Pordenone, June 28, 2026_ We'll have to wait for the Italian Cross Country Championship standings (meaning the points distribution), which are never easy to draw up immediately after the race, due to the many regulatory restrictions that complicate them. But it's certain that the triple-coefficient Italian Baja significantly reshuffles the cards in each standings, from the overall to the Group standings. And it's also certain that the crews thoroughly enjoyed the race, despite the intense heat and dust, with a grueling and varied route on dirt roads and dry riverbeds, only one real ford to cross, and numerous pitfalls of rocks and bushes. "Now this is cross country," said Lara Giusti (co-driver for Alberto Spinetti, the only finisher from T2) at the end, commenting on an edition that has never seen such a large and qualified female participation, both at the wheel and on the notes, like this year. And it's not even over yet. After Friday's 14km prologue, yesterday a 156km sector was repeated twice to close out the third round of the ACI Sport Italian championship, and today the crews competing in the World Cup and FIA World Cup races still have to complete the third and final 94km sector before settling in for the final awards ceremony at the Pordenone Fair (2 pm). But let's take it one step at a time.
ITALIAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP.
In Friday's prologue, Christine Giampaoli Zonca (Polaris RZR) set the fastest time of 10:22.6, a newcomer to the championship after showing crystal-clear (and "transparent") talent at the Sardegna Rally Raid. She led Andrea Castagnera (Can Am Maverick) and Riccardo Benettolo (Taurus Max). Yesterday morning, the lead changed, with Andrea Schiumarini (Century CR6) fastest in 2:12:40.9, leading overall, followed by Andrea Tomasini (Polaris RZR) and Castagnera. It was unfortunate for Giampaoli Zonca, who lost time by falling behind a Nissan Patrol car at the tail end of the world championship race, unable to pass it. In fact, he rear-ended it and then broke its reverse gear. But mechanical problems, breakdowns, and failures are part of a tough and exciting game. Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Vitara) had to complete 70 km in third gear, and like him, others suffered setbacks. The 156 km lap was repeated in the afternoon, with Benettolo clocking in at 2:10:34.8, Giampaolo Zonca 15.2 seconds behind, Schiumarini nearly 4 minutes behind, and Manuele Mengozzi (Toyota Hilux) 5 minutes behind, but he missed the finish line. Tomasini (belt) didn't finish, having deserved a podium finish and a points haul to regain the championship lead after his victory at the Artugna Race in March. It ended with the "unexpected winner Schiuma" (he said so), but radiant and cheerful, Benettolo second and Giampaoli Zonca on the third step of the podium, entering the scene in the third of the five acts of the 2026 Italian opera. Now a luxury outsider with a view to the Baja dello Stella (September) and Raid of The Champions (November). Fourth place for the "gaucho" Martin Alejandro Cisella (Can Am Maverick), visibly and even a little rightfully angry after discovering that, lining up at the start of the Italian Baja World Cup, his T4 was limited to a maximum speed of 125 km/h versus the 135 km/h of his counterparts competing in the national race, without any compensation. Fifth Mengozzi, "I had fun, at the moment I don't ask for more." Sixth Kevin Manocchi (Yamaha Yxz), "we didn't have more, but it was nice anyway." Seventh place went to Andrea Castagnera (Can Am), "We ended up getting stuck in the ford, but I'm not complaining, we're moving forward with the right spirit." Eighth place went to Alessandro Trivini Bellini (Can Am Maverick), "We had to run a bit on the defensive." In the TH, the win went to Lorenzo Traglio (Nissan Terrano Pathfinder), a Tecnosport scion: "We suffered from the heat, but these are races that toughen you up." Second place went to Stefano Moro (Mitsubishi Pajero): "A great course, the car was OK, it's a shame we broke the tracking on the first lap and we just went by instinct." Third place went to Simone Grossi (Land Rover Defender), while this time Alberto Gazzetta (Suzuki Jimny) missed out on the podium.
WORLD CUP.
A pair of sensational wins seemed poised to ignite at the Italian Baja on Friday, given the potential demonstrated in the prologue on Cordenons and Zoppola by Saudi Arabian Dania Akeel in the world championship race and by Italian-Spanish Christine Giampaoli Zonca in the national race. Not "exceptional," mind you, because the two are truly strong and it's not a matter of "gender quotas." Yesterday, however, a pair of shocking surprises immediately upended the Italian Baja predictions. Akeel, partnered by Sebastien Delaunay, made a navigation error in the first sector and tore off a wheel from the Toyota Hilux Overdrive. The "GZ" (the racing surname and the version used by Dazn Spain for F1) remained stuck on the exhausts of the vehicle that started first (see above). Thus, the battle opened up new opportunities and further surprises. Saood Variawa set the fastest time of 2:05:01:6 on the 156.29km selective section, finishing within a minute of the other Hiluxes of Francisco Barreto (17.0 seconds), Benediktas Vanagas (19.7 seconds), and Joao Ramos (58.7 seconds). However, the young South African talent missed the time limit in the afternoon re-run due to mechanical problems, handing the spotlight to Barreto, who lowered his time to 2:01:07.8 seconds, beating Omani Hamed Al Wahaibi (Taurus Evo Max) by just 20.7 seconds. Al Wahaibi thus finished the first stage in command, with a substantial advantage over Dutchman Paul Spierings (Taurus Evo Max) and Lithuanian Vanagas, who were 3:38 and 4:54 respectively. Today, the final 94.42 km selective sector, "Tagliamento," will decide the outcome of the world championship race, with Akeel back on track, but obviously out of the top spots.
NATIONAL RACE.
The Hungarian guests dominated the national race. Zoltan Garamvolgyi on a Can Am Maverick, fastest in the first sector (2:12:53), won with a total time of 4:34:23.4 seconds, ahead of his compatriot "Csucsu" on a Taurus Max, also fastest in the second sector (2:10:11). Third place went to Giampaoli Zonca, who tenaciously fought to the finish line. Interesting fact: Garamvolgyi is the organizer of the Hungarian Baja and Raid of the Champions, the main off-road races in his country. As if Mauro Tavella, the deus ex machina of the Italian Baja, were going to vanquish his national and Hungarian competition there. But aside from his many responsibilities, he's limited to his driving school. To the credit of the home team, the unfortunate outcome of Pordenone's Andrea Tomasini and Angelo Mirolo (Polaris) deprived them of a result they were tenaciously pursuing: a podium finish in the most important race of the Italian season, on their home turf, with friends and family following them closely. They'll have to try again.
Italian Baja Press Office
Photo mikesphoto_ph
