Pordenone, 4th July
Finally! After months of preparation Italian Baja 2025’s moment has finally arrived and, today at the Pordenone’s fairground, engines are starting for the third Italian world championship race, following the Formula 1 in Monza and the Rally Sardinia. Just a few words to get an idea of the value of this competition that is ultimately back, after a break of just one edition, in the FIA World Cup and reaffirming its validity for the European Championship, the Italian Championship and the Hungarian one too. And that’s why Pordenone, now celebrated as Europe's capital of culture for 2027, has been the capital of off-road for over 30 years, bringing inherently great exposure to the territory. This year 80 teams from 3 continents and 30 nations are competing against each other.
The entire official timing will be postponed of 1 minute in memory of Mattero Doretto, therefore the race will start this morning at 9.01 with the first contestant, Argentinian Juan Cruz Iacopini on his Toyota Hilux Overdrive Racing followed by Denis Krotov on a Mini Jwc Rally and Miroslav Zapletal on a Ford F150 Evo. All the first 10 contestants will have a gap of 3 minutes one from the other, while the rest of the contestants will be divided by a gap of just 1 minute. After a quick transfer in Cordenons Iacopini will take the start of the prologue “Giulia Maroni” (11 km) at 9.31. Then the vehicles will be back at the fairground for the ceremony where the starting positions for the selective sector n. 1 “Rivignano”, (35 km) starting at 14.31, will be chosen. This sector will be raced again as FIA race at 17.31 while the national race will take place only at the first passage.
The rankings and the other informations will be available on italianbaja.it, while the Youtube channel Italian Baja will live stream the Cordenons prologue (from 9.15) and the interviews from the media zone in Muzzana del Turgnano (from 17.30). Yesterday at the fairground the press conferences for the authorities and for the main competing pilots took place. Pordenone’s mayor, Alessandro Basso, expressed his gratitude to the organizing committee for the event that embellishes the city and valorizes the territory. Positive comments also from the mayor of Cordenons, Morsano al Tagliamento, Rivignano Teor, Castions di Strada, Muzzana del Turgnano. Union is strength, the river doesn’t divide - it unites.
It was then the pilot’s turn and they also gave many compliments for a race that is never easy, but doesn’t disappoint when it comes to spectacularity.
Relying on the papers, the Argentinian Iacopini is the front runner of the FIA race, seventh at 2025 Dakar, even though the provisional leader is Czech Zapletal, who has probably never been so close to winning the world cup. But there are many variables between the rivals, like the credentials of UAE’s driver Khalid Aljafla on a Taurus T3, currently holding the second place in the ranking. Among the SSV vehicles the duel is between British Paul Severn (Polaris Rzr) and Amerigo Ventura (Yamaha Yxz 1000r). Andrea Schiumarini (Century CR6) will be looking for his own path.
In a Italian Championship optic the challenge is between Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Gran Vitara), Manuele Mengozzi (Toyota Hilux) and Michele Abeniacar (Gran Vitara). The interest for local pilots is natural, with the Italian SSV champion Federico Buttò (Can Am Maverick) targeted by Andrea Tomasini (Polaris Razor). On the stage also Cristian D’Agnolo (Yamaha Yxz1000r) and Claudio Allegranzi (Gran Vitara).
As for codrivers Stefano Lovisa will sit on Bordonaro’s right, Mirko Brun with Fabio Samsa on a Hilux, and Sandra Castellani - covering for Maurizio Traglio - will navigate the driver-giornalist Irene Saderini on a Nissan Pathfinder.
Italian Baja press office
