Baja ignites the penultimate round of the Italian Championship
The Italian Cross Country Rally & SSV Championship returns to Friuli for its fourth and penultimate round, organized by Motori dello Stella with the support of Fuoristrada Club 4x4 Pordenone.
After Friday’s scrutineering, the rally spirit kicks off tonight in Piazza Tarabane with the official briefing at 18:00 and a festive start ceremony at 19:30. On Saturday, competitors face a single selective sector of 28.5 km, to be repeated four times for nearly 120 km against the clock. The stage, named “Voldarîs”, starts in Casenove (Varmo) and crosses Rivignano, Teor, Campomolle and Rivarotta, with service park based at Parco Divisione Julia in Rivignano Teor. The final arrival is set for 18:30 in Palazzolo dello Stella.
Spotlight is firmly on series leader Emanuele Mengozzi, once again joined by local co-driver Elisa Tassile in the Toyota Hilux (T1). Chasing him are Alfio Bordonaro in the Suzuki Grand Vitara (Suzuki Challenge) and the ever-experienced Lorenzo Codecà with Gilberto Minetti, also in a Grand Vitara T1.
The overall standings promise drama: Michele Abeniacar, with Umberto Parravicini in a Suzuki T2, faces the relentless Kevin Mannocchi, co-driven by Giada Mannocchi, in the Yamaha YXZ1000R. Just 2.5 points separate them! Meanwhile, the SSV battle continues with the Trivini Bellini duo in their Can-Am Maverick X3 holding a fragile lead over veteran Michele Mannocchi.
In the TH category, for older but always spectacular machines, it’s all to play for: Stefano Moro / Simone Moroso and Filippo Andreetto / Francesco Maria Proietti (both in Mitsubishi Pajero) share the lead, while Grossi / Manoni (Land Rover Defender) and Cantarello / Piceno (BMW X3) still have a shot at the title.
The fight for the tricolore is wide open, and Friuli is set to deliver two days of pure motorsport passion.
Translation and adaptation by Rally-Raid Network. Source: ACI Sport.
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