Final days of preparation for the great inland adventure. The very best of the Italian cross country championship will be on the starting line, including the Artugna podium finishers Traglio, Cantarello and Gazzetta, who currently lead the TH category ahead of rivals Ananasso, Bordonaro Junior, Colnaghi and Tagliabue.
The countdown is almost over, with just one week remaining until the Sardegna Rally Raid, second round of the Italian Cross Country Championship. Until the very last moment, the event organised by ACI Sassari, with the support and backing of the Regione Sardegna, will keep the route details under wraps. However, the prospect of exceptionally long selective sectors for the Italian off-road championship already places this event on another level, both competitively and emotionally, as a true “event race” and a candidate for inclusion in the 2027 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship calendar.
These are also the final preparation days for the crews competing in the TH Group, dedicated to vehicles with expired homologation. Under the regulations, these crews have the same chances of securing the overall championship title as prototypes, production-based vehicles and side-by-sides. Yet, by logic, mechanical character and years of service, they mostly battle within their own vintage arena — one of the most spectacular and entertaining categories in the championship.
The Artugna Race podium finishers Lorenzo Traglio - Stefano Fabiano (Nissan Pathfinder R50), Mauro Cantarello - Federico Lezzi (BMW X3) and Alberto Gazzetta - Andrea Pizzato (Suzuki New Jimny) will once again face rivals Giuseppe Ananasso - Rocco Sbaraglia, Mario Bordonaro - Roberto Briani (both in Suzuki Grand Vitara), Paola Tagliabue - Sandra Castellani (Nissan Terrano), as well as new entrants Filippo Colnaghi - Alice Cavagna (Nissan).
“The season started in the best possible way,” explained Lorenzo Traglio. “The Artugna Race was beautiful and fast, even if the weather conditions were extremely difficult. It was the perfect event to get fully back into championship mode after the winter break. Now comes Sardinia. It will only be my second time there, the first was many years ago. It is a truly fascinating adventure. I remember when my father (Maurizio, owner of Tecnosport, editor’s note) used to compete there and the stories he told were filled with wonder. Now it is my turn alongside Stefano Fabiano. I immediately felt very comfortable working with him at Artugna and we quickly developed a great understanding.”
“The Artugna was a very demanding race mainly because of the weather conditions,” reflected Mauro Cantarello, “because whenever the sun came out, we were able to gain ground in the standings. The water crossings were extremely treacherous; hitting them at speed left a lot to the imagination regarding what was waiting on the other side. What initially looked like smooth terrain suddenly became filled with deep holes, and the suspension suffered a lot — we broke a rear spring. Towards the end, it became logical to manage the pace and secure valuable points. Our BMW is extremely competitive on fast and flowing terrain, but in rough sections you really need to be careful with the throttle. In Sardinia, as in Artugna, Federico Lezzi will once again be alongside me. Considering our retirement last year due to a broken front suspension, we will approach the event focused on preserving the car, keeping our eyes wide open because Sardinian terrain encourages you to push, only to betray you with unexpected trial-style sections. Our first goal is simply to finish the two-day event, which is far from guaranteed. I see Sardinia as one of those races that must be managed from the very first kilometre, never becoming overconfident with the terrain while aiming for a solid position in the standings.”
Alberto Gazzetta offered a more concise analysis: “The Artugna Race was extremely selective because of the rain, although the terrain held up reasonably well overall. For me and Andrea Pizzato it was an excellent race — zero mistakes and, despite driving with considerable caution, we achieved an excellent third place in the Group, which is very rewarding. In Sardinia we will meet all the rivals we faced in Friuli and perhaps some new ones as well. The more competitors there are, the better, because racing with only a few entries takes away part of the spirit of competition.”
Source: Sardegna Rally Raid Press Office
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