapt ahead of Marczyk after winning SS12. But the veteran Italian held his nerve to hang on to take an impressive win.

Marczyk claimed a thoroughly deserved podium, having grabbed the headlines on Saturday thanks to fastest times on SS2 and SS3, which helped the Polish driver into an early rally lead, before an overshoot on SS4 halted his charge. Marczyk ended the weekend on a high by winning the Power Stage with a scant 0.1s advantage over Roberto Daprà.

Daprà, the FIA WRC2 winner on Rally Italia Sardegna last month, delivered a strong showing throughout to finish fourth. Two stage wins on Saturday afternoon helped the young Italian charge up the leaderboard, having sat in eighth position at midday service following a spin.

Crugnola came home in fifth after his time penalty, while fellow Italian Simone Campedelli enjoyed a strong Sunday, including wins on both passes through Guarcino - Altipiani, to climb to sixth.

Efrén Llarena was another driver moving up the leaderboard on Sunday as the 2022 ERC champion continued to gel with his new T oyota GR Yaris Rally2 to finish seventh.

Norwegian Mads Østberg found himself locked in a fight for the podium on Saturday before balance struggles with his Citroën C3 Rally2 halted his progress. He eventually settled for eighth, ahead of Friday pacesetter Boštjan Avbelj and Czech champion Dominik Stříteský.

Tymek Abramowski won FIA ERC3 from Hubert Kowalczyk and Casey-Jay Coleman after overnight leader Tristan Charpentier dropped out on SS9 with a mechanical failure.

Opel Corsa-driving Calle Carlberg took the FIA ERC4 and Hankook-supplied FIA Junior ERC win from Jaspar Vaher (Lancia Ypsilon Rally4 HF) as Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy-backed Craig Rahill finished third in his Peugeot 208 Rally4 as less than 10 seconds covered positions two to five.

Barum Czech Rally Zlín hosts round six of the 2025 ERC season from August 15-17.