The Italian Cross Country and SSV Championship begins again in Pordenone
Pordenone, 16 March 2024_ On the banks of the Noncello there is (rightly) pride in the many high-level cultural events that give prominence to the city. But Pordenone has also been the sporting capital of off-roading at a national and international level for over six decades with the Italian Baja (in July) and its "sisters". The Autumn race has been put on standby for a few years, but the Spring Baja, renamed the Artugna Race, is instead lively, full of positive energy and today officially marks the start of the Italian Cross Country and SSV Championship.
COMPETITION. Official departure this morning at 8 sharp from the Interporto Centro Ingrosso of Pordenone. The vehicles will set off in succession from n.1, towards Aviano, via del Menegoz, where they will find the beginning of a selective sector over 27 km long to be repeated 4 times: start at 9:00, 10:30, 13: 00, 14:30. The arrival in the industrial area of San Giovanni di Polcenigo. Dirt surface, straights and sharp curves, some water and mud crossings, potholes and depressions that will put the competitors to the test. Mechanics' assistance park (25') at the Interporto after half the race, while after the first and third sectors there will be reorganization (35') in Piazza Duomo in Aviano. Arrival and awards ceremony at the Interporto from 5pm. Followed by the press conference of the first three cross country crews and the first three SSV crews.
DEDICATION. The Pordenone event dedicated to the authors also begins today, but a special "dedication" of the Artugna Race is aimed at Giulia Maroni, the recently deceased navigator from Bologna. The first selective sector is named after her and counts as a power stage, a novelty this year which awards additional points to the top five classified and the "Giulia Maroni" trophy to the best classified navigator.
PREDICTIONS. It promises to be an uncertain challenge in every area. Starting in front are the "raised" rally cars, the Skoda Fabia R5s with which Andrea De Luna (second in 2022 among the SSVs), Alberto Carniello and Alessandro Prosdocimo from Pordenone compete, while the car of Roberto Camporese from Padova is a Volkswagen Polo in N5 version. The first passage will be only for them in transfer (time limit 25') so as to be able to obtain the notes with which to tackle the next three passages. Then it will be the Ssv's turn: Federico Buttò first at the start on Can Am Maverick and the opportunity to aim for victory against direct rival Andrea Castagnera, while Alessandro Bonetto on Yamaha and Alessandro Tinaburri on Can Am will be outsiders to keep an eye on. Finally, the Baja cross country vehicles: led by the reigning champion Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Grand Vitara) immediately followed by Manuele Mengozzi (Toyota Hilux) winner here last year and by Lorenzo Codecà (another Suzuki), eleven championships under his belt and more so hungry for victories. Before the revived Sergio Galletti, first in 2021, Emilio Ferroni and Andrea Luchini also at the wheel of a Vitara, while other welcome returns are those of Andrea Alfano driving an Oscar Osc 01 and Elvis Borsoi with his Mini All4 Racing, never before as competitive as the driver from Treviso, former champion of both Ccb (2017) and Ssv (2021) dreamed of. Team strength for R Team which fields 8 vehicles, from the Mitsubishi T1 of Andrea Schiumarini and Matteo Giansoldati to the Vitara T1 of Antonio Ricciari and T2 of Alberto Spinetti (his 2023 production title), implementing the TH of the expired approvals with another poker of pilots. From Pordenone the debutant John Stella on Vitara T2 (his father is a John Wayne fan and you said it all!) and the veteran Claudio Allegranzi on Vitara TH.
Italian Baja Press Office
