Saturday, October 10, 2026 – While the "Raid of the Champions" had been expected to conclude the 2026 Italian Cross Country Championship—as it had for the past two years—the honor will instead go to the HunGarian Baja, scheduled for November 12–14. The race was originally slated for mid-August as a round of the European Baja Cup, but this summer’s wildfire emergency forced organizers to throw in the towel and hope for a rescheduled date.
The FIA has reinstated the event on the calendar, and Zoltan Garamvolgyi’s Garilla Racing team (the very same Garamvolgyi who won the national race at the Italian Baja and finished second at the Baja dello Stella) moved quickly to prepare for the new date. They announced the news during the pre-race briefing in Rivignano Teor, partly to encourage their Italian rivals to mark it on their schedules. The Hungarian Baja will thus decide the winner of the Cross Country title and the ACI Sport Italian Trophies, thanks to the "double coefficient" status inherited from the Raid of the Champions, which offers ample opportunities for glory to any competitor willing to take on the challenge. To put it clearly, a massive 112 points are up for grabs for the winner—calculated as [30 (race win) + 25 (group win) + 1 (participation)] x 2 (coefficient). This means even Alfio Bordonaro (201 points)—currently seventh overall—has a hypothetical shot at the title, provided the drivers ahead of him (ranging from leader Martin Alejandro Cisella with 308 points to sixth-placed Kevin Manocchi with 222) fail to score well (cue widespread superstitious knock-on-wood gestures, Ed.). The same applies to the Trophies, considering that 62 points are up for grabs for the winner—calculated as (30 for the Trophy win + 1 for participation) multiplied by a coefficient of 2.
To recap: T1 Trophy (prototypes)—no longer a duel between leader Andrea Schiumarini (163) and his main pursuer Bordonaro (147), given that "Schiuma" has switched from the Stella to a Can-Am (T4); meanwhile, Fabio Samsa (92) can only aim for second place, while Manuele Mengozzi (79), Lorenzo Codecà (67), and Alessandro Uliana (62) have only a theoretical chance at third. T2 Trophy (production vehicles)—an uncertain battle between Gianluca Morra (122), Alberto Spinetti (116), and Fabio Acajou (87). T3 Trophy (lightweight vehicles)—a contest between two drivers: Andrea Castagnera (166) and Riccardo Benettolo (157). T4 Trophy (modified vehicles)—Cisella (192) holds a lead over Alessandro Trivini Bellini (164) and Kevin Manocchi (147). TH Trophy (expired homologation)—Stefano Moro (169) is being hunted down by Alberto Gazzetta (164) and Lorenzo Traglio (142).
It promises to be a heart-pounding finale that will put the nerves of the Italian contingent to the test amidst the European Cup competition, yet it should also deliver festive moments—much like the thrilling and spectacular Baja dello Stella—proving that sports tourism is a wonderful opportunity for friendship and fun.
Italian Baja Press Office
Photo: AciSport
