Pordenone, 22 January 2024._ Not only on TV admiring the Dakar like thousands of enthusiasts. Mauro Tavella stopped by the Eurosport studios to comment on the last stages of the marathon in the Arabian desert (won for the fourth time by the "matador" Carlos Sainz), recalling that it was his boyhood dream. He attended with a Range Rover that he had spent a small fortune transforming into a pick-up. Father Giovanni told him to keep his feet on the ground, that one idea could be to organize a race in Friuli, without flights of fancy. The rest is history - as told in the book "Thirty Years of Italian Baja" - which continues. Because the Fuoristrada Club 4x4 Pordenone has made a full stop, filling up with energy after the 30th anniversary celebrations. Now the 2024 program has its appointments set and we start getting serious again.
The 14th Italian Baja di Primavera - Artugna Race will be staged on 15/16 March, the first race of the Italian Acisport Cross Country and SSV Championship, with a dirt route on the foothills in the arc formed by the countryside of Fontanafredda, Polcenigo, Budoia and Aviano.
From 4 to 7 July the 31st Italian Baja, valid this year for the FIA European Cup, could still see the participation of some big world champions, considering the fervent friendship between champions like Nasser Al Attiyah and Yazeed Al Rajhi, but also several others have interwoven with Tavella and the Fuoristrada Club 4x4.
On 20/21 September the 1st Baja dello Stella, an absolute first thanks to the Motori dello Stella of Rivignano Teor, whose members, with humility and dedication, apprenticed in Artugna and Italian Baja in 2023, and in their first ever on the bank left of the Tagliamento, already with tricolor validity, will have full collaboration from the people of Pordenone.
“Enhancing the territory is our mission – underlines Tavella – and a third race in the splendid setting of riverbeds and resurgences constitutes a powerful sporting and tourism investment opportunity for Friuli”.
Among the novelties for 2024 also the entry of the R5 (prototypes) and N5 (production) into the races of the Italian Cross Country Championship, rally cars suitably adapted to face the toughest off-road competitions. Injection of entertainment on a competitive scene open to new competitors
Carlo Ragogna Press Office Italian Baja
