Davide Pesavento and co-driver Flavio Zanella, piloting the Peugeot 208 Rally4, wrapped up their first FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) season with a solid performance at Rally Silesia. The young driver from Vicenza finished ninth in the overall Junior standings after a competitive season, showing great promise in his first international outing.
Navigated by Zanella and backed by ACI Team Italia, Pesavento took on Rally Silesia as both the final event of the ERC season and the sixth and concluding round of the FIA Junior ERC. Competing in Poland, the duo secured an impressive fourth place, which cemented Pesavento’s ninth-place finish in both the Junior ERC and the ERC4 category for the season.
Rally Silesia presented a demanding introduction to Polish asphalt for Pesavento. The route was laden with tricky conditions, further complicated by ever-changing weather. Despite the absence of 2023 champion Laurent Johansson—who had already advanced to a higher category—the competition remained fierce. However, the 22-year-old from Bassano didn’t shy away from the challenge, kicking off the weekend in style by winning the short opening stage in Katowice (1.85 km).
The next day, Pesavento faced an early setback after spinning on SS2, which cost him over a minute and left him chasing down his rivals for the remainder of the rally. Undeterred, the Italian driver made a strong comeback on Saturday afternoon, clinching victory on the demanding SS7 Gmina Jasienica stage (19.78 km). The momentum continued with a second-fastest time on the following super special at the Silesian Stadium, narrowing the gap to the top three. Despite his determined charge on the final day, Pesavento ultimately finished just 19 seconds behind third-placed Daniel Polášek, securing a respectable fourth-place finish.
Reflecting on the rally, Pesavento commented, “We’ve archived another tough event on Polish tarmac, filled with every variable you could imagine. I learned a lot about driving through constantly changing conditions, from smooth to broken surfaces, and from dry patches to wet, muddy sections—even within a single stage. At one point, we were on slicks in heavy rain, which hadn’t even been on the radar five minutes earlier. It’s been an incredible learning experience.”
Pesavento also shared his thoughts on the season as a whole: “I’m really pleased with my first experience in such a competitive international championship. It’s taught me so much, and I feel like I’ve grown with each round, which is reflected in the results. I want to express my gratitude to ACI Sport Federation for this amazing opportunity, as well as to our sponsors, Delta Rally, my family, and everyone who helped us complete the season.”
With a debut season now under his belt, Davide Pesavento has demonstrated that he is more than ready to take on the challenges of international rallying. His progression throughout the FIA Junior ERC shows clear potential, setting the stage for what promises to be a bright future in the world of motorsport.
