Galli planning World RX return with privateer Kia

Former World Rally Championship podium-finisher Galli debuted the first version of the Rio Supercar at his home round at Franciacorta in 2015 and subsequently sold the machine to Hungarian driver Lukacs Kornel for the 2017 season.

The Italian says the new version of the car, which has its cooling package mounted in the front like the title-winning Volkswagen Motorsport-built Polos, features improvements in almost every area.

“We have just done the very first 200 kilometers in this car and from first impressions, and in comparison to other rallycross cars I have driven, I would say this is a totally different car,” Galli told Motorsport.com.

“Now we need to check the reliability of the car and then I need to take some decision how to carry on.”

Galli says while he would like to race the new car himself this year, he is looking for an experienced rallycross driver to extract the machine’s full potential.

“After I tested this car for the first time I would like to race it because it gives me the motivation to race again, but the problem for me I’m sure is that I’m still missing experience in rallycross," he said.

"I would more pleased to find an expert driver who can drive in the World Championship or even the European Championship so we can show what we can do.”

Only the Unic transmission in the Rio remains unchanged from the previous version of the car. The two-litre engine continues to be built by Lehmann, but is now based on a Kia block.

“To be honest the whole car is completely different, starting with the kinematics, roll centre, weight distribution and the balance is completely different," he explained.

"For instance, the uprights are a completely different design, made for this car. In the last car we used an existing upright from an R5 car, now they are better for rallycross and are less weight.

"The only thing I didn’t change is the transmission, because I was happy, but even this is in a different position.”

Galli drove the car in the Ice Challenge Championship event at his home town of Livigno last month.

Gigi Galli, Kia Rio

Photo by: Caldani Alberto