The Italian cross-country championship is now approaching a "world-class" challenge.
Pordenone, April 10, 2026_ The Artugna Race has been shelved, Castagnera is resilient after the defeat, Mengozzi has taken a real beating but is putting the pieces back together, Tinaburri is licking his wounds but is looking positive even though his return is a long way off. April 10, 2026_ "I think positive because I'm alive because I'm alive..." Jovanotti's refrain fits perfectly for three drivers "punished" in different ways by the Italian Spring Baja, organized by the Fuoristrada Club 4x4 Pordenone, the first round of the 2026 Italian Cross-Country Championship. Disappointment fell like a blanket of fog over Andrea Castagnera immediately after the race; anger and discouragement were painted on Manuele Mengozzi's face; pain and worry tormented Alessandro Tinaburri. However, each in their own way has put the Artugna Race behind them and is now looking ahead to the next challenge, which is always a chance for redemption. Obviously, the injured Tinaburri will be unable to compete in the Sardegna Rally Raid from May 14th to 17th, with ACI Sassari (supported by ACI Italia) offering a competition that is a candidate for the 2027 FIA W2RC seal, serving up an extra-long route for the Italian format in the second round. But this "extraordinary treatment for the CI2C heroes" (copyright Tiziano Siviero) is hoped to be a general panacea, especially for Castagnera and Mengozzi, rekindling their respective championship chances.
LET'S REWIND THE TAPE. In the third selective sector of the Friulian gymkhana, battered by bad weather, with a record number of entrants (62) and a leading number of rally drivers (17), a couple of accidents have thrown the situation into disarray. First up was Tinaburri in a Can Am Maverick X3, co-driven by his brother Emiliano: "My mistake. On a fast left-hander, I misjudged the curve, I braked too hard, and we went off the road. At 50 km/h, everything could have been fine, but the impact of the left front wheel on a tree fractured my kneecap and toe, as well as my hand through the steering wheel. My brother was unharmed. We alerted the emergency services, and they intervened promptly. What can I say? Impeccable organization. I've had surgery, but unfortunately, I'll have to be out of action for a long time. I expect to start rehabilitation in May, and maybe not even be back in the car until June. Emiliano, on the other hand, hopes to be able to race in Sardinia."
While race officials were ordering the suspension of the race, among the vehicles already engaged in the Artugna sector was the Toyota Hilux Overdrive of reigning champion Mengozzi, co-driven by Elisa Tassile. “The bad weather certainly complicated everything. On the straights, puddles of water made it treacherous to drive at the high speeds allowed for the T1s,” the driver from Forlì emphasizes, “due to constant aquaplaning, while the mud made braking difficult and obscured visibility, smearing the windows. We started without pushing, but with a decidedly efficient pace given the gap we had to the other off-roaders. The same was true in the re-race, despite a bad braking in the pouring rain that cost us 40 seconds. But we were still second, and to win, you also need to beat the SSVs. In the third sector, we therefore decided to attack. On a fast bend, I hit a roadside marker, the rear end lost grip, and ended up violently hitting a tree, scattering pieces of it in a 30-meter radius in the surrounding fields. We escaped with a few bruises, but we had a big scare, and the damage to the vehicle was truly extensive. In the heat of the moment, I thought that with separate classifications, I wouldn't have taken any risks. I was the only T1 driver left.” Near the SSVs, a complicated undertaking for a vehicle weighing over 2,000 kg in certain road conditions. The only difference in speed between "us" and "them" proved insufficient to bridge the performance gap. Today I haven't changed my mind; I realize that pleasing everyone is very difficult, but I think we need to consider possible changes to the regulations. Right now, my problem is getting the Hilux back on track, and I'm having difficulty with it, so much so that I'm considering using another vehicle. We want to be in Sardinia".
Treviso native Castagnera, in a Can Am Maverick X3 navigated by Alberto Marcon, had emerged unscathed as the cross-country leader, arriving at the start of the fourth and final selective sector with a minute's lead over his immediate pursuers: "But I knew I couldn't manage. I'd already said so in the mid-race interview. There were too many unknowns to feel comfortable. Of course, I couldn't expect a trivial electrical glitch at the fuel pump to cost us an eternity. I'd already suffered a setback at the end of Hungary 2024, throwing away an almost certain victory. But that time it was due to improper assistance, a carelessness that resulted in disqualification. It took me months to regain my desire to race. Now this other episode, another bitter disappointment to overcome. But Alberto and I are resilient, and in Sardinia we'll give it our all as always, without looking back".
Italian Baja Press Office
Photo Michele Barazzutti
