Scattolin to celebrate 100th rally in Focus WRC
2006 Fiesta Sporting Trophy International (FSTi) Champion co-driver Simone Scattolin has an appointment with history for his FSTi prize drive in Corsica this weekend. Firstly, because the Venetian co-driver will achieve his greatest dream to co-drive in an official WRC team – the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford World Rally Team in the Ford Focus WRC 06 with Alessandro Bettega – and, secondly, because he will celebrate his 100th rally as a co-driver. The drive is Bettega’s and Scattolin’s reward for winning the 2006 FSTi championship.
The long and successful career of Scattolin started in 2000 in Scorzč with his participation in the Montebelluna rally, by Massimo Pastrello’s side, driving a Renault Clio Williams.
In the same year, Scattolin sat with Christian Chemin, a young driver from Bassano, with a bright future. This companionship had been strongly desired by Alessandro Bordignon, the unforgettable manager of Hawk Racing club. In the same year, Scattolin made his debut in the WRC with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V owned by Fabio Frisiero.
Scattolin recalls: “Seven years ago in Corsica, I was a young guy who could get excited over nothing, who looked up to famous drivers and co-drivers. Now, on those same roads, I’ll run the hardest rally race of my life.”
From that moment on, Scattolin, driven by a strong passion which made him face and overcome the some hard moments, has been co-driver to different famous drivers such as Zanusso, Lamonato, Ghegin, Massimo Ceccato, Pierfrancesco Zanchi, Mirco e Loris Baldacci, Giandomenico Basso, Ostani, Ceccoli, Ferronato, Travaglia, Andriolo. He started rallying with Alessandro Bettega in 2003, on the Tutta Terra Toscana Rally, when the driver from Trento drove a Fiat Punto Super 1600. This collaboration was later to become a strong friendship.
“The Tour de Corse will be my 31st time rallying in the WRC and I’m so lucky to have had this chance to travel around the world. To date, I have driven in the Italian Rally Championship 28 times. I rallied a lot and with different drivers, and I think I’m lucky because I always got a long great with everybody. I want to thank one by one all of those who have given me the chance to be part of this environment, which I love more than anything else. A very special thanks goes to Alessandro Bordignon because he started taking me to rallies. He placed the first radar in my hands he taught me everything I know. If I got so far it’s only because Sandro gave me the chance.”