Przygonski with his Mini ahead on Domzala and Kaczmarski with the Toyota Hilux.
Italian Championship led by Borsoi ahead on Codecà and Algarotti. Today two laps of the Valvadrom and the grand finale with the Prize Giving Ceremony in piazza XX Settembre
Hot, muggy weather, and pilots’ sweat. A stony, insidious track with fords full of water. The second day disputed at the Italian Baja didn’t change its classical format to exalt the challenge along the Cosa and Tagliamento riverbeds. No benefit from the refreshing plunges into the fords, but a further complicated and hard selection of the vehicles along the three laps of the Selective Sector “Cantina” of 91,08 km.
Highlight Pole pilots and Toyota Hilux Overdrive thanks to Martin Kaczmarski who came first in the morning (1h10’28’’) and Aron Domzala who gained the first position at lunch time (1h05’37’’), while in the afternoon the final line was crossed by Jakub Przygonski (1h04’46’’) with his Mini All4 Racing, always maintaining his leadership in the World Cup. The X-Raid driver got victory with a time of 3h36’01’’7 ahead on Domzala with a gap of 2’35’’4 and Kaczmarski after 4’11’’1. As for the Italian Championship, first position for Elvis Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) in 4h03’23’’8 snipping 6’10’’8 off the time of Lorenzo Codecà (Suzuki Grand Vitara), delayed mainly by the power steering problems suffered during the second lap. Third place for Nicolò Algarotti (Qyaddy Yamaha) after a gap of 8’17’’0.
“CANTINA 1”. It’s the Toyota Hilux Overdrive of the Pole Kaczmarski to get the best time this morning, from Domanis to Valvadrom, in 1h25’24’’7. Eugenio Amos (Buggy 2wd) gains a fantastic second position with a gap of 21’’, Jakub Przygonski is third (Mini All4 Racing) after 22’’ with a gap of 33’’1 ahead on his Team companion. Behind them, Zapletal (Ford 150) with 1’47’’, Domzala (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) 1'51’’ and Gadasin (G-Force) after 1’53’’ who moves down to the fifth position. Amos leads the Italian rank, Scandola (Polaris Razor) is the virtual second as Side by Side vehicles don’t compete in the World Cup but although they are limited to the TM Group in the Italian Championship, they demonstrate to be highly competitive. Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) suffers an important delay because of some troubles, keeping anyway his tenth position in the Overall. Also Codecà (Suzuki Grand Vitara) seems to find some obstacle in the fords crossing, but he can still recover. As for TM Trentin (Polaris Razor), with a vehicle not really efficient he has to lag in 2’51’’8 behind Scandola, although behind him we find the Yamaha Quaddy with a brilliant Vagaggini in third. The trio Suzuki Vitara leads T2 class respectively with Spinetti, Alfano and Lolli . A great Lops ahead on Seaidan (Toyota Landcruiser), leader of the World Cup. Another Pole, Wiatr (Sam Mrt) is the leader of TH, followed by Grandi (Nissan Patrol), Petrucci (Mercedes 300GD) and Grossi (Land Rover Defender).
“CANTINA 2”. The second passage encourages competitors. As dangerous points have already been identified, drivers definitely dare to accelerate now. Domzala climbs the classification with the time of 1h05’37’’ advantaging of 6’42’’ his first lap (!), Przygonski concedes just 14’’, Zapletal finishes with 1’58’’, Kaczmarski with a gap of 2’03’’. Chin-up for Abu-Issa with his Mini X-Raid, getting the fifth best time after a gap of 3’41’’ which allows him to anticipate the Hilux Overdrive of Chabot and Alvarez. Ko suffered by Gadasin just in the same point as last year with his G-Force stopped by mechanical problems. Still on the challenging route Novikov, his Team companion: eight position in 7’53’’, tenth in the Overall. Borsoi leads Italians in 1h13’55’’, 4’22’’ slower than during his first passage. Codecà cannot do better than 3’19’’ because of power steering troubles, seizing anyway the second position in the Overall Italian Rank. In T2 Spinetti confirms his superiority ahead on Alfano with a gap of 39’’2 and Lolli who finishes with 1’23’’2, Lops maintains the fourth position, while Seaidan is fifth. Great performance of Side by Side vehicles. Ventura is back on the scene with his Quaddy (1h15’32’’) just availing himself of the broken drive shaft of the Polaris of Scandola. The TM Group classification is revolutionized not only by the first position of Ventura, but also by the second place gained by Vagaggini with a gap of 39’’6, and the third position seized by Tonetti in 1’51’’7, followed by Tinaburri and Versace. The first Razor to cross the finishing line is the one of Cristian D’Agnolo, sixth position after a gap of 20’18’’3, while hot on his wheels there is Trentin with 20’31’’1.
“CANTINA 3”. Record of the day for Przygonski in 1h04’46’’, followed by Domzala in 50’’ and Kaczmarski in 1’49’’. The three Poles who dominated the scene today can happily rest. Zapletal (Ford 150) had to leave the podium, but the Czech still represents an obstacle for all the others. Borsoi, Codecà and Algarotti seize the Saturday’s Italian podium. Penalties and troubles let Ventura move down to the bottom of the TM classification, now led by Vagaggini with a time of 4h13’35’’9. “Unbelievable” is the ironic opinion of the driver from Cordenons. Surprises also for the second place gained by Roberto Tonetti after a gap of 3’24’’1, Italian Champion of motor pentathlon in 1994. Third position reached by Tullio Luigi Versace to complete the temporary podium of Quaddy Yamaha. The TH Group Augusto Grandi Giovanni with Nissan Patrol finished in 4h38’32’’1, Claudio Petrucci second after a gap of 1’20’’8 with his Mercedes 300GD, third in 1’48’’8 Simone Grossi with Land Rover Defender. Very short gaps, tomorrow we will see.
Italian Baja Press Office
Carlo Ragogna
