Piero Liatti
Italy (I) |
CAREER PROFILE1985: Started rallying with Fiat Uno
1987: FiatUno Trophy 1990: 5th in his WRC debut in San Remo with Lancia 1991: 7th in San Remo with Lancia, European Champion1992: 2nd in New Zealand with Lancia 1993: 4th in San Remo with Subaru 1995: 1st in San Remo (only F2 event), 3rd in Spain with Subaru, 8th WRC for Drivers 1996: Eight WRC events, 2nd in Indonesia and Spain with Subaru, 5th WRC for Drivers 1997: 1st WRC win in Monte Carlo with Subaru, 2nd in Spain and San Remo, 6th WRC for Drivers 1998: Full WRC programme with Subaru, 3rd in Corsica, 1999: Move to SEAT 2000: Drives with Ford, 6th in Corsica 2001: Move to Hyundai 2003: Drives Peugeot |
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of Birth: 7/3/1962 at Biella Marital status:
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Having competed in rallying for half his life, Liatti first made the grade when he won the Fiat Uno Trophy in 1987. He then sprang to international prominence in 1991 when he won the European Championship, a series that was strictly the domain of rich Italians who won by tackling more events than anyone else. Liatti hardly spoke a word of English and, as such, was largely ignored by the international media. In 1993 he moved away from the traditional Fiat/Lancia route and contested the Italian series in an Alessandrini Racing Technology Subaru - the first front-runner for the Japanese marque in the Italian Championship. A fourth-place on that year's San Remo Rally caught the eyes of the management and he was drafted into the team for asphalt events in 1995. His worth was made abundantly clear in Spain when the team used him as a test bed for many components, especially tyres, for both Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae. Third place was rich reward for his patience, as was a win in San Remo, albeit on an F2 championship round. Subaru's decision to sign the quiet Italian for its World Championship team in 1996 raised a few eyebrows, and many suspected he would not be able to hack it with the established drivers. But Liatti turned out to be the star of the year, a more than competent support driver, and frequently the saviour of the Subaru team when the more established stars blew it. During 1996 Liatti turned in solid results on every event he tackled depsite, until San Remo, making his debut on every event he started. He was denied his first win by Colin McRae in the closing stages of Catalunya, but opened his 1997 account with a spectacular win in Monte Carlo. Three further points finishes guaranteed him a better programme for 1998.. Although Liatti only drove in five rallies, he managed a respectful sixth overall in the World Championship points standings in 1997. And in 1998, he drove for the first time all 14 rounds of the Championship. Season 1999 with SEAT was very frustrating and it seemed that Liatti´s rallying career was over. After long break he returned to the WRC rallying in Corsica driving Ford´s third works car and placed sixth. For the season 2001 he joined the Hyundai team. He took part in six events for the Anglo-Korean team, concentrating on the four asphalt rallies plus two loose-surface rounds. |
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