Last Updated on October 20, 2022 @ 10:41:29 am
October 22/23 in Maggiora Offroad Arena the grand finale of the Tricolor
This is it: in just a few hours the engines of the Italian Rallycross Championship cars will be back to fire for the last, highly anticipated round that could only take place in the home of Italian Rallycross: Maggiora Offroad Arena, the headquarters of the Championship Promoter, the Maggiora Sport Club.
The one scheduled for October 22/23 will be an electrifying two days because, having coefficient 2, the last scheduled race can completely overturn the rankings of the different categories.
The Maggiora Offroad Arena test will also be valid for the FIA CEZ (Central European Zone) Championship, and there will be no shortage, especially in some categories, of strong riders to do battle.
RX5
It promises to be a very close race in what has now become the queen class of the Championship. The leader of the standings, Gian Maria Gabbiani, who is on 120 points with his Skoda Fabia R5, and his first pursuer, Fabio Mezzatesta, who after the first races on Peugeot has also switched to the Skoda Fabia R5 and now finds himself with 108 points, will obviously be at the start. Unfortunately, Donetto will not be present, but the South Tyrolean Werner Gurschler, winner of Round 2, and Stefano Avandero, second on his debut in the same Round 2, will be back, both at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia. Also competing will be Lucamaria Rizzello, in a Peugeot 208.
Supercar
Among the Supercars, Rosario Corallo and his Subaru Impreza, despite the problems in the last round, still lead the standings with 90.5 points, ahead of Michele Andolina (Fiat Punto), who is stuck at 67. Both will be at the start on Saturday and Sunday.
Super 1600
Marco Valazza will be at the start with his trusty Ford Fiesta to celebrate the title practically already won, after those of 2017 and 2019, thanks to the absence of his closest rival in the standings, the young Jenni Sonzogni. But the race in this category will still be very interesting, thanks to the presence of the FIA CEZ drivers, starting with Jiri Susta (capable of winning the tricolor title, at only 15 years old, in 2020), leading the overall category standings with his Skoda Fabia, and the Hungarian Janko Wieszt with his Suzuki Swift Super1600.
Also awaited with curiosity is the performance of Armando Tocchio, who returns to the race in his Peugeot 106.
STC
In STC-1600 Paolo Barbieri (Citroen C2) has a 16-point lead over Matteo Valazza (Citroen Saxo), a good gap but certainly not reassuring for "Popy," who will therefore have to race without making calculations. Franco Fusi (Renault Clio), Marco Valsesia (Citroen Saxo), Damiano Delfino (Citroen Saxo) and Pier Paolo Caputo (Peugeot 205 Rallye) will make this category even more interesting. Also watch out for the very young (16 years old) Czech Martin Knapek, making his debut in Maggiora and currently in third place in the FIA CEZ with his Skoda Fabia.
In STC-2000 a historic result could be looming: Arianna Corallo, currently leading the standings with 106.5 points, could be the first woman ever to win an Italian Rallycross title. But she will have to reckon with Marco Nicolini, who is chasing her closely with 103.75 points and who has shown that when his Peugeot 205 has no problems, he is very fast indeed.
On the other hand, he will be eager to make up for his many problems in Round 4, the Czech champion Roman Castoral, who will also be at the start for FIA CEZ points, as will compatriot Jakub Michal, currently third in the standings in his Peugeot 206.
In this category there is the debut of young Ermes Mapi, at the wheel of a Renault Clio, and the return of the strong and very likeable Dutchman Jo Van De Ven in a Volkswagen Polo.
Instead, the 2021 champion Alberto Palestrini should have no problem confirming himself in the STC+2000 category, but he will be surrounded by the top four FIA CEZ drivers who will put up a great fight, all in BMW M3s): the leader of the standings Slawomir Woloch (Pol), the Hungarians Tibor Vamosi, Zoltan Held, Zion Gabay and the Polish "Halk."
Kartcross
Round 4 definitely shuffled the cards and now leading the standings is Riccardo Canzian (Speedcar Xtreme) with 184 points. But tricampeon Marcello Gallo (Lifelive TN5) is just 2.5 points behind, and after the unfortunate Castelletto round he will definitely want to take back the win and title. Sornioni, the two Grieco brothers, Nicolò and Matteo, are at 161.5 and 148 points respectively with their GMNs and will surely be ready to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.
RX Under 18
In this special ranking, Valentino Ledda (Ya-Car) seems to have no rivals who has 124 points: the two closest rivals are Marcus Antonio Martinelli (GMN) and Matteo Bernini (KC) 65.5 and 65 points respectively.
Support Race CIVF
To make this last Round even more spectacular, as many as five CIVF drivers will also be engaged with their prototypes: Claudio Esposto (Polaris CP PRO 1000T), Simone Lanfranchini (Proto Jeep TDI 1.9), Marco Loffredo (Suzuki TDE 1.9), Duilio Lonardi (CAN AM X3) and Luca Pagani (Polaris RZR 1000T).
The programme
On Saturday, October 22, the Paddock will open at 8 a.m.; Scrutineering will start at 9 a.m. and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. there will be free practice; Q1 will start at 4 p.m.
On Saturday, at the end of the first Q, at 6:30 p.m., the presentation of the book written by Umberto Lacchetti and Giulio Giovannetti: "THE FORD TROPHY OF RALLYCROSS" will be held at the PALA RX, located in the paddock.
On Sunday, October 23, Warm Up will begin at 8:30 am, then at 9 am Q2, at 10:30 am Q3, at 1:30 pm Q4, at 3 pm Semifinals and at 4 pm Finals.
On Saturday admission will be free, while on Sunday the cost will be only 10 € including consummation; for residents in the municipality of Maggiora admission will still be free.
In short, there are really all the ingredients for an unforgettable weekend!