There's great anticipation for the now likely first appearance of a Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1 Plus in the Italian Cross Country Championship. Trieste native Fabio Samsa, third last year in the Italian event, has every intention of raising the bar in his performance behind the wheel, co-driven by the young Pordenone native Mirko Brun.
Pordenone, February 20, 2026. These are days of anticipation for the Artugna Race, the 16th Italian Baja di Primavera (March 13-14), the first stage of the 2026 Italian Cross Country Championship. Registration has been open for a week, and the Pordenone 4x4 Fuoristrada Club secretariat has already received numerous registrations. But the consolidated routine of this preliminary phase seems to have an exceptional surprise in store: the registration of a competitor at the wheel of a Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1 Plus. Trieste native Fabio Samsa is no longer hiding. An entrepreneur with a passion for off-roading, Samsa finished third in the Italian championship last year driving a Hilux T1. This year, he's determined to raise the bar on his performance thanks to the added power of his new maxi-format Overdrive. This vehicle has already been seen in action (and has won multiple times) at the Italian Baja World Cup, with the latest signing last summer by Argentine Juan Cruz Yacopini.
Clearly, having a four-wheeled missile at your disposal doesn't guarantee success, as you have to learn to harness its potential and tame its maxi horsepower. However, it's a wonderful opportunity that Samsa wants to seize, partnered with young Pordenone native Mirko Brun, who grew up in the ranks of the Fuoristrada Club and is now a highly regarded navigator, competing in the Dakar Rally in January alongside Czech Martin Koloc. Will a UFO descend on the dirt roads of Artugna? There's a lot of excitement among industry insiders, fans, and, of course, the competition, starting with reigning champion Manuele Mengozzi (Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1) and vice-champion Kevin Manocchi (Yamaha Quaddy Yxz 1000R). It promises to be a thrilling yet spectacular battle when the curtain rises on the new CI2C.
Italian Baja Press Office
