Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
Baja dello Stella 2024: Mengozzi-Brun and Castagnera-Tassile triumph at 1st Baja dello Stella.
Tight fight between the Romagnolo on Toyota Hilux Overdrive and Andrea Schiumarini, who climbs the second step of the podium ahead of Bordonaro-Lovisa, running on Suzuki Grand Vitara. Among SSVs, the crew on Can Am Maverick in Group T3 took their third win of the season. Silver square for Manocchi-Bellotto on Yamaha, third Buttò-Marcon on BRP Can Am.
Rivignano Teor (UD), Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 - A decidedly hard-fought first edition of the Baja dello Stella saw a gripping battle between Manuele Mengozzi and Andrea Schiumarini. A completely new course within the Cross Country and SSV Calendar, valid as the fourth round of the tricolor, which saw the Romagna driver triumph at the wheel of the Toyota Hilux Overdrive, shared with Mirko Brun from Pordenone. The two set the best time in the second and third timed pass of “Anaxum” and, in the final, managed to overtake the Mitsubishi L200 of the Forlì driver, navigated by Daniele Fontana Sacchetti, who finished the race in second place with a 21” gap, after having put his own signature on the first special of the day by immediately moving into the lead. A result that allows Mengozzi to shorten the distance from Schiumarini in the tricolor ranking, with the latter nevertheless retaining the leadership. Third step of the podium for Alfio Bordonaro, paired with Stefano Lovisa on a T1-type Suzuki Grand Vitara, who also brings home his fourth consecutive victory in the Suzuki Challenge. Behind the Catanian reigning Italian champion is Andrea Luchini, author of a fine performance together with navigator Piero Bosco on Grand Vitara Pentastar, ahead of Elvis Borsoi, fifth overall on Mini John Cooper of Group T1 and with Paolo Manfredini in the right seat. They were followed by the two T2-type Suzuki Grand Vitara of Gianluca Morra and Alessandro Trivini Bellini, navigated by Stefano Tironi and Marco Trivini Bellini, who took sixth and seventh place respectively, preceding in turn Stefano Moro, assisted by Luciano Macrini on a Mitsubishi Pajero, first among vehicles belonging to the TH category. Finishing eighth was Filippo Andreetto in a twin car shared with Francesco Maria Proietti, ahead of the other Suzuki Grand Vitara in Group T2 of Alberto Spinetti, accompanied on notes by Lara Giusti, who completed the top ten crews.
Twists and turns also among the Side by Side Vehicles, with Andrea Castagnera scoring his third win of the season alongside Elisa Tassile in the Group T3 Can Am Maverick. Thanks to his victory in Friuli, the driver from Veneto stretches considerably in the championship standings reserved for SSVs over Federico Buttò. Unlucky the Pordenone driver, in the lead until the last stage, when a mechanical failure just 5 kilometers from the finish line forced him to slow down, causing him to slip into third position. Michele Manocchi and Nicola Bellotto, on Yamaha YXZ1000R of Group T4N, took advantage of this, thus claiming second place, with a gap of 2'55” from Castagnera. Finishing fourth was Cristian D'Agnolo, along with Simone Crosilla on a TM-type Maverick X3, while Kevin and Giada Manocchi on another Yamaha T4N were fifth.
Also in evidence was Roberto Camporese at the wheel of the N5-type Volkswagen Polo, with Diego Zanotti at the notes, who closed the Friulian appointment with an overall time of 1:31'30.
Filed the 1st Baja dello Stella, the Italian Cross Country and SSV 2024 Championship will fly to Sardinia next October for the 5th Baja Vermentino - Terre di Gallura, valid as the penultimate round of the tricolor.
CLASSIFICA FINALE BAJA DELLO STELLA CCB: 1. MENGOZZI-BRUN (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) in 1:30'48; 2. SCHIUMARINI-FONTANA SACCHETTI (Mitsubishi l200) a 21; 3. BORDONARO-LOVISA (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 3'04; 4. LUCHINI-BOSCO (Suzuki Gran Vitara Pentastar) a 4'54; 5. BORSOI-MANFREDINI (Mini Jhon Cooper) a 6'19; 6. MORRA-TIRONI (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 9'39; 7. TRIVINI BELLINI-TRIVINI BELLINI (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 9'40; 8. MORO-MACRINI (Mitsubishi Pajero) a 12'07; 9. ANDREETTO-PROIETTI (Mitsubishi Pajero) a 12'25; 10. SPINETTI-GIUSTI (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 12'25
CLASSIFICA FINALE BAJA DELLO STELLA SSV: 1. CASTAGNERA-TASSILE (Can Am Maverick x3) in 1:31'45; 2. MANOCCHI-BELLOTTO (Yamaha XYZ1000R) a 2'55; 3. BUTTO'-MARCON (BRP Can Am) a 5'15; 4. D'AGNOLO-CROSILLA (Maverick X3) a 16'32; 5. MANOCCHI-MANOCCHI (YAMAHA XYZ1000R) a 5:40'11
Automatic translation of the Italian Version
Source: ACI Sport
Helder