Pordenone, March 13, 2026. Yes, Friday the 13th. What can I say: good luck or bad luck? The Fuoristrada Club 4x4 Pordenone is firmly committed to the positive side of things on this special day. Today marks the start of its 16th Italian Spring Baja, the sixth consecutive edition under the Artugna Race banner, which opens the ACI Sport Italian Cross Country Championship with a record number of entrants (62) and a strong desire to race.
In the afternoon in Aviano, the official program begins at 1:30 PM: sporting and technical checks for crews and vehicles, who will then be able to "warm up" in the pre-race test, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. In the evening, at Villa Policreti in Castel d'Aviano, the press conference (6:45 PM) will feature a speech by the new ACI president Geronimo La Russa, inaugurating the new racing season at the highest level.
Tomorrow's race will be divided into four parts: the first competitor will start at 8:30, 10:30, 1:30, and 3:30 p.m., on the 26.94 km "Artugna" selective sector, from Aviano (Via dei Menegoz) to Polcenigo (San Giovanni industrial area), passing through Budoia. The course is a dirt track with a compact surface, but the various sections will dig deep ruts, and the unpredictable weather forecast promises rain that will turn the ruts into mud. Rally cars will start first, followed by side-by-sides, followed by off-road vehicles in prototype, production-derived, and expired homologation versions. The final sector, starting at 3:30 p.m., will be broadcast live on ACI Sport TV, Sky channel 228, and tivùsat channel 52. The entire race can be followed on acisport.tv as well as the official ACI Sport TV YouTube channel. "It's an honor for us to have the greetings of ACI President La Russa, as well as Giulio Pes, President of ACI Sport, and Anna Andreussi, ACI Sport regional delegate for Friuli Venezia Giulia," emphasized Mauro Tavella, CEO of the Italian Baja. "The CI2C is starting an ambitious season with great enthusiasm, especially considering the Sardegna Rally Raid's candidacy as a test of the 2027 World Cross-Country Championship. I thank the drivers, navigators, and teams who have placed their trust in us. Together, with the impetus and support of our Federation, we can once again increase the importance and visibility of cross-country."
When it comes to predictions, it's logical not to make any predictions, as there are too many unknowns at the start of the season. However, among the rally avant-garde, we can bet, as last year, on Andrea De Luna, with the #1 spot in the Skoda Fabia. He'll have the challenging role of "sweeping the road," but he'll have the advantage of being in his own backyard, given that he was born and raised in the foothills and forged his countersteering skills there. His rivals are Alberto Carniello in a Skoda, Tullio Versace in Enrico Zille and Matteo Zoppas, and Piergiorgio Di Piazza in a Hyundai i20. Seven vintage cars will compete in the Open Historic, from Alessandro Prosdocimo's Ford Escort RS to John Stella's Opel Corsa. Then it'll be the turn of lightweight tubulars, and there's great interest in seeing how young Kevin Manocchi (not yet 18) can improve on the family-run Quaddy Yamaha, after surprising last year with a third-place overall finish at the Artugna and a victory at the Baja dello Stella. High-ranking rivals Alessandro Trivini Bellini, Alessandro Tinaburri, Martin Alejandro Cisella, and Elvis Borsoi all had four Can Am Mavericks, with several outsiders crossing their wheels, ready to take their chances. Another short break before the prototypes start, starting with the Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1 of reigning Italian champion Manuele Mengozzi. The flying man from Forlì will be the first to reveal the cards of the driver behind him, namely Fabio Samsa from Trieste, this time in a Hilux T1 Plus, a real winner. Then, in sequence, Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Grand Vitara), Andrea Schiumarini (Century), Lorenzo Codecà (Suzuki Grand Vitara), and Sergio Galletti (Mitsubishi Pajero WRC), each with ambitions to cultivate along the way. Orphaned by the Suzuki Challenge, which characterized an epic single-make series for a quarter of a century, the customers from Japan must measure themselves against the new horizon of the "all-inclusive" overall standings. Group T2, production vehicles, includes nine Vitaras, from Gianluca Morra's to Serena Rodella's. Finally, Group TH, vehicles whose homologation has expired, but are still competitive thanks to the passionate talent of Stefano Moro (Mitsubishi Pajero), Mauro Cantarello (BMW X3), Alberto Gazzetta (Suzuki New Jimny), and seven other veterans and rookies, including freediver Paola Tagliabue (Nissan Terrano II).
Artugna is ready to distill the first emotions of a year that promises a superlative CI2C.
Italian Baja Press Office
