The curtain has closed on yet another thrilling rally season in the Central-South region, and it’s Giuseppe Bergantino who once again stands at the top of the podium. Alongside co-driver Mirko Di Vincenzo, Bergantino piloted his Škoda Fabia R5 to a commanding victory at the 14th edition of the Rally Porta del Gargano, marking his 10th win at the event. The duo, representing the New Jolly Motors team, dominated the rally from start to finish, winning eight out of the ten stages contested across the stunning landscapes of Vieste, Manfredonia, Peschici, and Vico Del Gargano.
Despite a lighter racing calendar this year, Bergantino made his intentions clear from the opening stages, clinching victory in all four special stages held on Saturday night. On Sunday, he cemented his lead by securing wins in four more stages, leaving only two to his rivals. His masterful drive on the technical and demanding roads of the Gargano region left little room for others to challenge his supremacy, even as unexpected twists kept the action lively.
The Rally Porta del Gargano also marked a significant achievement for the Frosinone-based team of Emanuele Giannetti and Mario Pizzuti, who took third place in their Škoda Fabia R5 Evo. This podium finish crowned them as winners of the ACI Sport 8th Zone Rally Cup, covering the regions of Abruzzo, Lazio, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria. Giannetti’s title victory was far from assured, however, as he entered the event tied in points with Dedo De Dominicis. De Dominicis’ sudden retirement due to a gearbox failure on his Škoda Fabia RS after the opening stage handed the advantage to Giannetti, though he still faced fierce competition from Stefano Liburdi.
Liburdi, co-driven by Valerio Silvaggi in a Hyundai i20N, battled hard for the runner-up spot, even managing to secure a stage win. Despite his best efforts, he ultimately fell short of overtaking Giannetti in the overall standings, but was nonetheless recognized for his standout performance. The Vieste municipal commission awarded him the 4th City of Vieste Trophy for the most striking car livery, presented by the city’s mayor, Giuseppe Nobiletti, along with councillors Gaetano Desimio and Gaetano Paglialonga.
Another fierce contender was Lecce’s Francesco Rizzello, paired with Fernando Sorano in a Škoda Fabia R5. Rizzello engaged in a thrilling battle with Giannetti for third place but ultimately finished just shy of the podium in fourth. Meanwhile, Giorgio Liguori and Mattia Nicastri took fifth overall in their Renault Clio, excelling in the highly competitive RC4N Group. The Clio crew led their category, finishing ahead of Tuzzolino-Cerasi and Maglione-Tarquinio, both in Peugeot 208s.
Elsewhere, the RC3N Group was dominated by Mario Trotta and Federico Germani in their Renault Clio, while Andrea Innangi and Antonino Marino clinched the RC5N Group victory, also in a Clio, with a substantial lead over their rivals.
Out of the 50 crews that started from the picturesque setting of Marina Piccola di Vieste, 40 made it back to the finish line, capping off a successful and exciting rally that not only celebrated motorsport excellence but also highlighted the stunning beauty and vibrant culture of the Gargano region. Local administrators and motorsport officials, including Raimondo Ursitti, President of the Automobile Club of Foggia, expressed their satisfaction with the growth of rallying in the region, attributing the event’s success to the efforts of the ASD Piloti Sipontini organization.
With such thrilling competition and remarkable individual performances, the Rally Porta del Gargano once again proved itself as a premier event on the Italian rally calendar, setting the stage for more action-packed seasons to come.
Overall Results
01: G. Bergatino/M. Di Vincenzo (Škoda Fabia R5) – 47m 17.4s
02: S. Liburdi/V. Silvaggi (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) + 30.6s
03: E. Giannetti/M. Pizzuti (Škoda Fabia R5 Evo) + 1m 00.8s
04: F. Rizzello/F. Sorano (Škoda Fabia R5) + 1m 16.5s
05: G. Liguori/M. Nicastri (Renault Clio R3) + 2m 47.9s
06: M. Trotta/F. Germani (Renault Clio S1600) + 3m 26.0s
07: V. Tortorici/A. Nardini (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) + 3m 58.8s
08: M. Di Gesu/C. Quarta (Škoda Fabia R5) + 4m 55.4s
09: F. Tuzzolino/L. Cerasi (Peugeot 208 Rally4) + 5m 09.0s
10: D. Maglione/A. Tarquinio (Peugeot 208 Rally4) + 5m 52.4s