Thirty-seven years after his triumph at the wheel of a Lancia Delta HF 4WD, Bruno Saby returned to the Principality of Monaco. This time, the driver from Grenoble was no longer carried away by the roar of an internal combustion engine, but by the powerful silence of a 100% electric Lancia Ypsilon HF. At 76, the man who left his mark on rallying in the 1980s is proving that passion never dies out. This comeback also symbolises Lancia’s sporting renaissance, on the eve of a major worldwide comeback scheduled for 2026.
An emotional and symbolic return
When Bruno Saby took the start of the 2025 E-Rally Monte-Carlo, the scenery had changed, but not the spirit. The former winner of the classic Monte-Carlo was back on familiar roads, those of the Col de Turini and the Alpes-Maritimes, this time at the wheel of a 280hp electric compact. At his side was his faithful co-driver Christophe Marquès, who had already been a partner when he won the E-Rallye France Auvergne Rhône-Alpes a few weeks earlier.
For the driver, this return was no mere media stunt. « Returning to Monte Carlo with Lancia is a powerful symbol, » he confided before the start. His career, marked by victory in 1988 and successes in the World Championship, finds a new echo in this modern adventure. Lancia, for its part, has seized the opportunity to celebrate its glorious past while affirming its electric ambitions.
Lancia Ypsilon HF: the bridge between tradition and innovation
The Ypsilon HF is not just a tribute to history. It’s a statement of intent. Beneath its compact silhouette, it conceals a 100% electric motor delivering 280 bhp, a lowered chassis and a Torsen differential. All designed for the winding roads of Monte Carlo, where precision and traction are essential.
During the event, the Lancia stood out for its efficiency and reliability. Despite covering more than 1,000 kilometres, often at altitudes of over 2,000 metres, the Saby-Marquès team only recharged at night. A remarkable performance that underlines the progress made by Italian technology. The duo finished just off the podium, fourth in the regularity ranking and fifth in efficiency. A result that confirmed the competitiveness of the model and the relevance of Lancia’s return to modern competition.
Bruno Saby, the undiminished passion of a champion
At 76, Bruno Saby has lost none of his enthusiasm. Having excelled in world rallying, the Dakar and rallycross, he remains an active ambassador for the discipline. Committed to the association Espoir contre le cancer (Hope against Cancer), he is now putting his talent at the service of a worthy cause. « I still love driving. It’s a deep passion that you can’t let go of », he recently declared.
This vitality has found new impetus in electric regularity rallies. Far from being a minor challenge, these competitions demand precision, strategy and energy management. For Saby, it’s a way of continuing to learn and pass on his experience. Through his example, he embodies the continuity between the golden age of rallying and the electric era, with emotion and innovation.
Lancia’s revival on the world stage
The year 2025 will be Lancia’s big comeback. After years of absence, the Italian brand is preparing its sporting resurrection with ambition. From January 2026, the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale will make its debut on the Rallye Monte-Carlo, in the WRC2 category. A decisive step for the most successful brand in the history of the World Rally Championship.
Under the impetus of Luca Napolitano, Managing Director of Lancia, and two-time world champion Miki Biasion, Lancia returns to world competition. The programme is based on a complete range: Ypsilon Rally4 HF, Rally HF Racing and now the Rally2 HF Integrale. A range designed for professional drivers and private teams alike, aimed at putting Lancia back at the heart of international motor sport.
A living heritage, a future on the move
The Trofeo Lancia 2025 confirmed this momentum. With an increase in participation and some outstanding victories, the brand was back in touch with its public. The Rallye Sanremo, the final round of the season, crowned Gianandrea Pisani and Nicola Biagi, symbols of the new generation of Lancia ambassadors. On the roads of Italy, passion was passed on from one era to the next, from the Delta Integrale of yesterday to the Ypsilon HF of today.
In the Lancia villages, the public was able to rediscover the legendary models – Delta, 037, Integrale – alongside the electric vehicles of the new era. A reminder that technology does not erase emotion, but rather extends it. Lancia has understood this: to return to the top, it must rely on the soul of its history.
Monte-Carlo, still the common thread
The E-Rallye, Monte-Carlo remains the point of convergence between past and future. Bruno Saby has once again written a fine page in his legend, while Lancia is preparing its world return to these same roads in January. Both demonstrate that the passion for rallying knows neither the wear and tear of time nor the limits of technology.
This joint comeback, between memory and modernity, marks more than just a race. It embodies the rebirth of a legendary brand and the loyalty of a champion to its history. In the silence of electric propulsion, the music of motor sport continues to vibrate.
