Codecà and Toro, Suzuki standard bearers, forced to chase. Side by Side (Yamaha and Polaris) in great shape. Bordonaro in the lead in T2
Big in front in the TH. Romanian Casuneanu (Mitsubishi) immediately knocked out
The poet says: “In a blue chest the gem of the skies shines” (Clemente Rebora). On a splendid sunny day, the Italian Cross Country Rally Championship began today in the best possible way, with the Italian Baja in the spring drawing the first exemplary picture. Forty-seven entries, forty-six at the start due to forfeit on the eve of Gianmarco Fossà (Polaris) for physical reasons. The Cantina di Rauscedo, fulcrum of the competition, is worth a toast to the specialty with the 2015 Sauvignon just celebrated in Bordeaux as one of the best ten wines in the world.
It may be due to an elective affinity between Prosecco di Conegliano and Sauvignon di Rauscedo, but at the head of the Italian Baja di Primavera with operational base at the Cantina di Rauscedo there is Elvis Borsoi (Toyota Toyodell) from Treviso, author of yesterday's best time in the second (17'42 '' 0) and third lap (17'36 '' 0). Only in the first lap did he have to bow to a ground-to-ground missile, Roberto Mazzega Sbovata's Polaris Razor (17’54’6), which amazed everyone with an immediately frenzied pace. But then in the repetition the transmission belt was blown and the driver from Italy had to queue in the rear.
The Suzuki standard bearers, Lorenzo Codecà (reigning champion) and Andrea Toro, second and third in the Italian classification at the end of the first stage, were satisfied in words. For both, the Primavera is a test race, with car solutions to be verified. Codecà now has a short wheelbase Grand Vitara, Toro is making his debut with the long wheelbase Grand Vitara. No stumbling blocks for Amerigo Ventura (Yamaha Quaddy), second overall, first of the TM Group's competitors, who do not rank in the Italian. At the top of the series derivatives, Group T2, Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9) with a margin of 7'6 on Alessandro Trivini Bellini (Mitsubishi Pajero). In the first stage of TH Simone Grossi (Land Rover Defender), ahead of Francesco Ceschin (Pajero). Today there are two passages of the selective sector "Villa Manin Rosso" (start 9:30 and 12:00 from the bridge of Dignano). Last 50 km before arrival (2.30 pm) in Piazza Garibaldi in Spilimbergo.
LAP 1. Fly Elvis Borsoi (17'58'6) and some expect him to be ahead of Lorenzo Codecà with a shorter and renewed Grand Vitara, all to be tamed. But 46’8 is an already important margin. Costel Casuneanu's space Mitsubishi crashes after a handful of kilometers, not a little disappointing the Romanian with tricolor top ambitions. Then the Side by Side arrived and they scattered the cards: first the Italian Roberto Mazzega Sbovata in 17'54 '' 6, third Amerigo Ventura at 35 '' 8, fifth Nicolò Algarotti at 59 '' 5, he with a T3 that takes points for Italian.
ROUND 2. Mazzega starts in disbelief in front, but swears for breaking the belt. Borsoi rocket in 17'36'0, in full confidence with his Toyota Toyodell. Second at 9 '' Ventura, which makes 40'8 in the provisional total. Third Codecà at 26 '' and his delay rises to 1'12'8. Down from the virtual podium Andrea Toro with the other Suzuki of Emmetre Racing, fourth at 2'02'2. Antonio Rossi's Nissan Patrol overturns, no problem for the crew but the race stops for a moment. Claudio Petrucci (Mercedes) is also out with a broken hydraulic system.
LAP 3. Borsoi in 17'42'0 strengthens his lead at 53'16'6, Ventura at 6 '' closes the first leg with a 46'6 gap. Codecà narrows the gap, but the 12 '' of the third passage makes 1'24'8 in total. A conservative bull, he has to remove some rust and practice Grand Vitara. Algarotti's Quaddy (fifth) is a T3 that follows the Isuzu of Paduan Camporese. In the TM version, Polaris and Yamaha are already overwhelming the hierarchies. No one would have predicted Mauro Vagaggini (Quaddy), a gentleman driver with a couple of years of racing, tenth overall.
Carlo Ragogna Italian Baja Press Office
