World numbers for the first tricolor act
Now the count is official: 47 members. It was already a record with the "forty-four cats" of the day before yesterday, three were added in extremis, the last one to register Franco Ricci (Polaris) thus earning the citation. World championship numbers for the first act of the 2017 Italian Cross Country Rally Championship which promises to be highly competitive and therefore nothing better than to start the Baja di Primavera from the Cantina di Rauscedo, a hamlet in the municipality of San Giorgio della Richinvelda, world capital of cuttings or the roots of wine.
SUZUKI TREAD. Noblesse oblige, will be the reigning Italian champion, Lorenzo Codecà, starting in front of everyone with Suzuki Italia's Grand Vitara 6v. The driver from Monza is clearly aiming for his ninth personal championship, but first of all he will have to beat the competition of his teammate Andrea Toro who will also have a Grand Vitara prepared by Emmetre Racing at his disposal.
PRIVATE AT THE ATTACK. And all the others will not be watching… Elvis Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) promises battle, leader of the private drivers who deserve credit for having contributed to the overall success of participations. Challenge that is renewed in T1 with Emilio Ferroni (Suzki Grand Vitara) and a lot will depend on consistency and continuity in commitment. Primary ambitions also for the Romanian Costel Casuneanu at the wheel of a former official Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, an unknown luxury for the Italian campaign.
EYE TO DERIVATIVES. They cost less, are more accessible but obviously less performing. Almost all vehicles from the T2 (standard) also race for the Challenge Suzuki and often put pressure on the muscular T1 (prototypes). The fight begins again between Alfio Bordonaro from Catania, Andrea Alfano from Novara and Andrea Lolli from Modena, in order at the end of 2016 for the Acisport Group T2 Trophy and the Challenge Suzuki. They too will not lack tough and determined opponents.
SSV IN ONE CLASS. For this year they will all be together, turbocharged and aspirated, in a single extended family. The advent of the "Side by Side Vehicle is the big news for 2017, with Polaris (which also puts a customer trophy in it) and Yamaha on the lead, hoping to add the other brands in circulation. Coming back from the Dakar together (on Ford Raptor), Graziano Scandola and Gianmarco Fossà will be here as opponents on Polaris Razor 1000 with the trap of Fabrizio Pietranera, Egimotors. Amerigo Ventura is instead a reference for the Quaddy Yamaha Racing Team.
EXPIRED BUT NOT TOO MUCH. In the sign of passion, those of the “rust-free gates”, the vehicles of the TH Group polished to still be efficient and competitive. At the start Gianluca Morra (Mitsubishi Pajero), winner of the 2016 Acisport Trophy, targeted by Andrea Saviotti (Land Rover Defender), Claudio Petrucci (Mercedes 300Gd), Paolo Cau (Pajero Evo) and seven other diehards. The show is about to begin.
Aci Sport image:
Gianluca Morra - Luca Abbondi, Mitsubishi Pajero (Italian Baja d’Autunno 2016)
Carlo Ragogna Italian Baja Press Office
