Pordenone, 6 July 2024_ This edition of Italian Baja, so unusual and unsure since the beginning, will remain in the annals. For the first time in 31 editions the winner wasn’t a prototype and this year there were 6 vehicles “Ultimate” T1+ at the starting line, extra large and extra strong like the ones seen in action in the Dakar.
To make the surprise hit was the Portuguese crew composed by Joao Dias and Joao Pedro Re’ on a Can Am Maverick X3, agile and performant vehicle that completed in 4:08’18’’4 the three laps on the selective sectors “Tagliamento”, long almost 95 km. For the first time a side by side vehicle on the highest step of the podium at Pordenone’s freight village, but also the second and third place were prerogative of the light tubulars with Polish Adam Kus (Grally Ot3) second at 1’12’’9, burned in the last and decisive sector, and the Spanish Fidel Castillo Ruiz (other Can Am) third at 2’06’’0. Harsh and ruthless, the Italian Baja ousted Lithuanian Benediktas Vanagas (Toyota Hilux), stopped by an electric malfunctioning in the first morning lap. Thumbs down for Polish Michal Maluszynski (Mini John Cooper Works Rally) and Portuguese Francisco Barreto (other Hilux) too, victims of a bone-crushing, narrow and selective in parts of track where, instead, the Ssv had no problems. Joao Ferreira, favorite driver and best performer of yesterday’s prologue with the Mini of the X-raid team, stopped for 25’ on the track before to be able to restart. Although the race was compromised, the driver from Portugal fought to gain the seven position in the overall rank, recovering important points for the Fia European Championship rank.
Italian drivers demonstrate to be protagonists in the International race.
Amerigo Ventura (Yamaha Yxz 100R) smells the flavor of the podium, but got missed during the second leg after crashing in a ford. A very good fifth position for Manuele Mengozzi (Hilux), leading the T1 class as he succeeded in March at the Artugna Race, without foreign challengers.
Top ten ends by Andrea Schiumarini (Century Racing Cr6) and Andrea Castagnera (Can Am), while Federico Buttò (also Can Am) stopped his race after the first leg. The Italian race (one leg less), has two final ranks.
Success signed by Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki Grand Vitara) among cross country baja vehicles in 3:10’20’’0, ahead on Elvis Borsoi (Mini John Cooper) with a gap of 35’’6, over 5’ on the Hungarian Frantisek Brutovsky who had to pay an over 9’ penalty. Whole Hungarian Podium for the side by side vehicles: first position gained by Zoltan Garamvolgyi (Garilla X3 Evo) in 2:55’36’’3, second place reached by Kannar Szilard with a gap of 2’43’’5, third position seized by Norbert Liszi a 4’20’’7 (both with Can Am).
Italian Baja press office
