Pordenone, June 26, 2026_ In six months, Pordenone will be the Capital of Culture. But since 1993, it has been the capital of motorsports with the Italian Baja, an irresistible attraction for all-terrain specialists until 2003 and then for cross-country from 2006 to the present, interspersed with a Baja Sardinia in Carbonia, Sulcis. This year, 91 crews have registered, an extraordinary record for an all-car race compared to the always large, but not so extra-large, numbers. This morning's shakedown in San Martino al Tagliamento will serve to test the vehicles. This afternoon at 5:30 PM, the first competitor will set off from the former heliotherapy colony in Cordenons (via Pasch) for a prologue of approximately 14 km on the Meduna River, which also extends into the municipality of Zoppola. Leading the way is Dania Akeel (Toyota Hilux Overdrive Evo T1 Plus), who leads the provisional standings of the Baja World Cup, in an edition that highlights a top-notch female participation like never before. Among the Saudi Arabian's main rivals is Norway's Hedda Hosas (Can Am Maverick), and a strong performance is also expected from "our" Rebecca Busi (Taurus Evo Max), while the European Cup is contested by Poland's Magdalena Zajac (Hilux). In the Italian Championship, all eyes are on Christine Giampaoli Zonca (Polaris RZR Pro), who could prove a real surprise, confirming the performance she showed in May at the Sardegna Rally Raid. Rounding out the women's field is Paola Tagliabue (Nissan Terrano), the freediving queen, who was unlucky in her first two appearances of the season. Tomorrow's race will feature the 156.29 km selective sector, the longest ever tackled in Italy, from Cordenons to San Giorgio Richinvelda, Spilimbergo, Dignano, down to Morsano al Tagliamento and back up the left bank, finishing in Basiliano. It's worth noting that access to the race course and the Pordenone Fair is free, but the instructions of the course marshals must be strictly followed. YESTERDAY. A glittering eve of official events. At 11:00 a.m., the authorities held a press conference at the Pordenone Fairgrounds. The mayor, Alessandro Basso, and his colleagues Andrea Delle Vedova (Cordenons), Markus Maurmair (FVG Region), Corrado Della Mattia and Anna Andreussi (ACI FVG), Marco Skokaj (Alpen Technick), and Pierluigi Ascani (Format Research), attended. The latter, representing the certified company that conducted a survey for Confcommercio, revealed astonishing, but not unprecedented, data: the five-day Italian Baja generates truly significant economic benefits for local hospitality businesses, rivaling the Pordenone Legge festival in absolute terms. At 3:00 p.m., the drivers' press conference took place, bringing together the main protagonists, with Nicola Villani (Eurosport) officiating. Honorable mention went to Juan Cruz Iacopini, the 2025 winner, who was absent this year after suffering a serious injury last January.
Last night in Pordenone, the evocative "Ceremonial Start" was broadcast live on Sky 228 (ACI Sport TV) and presented all the crews and vehicles with a parade on the stage in Piazza XX Settembre. TRICOLOR. Will Manuele Mengozzi (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) be able to repeat his 2025 success? The driver from Forlì is the most hungry for points among the contenders for the 2026 title in the Italian Cross Country Championship organized by ACI Sport. His retirement from the Artugna Race (March) and his failure to participate in the Sardegna Rally Raid (May) have kept him practically zero in the standings, but his coefficient of 3 in the Italian Baja could give him a formidable chance of recovery. The other protagonists of the series will certainly not be holding back: provisional leader Alessandro Trivini Bellini, followed by Martin Alejandro Cisella and Andrea Castagnera, with their respective Can Am Mavericks. Then there's the ambitions of Kevin Manocchi on the Yamaha YXZ, the loose cannon Sergio Galletti on the Polaris RZR Pro, the determination of Alfio Bordonaro and the desire for revenge of Lorenzo Codecà, both on the Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Alessandro Uliana, an outsider on the Isuzu Trooper. Furthermore, the first two rounds of the series have shown that the T2 (Gianluca Morra in the lead) and TH (Alberto Gazzetta in command) vehicles can compete in the overall standings, not just in the Group standings. Thus, the Italian Baja picture presents bright shades of uncertainty in a June that's more heated than ever.
Italian Baja Press Office
