Big champions keep us waiting, as the most surprising fireworks. The entry list for the Italian Baja (June 23rd/26th) is becoming longer day by day, considering both four- and two-wheeled vehicles; the challenge is also rising curiosity for its validity as for the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies and for the FIM Bajas World Cup.
The CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Mauro Tavella, who by the way is the managing director of himself, leading the Fuoristrada Club 4x4 Pordenone, confirmed not to have received in the past the entry’s request by an American competitor from Las Vegas, the Gambling Capital of the World.
The announced participation of Bryce Menzies with a Mini All4 Racing of the X-Raid Team opens therefore now new horizons and deserves a special comment. The reason is this pilot won for three years in succession (from 2011 to 2013) the title prototypes 2 driving-wheels of the Torc special Off Road Championship made in Usa; besides, he is used to take part in rally cross competitions and is one of the protagonists of the Red Bull Frozen Rush, a race disputed on a snow covered route, where the show aspect has the same importance as the simple result. In 2015 he also tasted some Cross Country races, navigated by Andreas Schultz, the expert driver who won World Cups titles together with Leonid Novitskiy, Khalifa Al Mutaiwei and Krzysztof Holowczyc.
From the desert of Nevada to the tundra landscapes of the Tagliamento river, make sure that Menzies will be able to offer us once more the funny show of his transverse way of driving. As for foreign challengers coming from overseas, the Italian Baja 2016 will welcome again the Peruvian Raul Orlandini, who last year won the T3 class (Improved vehicles),this time facing the route with a Toyota Land cruiser 3 litres of the 4WD Jaton Racing Team, ready to climb the rank of Original diesel engine vehicles (T2.2).
The first Italian competitor who decided to confirm his entry was Elvis Borsoi. The driver from Conegliano seized in 2015 the first position in the T2.1 class (Original gasoline engine vehicles) driving a Ford Raptor, ahead on Denis Berezovskiy from Kazakistan and Emil Khneisser from Lebanon and now seems to be ready to join the starting line up with a Toyota.
Carlo Ragogna Italian Baja Press Office
