Davide Caffoni and co-driver Leone Natoli, in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, emerged victorious at the 2024 Rally di Santo Stefano Belbo, securing the prestigious Roberto Botta Trophy after a thrilling and unpredictable event. The Ossola-based pair took command of the rally on the fifth stage, pushing through challenging weather conditions that led to a series of unexpected retirements.
Federico and Tatiana Santini (Škoda Fabia R5), initially dominated the early stages of the event, taking advantage of a lead inherited after pre-rally favourite Alessandro Gino’s early exit. Gino, competing in a Citroën C3 WRC Plus, was sidelined after an off-road excursion during the second stage at Loazzolo. Despite Gino setting the fastest time in the opening stage, his hopes for victory were dashed, leaving the Santinis to set the pace.
The Santinis, originally from Tuscany but now representing Piedmont, seemed to have the rally under control, maintaining a high pace on the slippery Loazzolo and Mango stages. They closed the first half of the event with a lead of over 12 seconds. However, Caffoni and Natoli launched a determined comeback in the second half, gradually closing the gap and eventually overtaking the Santinis on the fifth stage. With this impressive drive, Caffoni and Natoli clinched the overall win and the coveted Roberto Botta Trophy.
Federico Santini’s second-place finish was enough to secure the Michelin Trophy and direct qualification for the regional final in Genoa. Luca Arione and Luca Culasso, driving another Škoda Fabia, rounded out the podium with a solid performance that saw them consistently in contention for the top spots.
The battle for fourth place was equally fierce, with Patrick Gagliasso and Dario Beltramo finishing just off the podium in their second outing with the upgraded Škoda. Despite their efforts, Gagliasso fell short of qualifying for the Genoa final. Fifth place went to Cristiano Fenoglio and Marco Rosso, who wrapped up an impressive season in their Škoda with yet another strong showing.
The Škoda dominance continued throughout the field, with Massimo Marasso and Luca Pieri taking sixth place, followed by Davide Porta and Andrea Quistini in seventh. Porta and Quistini struggled initially to find the right setup but ultimately triumphed in the “Under 25” category. Eighth place went to Daniele Griotti and Fabio Grimaldi, who also secured the “Over 55” class win, ahead of Ezio Grasso and Luca Beltrame. Completing the top ten were Samuele Rossato and Andrea Rossello, marking a near-total sweep for Škoda in the overall standings, with 79 cars finishing the rally.
Other Class Winners
The Rally4 class saw Carmelo Vacchetto and Elena Giovenale dominate in their Peugeot 208, earning the “Francesco Pozzi” memorial trophy as well as the “Trofeo delle Merende” prize, which included a set of Pirelli tires. Andrea and Vittoria Sala, driving an Opel Corsa GS, finished second in the Rally4 class, followed by Emanuele Fiore and Martina Musiari in another Peugeot 208, who were also awarded Pirelli tires for their efforts.
In the N2 class, Enrico Negro and Alessio Capra came out on top in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX R4, taking home the Omar Pedrazzoli Trophy along with a set of Pirelli tires as part of their prize.
A Day of High Drama
The 2024 edition of the Rally di Santo Stefano Belbo was defined by changing weather conditions and high drama throughout its stages. Sudden rainfall at the start of the rally made the Cuneo-based event particularly treacherous, leading to numerous retirements and testing the skill and endurance of every crew. The battle for the lead saw multiple shifts as drivers navigated the unpredictable terrain, with spectators treated to an exhilarating display of rally talent.
The event, part of the Trofeo Rally di Zona series promoted by Cinzano Rally, concluded the season in spectacular fashion, providing a fitting end to a year full of excitement and competitive action. Catch all the highlights and behind-the-scenes footage on the upcoming broadcast of the ‘Moteurs’ show, airing Sunday, October 13th, at 10 a.m. on Sport en France.
Overall Results
01: D. Caffoni/L. Natoli (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 43m 28.0s
02: F. Santini/T. Santini (Škoda Fabia R5) + 8.4s
03: L. Arione. L. Culasso (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Evo) + 38.5s
04: P. Gagliasso/D. Beltramo (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 51.5s
05: C. Fenoglio/M. Rosso (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Evo) + 58.6s
06: M. Marasso/L. Pieri (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Evo) + 1m 09.4s
07: D. Porta/A. Quistini (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Evo) + 1m 31.8s
08: D. Griotti/F. Grimaldi (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 52.8s
09: M. Grasso Ezio/L. Beltrame (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Evo) + 2m 07.2s
10: S. Rossato/A. Rossello (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 2m 08.3s