Within the overall standings of the Italian Cross Country Championship, they have little chance of reaching the top, but production-derived cars bring toughness, determination, and the boundless passion of their drivers. The Group T2 Trophy is a true training ground for resilience and, at the Artugna Race (with all Suzuki Grand Vitaras in contention—though it’s a shame the single-make Challenge is no longer running), it highlighted the top three in the category. Matteo Da Rin Spaletta took victory in 1:33:44, ahead of Gianluca Morra, second at +44 seconds, and Alberto Spinetti, third at +50 seconds. The remaining competitors were significantly further behind for various reasons, not least the adverse weather conditions, which made the selection process even tougher than the stopwatch.
Now attention turns to the Sardegna Rally Raid, a very demanding test featuring grueling selective sectors of rare length (for Italy), and hard, compact, punishing terrain. A dilemma looms: should they complete the two days of racing—Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16—which count toward the Italian championship, or also tackle the third day, Sunday, May 17, which completes the test event for the 2027 World Rally-Raid Championship?
“We will definitely attempt the full race, if the car can handle the mileage, which is not easy for a production-based vehicle. We are confident,” says Istrian Matteo Da Rin Spaletta, co-driven by Manuela Mocchiutti. “We will do everything we can to stay at the top of the championship. Artugna, due to its rally-style profile, was easier. To overcome the obstacles in Sardinia, I hope the experience gained in many night-time navigation races in Croatia will prove very useful.”
Novara-based Gianluca Morra, alongside Stefano Tironi, shares similar thoughts—and concerns: “We expect to struggle in Sardinia, given the length and surface of the stages. We’ll have to see if the car can withstand the intense stress; deciding now between two or three days of racing is a real headache. But who knows—maybe the wind will blow in our favour on the island and everything will go well. Thinking back to Artugna, we started strongly in T2, leading after the first lap. On the second lap, however, I lost control and hit a tree, which cost us the decisive seconds. Still, second place is an excellent result to start the season.”
Alberto Spinetti, from Livorno, takes a more philosophical approach—very much in the style of Massimo Catalano (from Quelli della notte, by Renzo Arbore)—alongside Lara Giusti: “Let’s say the important thing is to finish the first two days. Then, if both the car and the navigator hold up—especially considering his knee has been in serious trouble since Easter Monday—we’ll see about racing on Sunday as well. Otherwise, we’ll head to the sea, because Sardinia is always a spectacular place you love for its routes, landscapes, and people.”
A final remark on Artugna: “Impossible to forget the frustration on the first lap. We didn’t understand anything in the speed limit zone, and then I ended up with a bottle of water stuck between the pedals after a jump, right through to the end of the stage. But we also had a lot of fun, finishing on the podium with great satisfaction.”
Italian Baja Press Office
Photo: Michele Barazzutti
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