Today the prologue SS1 (14,5 km) resulting in the first official ranking
Pordenone, 8th July 2022_ Months of preparation and three days of races from today to Sunday on the rivers of Meduna, Cosa, Tagliamento and in the surrounding countryside. The Italian Baja starts at 5pm at the Interporto Centro Ingrosso of Pordenone, and it’s part of the Fia World Cup and the Fia European Cup, valid with the highest coefficient (4) for the Italian Championship for Cross Country Baja and Ssv Acisport. Scenographic starting ceremony and then the caravan of contestants is going to Valvasone, in the area next to the Mosole Cave, renamed “Valvadrom”. At 6.10 pm the start for the first contestants on the prologue SS1 “San Martino” (14,5 km) ending in San Martino al Tagliamento. At the end the first official chart will be published and the first tens will decide, during the evening, as many starting positions for tomorrow: stage 1 divided in SS2 and SS3 “Zoppola” (122,53 km).
Start at 8 am and at 1 pm in the area behind Planet Bingo on road SS13 and finishing at the height of Dignano’s bridge. In the evening the arrivals and the award ceremony of the double Tricolor challenge. Sunday stage 2 and last selective sector, SS4 “Dignano” (126, 10 km), with an upside down and modified track if compared to stage 1. Start at 8:30 am, reserved only to the two Fia competitions for which the final award ceremony is taking place at 1 pm at the Interporto. Free access to the general public, but observing the indications provided by both stewards and security personnel is mandatory.
It’s strictly forbidden to enter on the race track with personal vehicles. The enrolled crews are 72, coming from the Middle East, South America, USA, Europe from east to west, including UK and Lithuania, except for Russia. This year sees an elite female array like never before, 8 women at the steering wheel and 14 as co-pilots. Yazeed AlRajhi, defending champion and winner of the Italian Baja in 2014 and 2021, is the favorite for the World Cup (Toyota Hilux Overdrive). His number 1 enemy is his team mate, Argentine Juan Cruz Iacopini, for the first time in Pordenone. Polish Mishal Maluszynski (Mini John Cooper Works Rally), team X-Raid, plays, in the European Cup, the role of forerunner, having as principal opponents Portuguese Pedro Dias Da Silva (Volkswagen Amarok) and Henrique Silva (Mercedes Slc 350 Proto).