Last Updated on September 9, 2026 @ 10:46:20 p.m.
There are just a few days left until one of the highlights of the Maggiora Offroad Arena’s racing season: from September 11 to 13, the historic Novara track will host the ninth round of the 2026 FIA European Autocross Championship, the only Italian round of the continent’s top-tier series in this discipline and a highly prestigious event on the international scene.
Drivers in the Super Buggy, Buggy 1600, Junior Buggy, and Cross Car classes will be on the starting grid: let's take a closer look at the situation.
Super Buggy: 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗱𝗲́𝗺 in the lead
He’ll arrive in Maggiora as the clear favorite, buoyed by his victory in the eighth round at Přerov and his lead in the overall standings, with a 34-point advantage over the runner-up: the Czech driver 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗱𝗲́𝗺, behind the wheel of his CM Buggy, will be the man to beat in the Super Buggy class. His main rival will be the Frenchman 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘂𝗶𝗹 (Alfa Racing ACCR 64), currently second in the championship after also finishing second in Přerov. Ready to capitalize on even the slightest mistake by the top two will be Germany’s 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘂𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿 (Alfa Racing Super Buggy), who is third in the overall standings and is coming off a sixth-place finish in the last round.
Keep an eye on Dutch driver 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 (Trackline Super Buggy) as well, who is just two points behind Wibbeler. But among the 32 drivers entered in the Super Buggy class, there’s no shortage of dark horses ready to join the fight at the top. And there’s also a large contingent of Italian drivers: Peter Stecca (Trackline Motorsport), Mattia Doriano Faccincani (Grasselli), Alessandro Gallotta (Grr Racing/SB), Dino Semenzato (Rom Sport/01), Angelo Spagnol (Super Buggy/JVDC), Alessandro Negri (SBuggy Hosek), and Davide Casarin (Fast&Speed/Racing).
Buggy 1600: Feuillade Takes Off
With his victory in Round 8 in the Czech Republic, French driver 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲 (Fast&Speed Buggy1600) has solidified his lead in the overall standings among the Buggy 1600 class: in Maggiora, the Frenchman—the reigning European Junior Buggy champion—will certainly be looking to extend his lead.
But we’ll have to see what the Czech rider 𝗝𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗯 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗻𝘆́ (Alfa Racing Hayabusa) thinks— who finished third in the previous round, is second in the overall standings, and is eager to reclaim his spot at the top of European racing after winning the 2025 title.
Ready to join this spectacular showdown is the reigning runner-up, Germany’s 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹 (F&S Chassis Buggy 1600), who, after a strong start to the championship, has lost valuable points in the last two races.
Among the 32 drivers on the starting grid, there will be many underdogs, including the Italian drivers in the field, ready to give it their all in front of their home crowd: Alessio Gallotta (Master Racing/Taipan), Alessandro Arnaldini (Fast&Speed/Buggy 1600), Gabriele Zoppetti (Zoppetti/BuggyZoppe), Cristian Grasselli (Grasselli/Suzuki), Samuele Andeliero (Peters Autosport), Riccardo Ricci (Fast & Speed Racing/2021), Mattia Grasselli (P.A.S./Peters Autosport).
Junior Buggy: just one point
The Junior Buggy class has a smaller field after Round 8, but the battle for the title is fiercer than ever!
The Czech rider 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘃 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮̀𝗸 (Alfa Racing Suzuki) leads the standings, but right on his heels is his compatriot 𝗩𝗼𝗷𝘁𝗲̌𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝘂𝗻̌𝗮́𝗸 (TracklineAX TLAX-Model 2022): there’s just one point separating them!
Trailing by a wider margin, 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝘀̌𝗸𝗮 𝗣𝗹𝗻𝗮́ (Marat Engineering Adel) is nonetheless ready to attack to make up ground and try to get back in the running for the overall victory.
Cross Car: A Two-Way Showdown
European champion in 2024 and runner-up in 2025: France’s 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘁 (Speedcar Wonder R), the current points leader, wants to return to the top of European racing. But standing in his way is the reigning champion 𝗜𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝗻̃𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 (LifeLive TN11), fresh off a victory in Round 8 and determined to defend his title to the very end.
Behind them, keep an eye on another French driver, 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗿 (Speedcar Wonder R), who’s ready to join the fray: will he manage to surprise the category’s two top contenders?
There were 44 cars at the starting line, including many Italian drivers: Matteo Altoè (Lifelive/Mt09), Nicolò Grieco (GMN/XCGMN), Matteo Grieco (GMN/XCGMN), Alessandro Gizzi (Kincar/XC Mt 09), Alexander Karim Mancusi (LifeLive TN11), Riccardo Vacciaga (GMN/Yamaha Mt09), Omar Modolo (G-Speed/XC), Alessandro Chiari (Nova Alves/Mt09), Nicola Landrini (Planetmotorsport/K3), Marcus Antonio Martinelli (Lifelive/Tn11), Adriano Fontana (FS Chassis/F&SXC), Francesco Pirocco (Industrias Lahoz/Speedcar Wonder).
The Cross Car category is sure to be one of the highlights at Maggiora!
The Notte Bianca returns on Friday, September 11
The big Autocross weekend will kick off even before the engines roar to life on the track. On Friday, September 11, the spectacular “Notte Bianca” will return, featuring live music, performances, and food stands throughout the streets of Maggiora—a now-traditional event that kicks off the European Championship weekend. The most anticipated moment will, of course, be the parade through the town’s streets of the cars that, starting the next day, will take center stage in the on-track competitions: a unique opportunity to see the European Championship cars and drivers up close and to immerse the entire town in the event’s atmosphere.
The September event is one of the highlights of the entire Maggiora Offroad Arena season and the only opportunity for Italian fans to see the top names in international autocross in person.
So, from September 11 to 13, see you in Maggiora: from the Notte Bianca to the spectacular action on the track, the FIA European Autocross Championship is about to return!
Tickets are available on the website www.ticketone.it/artist/fia-european-autocross-and-cross-car-championships/