The Memorial Bettega (Memorial Attilio Bettega) was a stadium-style rally competition on a short, closed circuit in the Bologna Fiera typically mixing asphalt and gravel brought into the fairground to create jumps and spectator-friendly viewing. Traditionally held during the Bologna Motor Show, it was created in 1985 to honour Italian rally driver Attilio Bettega after his fatal accident in the 1985 Tour de Corse.

First held a few months after Bettega’s death, it immediately attracted many of the leading Group B stars and cars of the era, such as Peugeot 205 T16, Lancia Delta S4, Audi Sport Quattro, and Metro 6R4, and many well-known rally drivers, including Colin McCrae, Petter Solberg, Chris Meeke, Sébastien Ogier and many others.

Photo Courtesy Rallylegend

In collaboration with the Fiera di Bologna, Rallylegend will be reviving the famous head-to-head challenge this October (8-11) after years of absence. Reimagined in a form adapted to the event’s context and preserving its spirit without the aim of fully replicating the original format, competing will be a selection of WRC and Group B cars marking the fortieth anniversary of the latter’s last competitive appearance, at the Memorial Bettega in 1986. Further Group B special events and initiatives involving drivers and protagonists from the era are also being finalised, highlighting a technical and emotional heritage that remains one of the pillars of Rallylegend’s identity.

As the popularity of Rallylegend has grown, last year with over 110,000 attendees and more than 200 crews coming to the tiny Republic of San Marino, some organisational changes to the event will be made this year to better manage crowd flow and overall event management. “A necessary evolution for an event that continues to grow, while keeping its spirit and identity fully intact,” say organisers. See rallylegend.com for all the details