The penultimate round of the Italian Gravel Rally Championship (CIRT) at the 21st Rally dei Nuraghi e del Vermentino delivered an unforgettable finale. In a dramatic comeback, Alberto Battistolli and co-driver Simone Scattolin secured victory by the narrowest of margins, edging out Tommaso Ciuffi and Pietro Cigni by just 0.5 seconds in the final stage. The thrilling result not only reignites the CIRT title fight but also leaves everything to play for in the season’s concluding rally at the Rally delle Marche on 16-17 November 2024.
Battistolli’s epic comeback
Battistolli’s triumph seemed unlikely until the final stage. Heading into the 20-kilometre ‘Pattada-Oschiri’ test, the MRF-backed Škoda Fabia RS crew trailed Ciuffi by 10 seconds. But Battistolli’s masterful run through the dirt-heavy roads saw him claw back 10.5 seconds, clinching the win with a razor-thin margin.
“It was a surreal finish,” Battistolli admitted. “We knew we had to push to the absolute limit, and everything just clicked in that final stage.”
Ciuffi, who dominated much of the rally with four scratch times out of six stages, was left ruing his cautious approach in the final test. Despite missing out on victory, Ciuffi remains at the top of the CIRT standings, though his lead over Battistolli is now down to just two points heading into the final round.
Ciuffi and Cigni: Dominance with a bitter end
For much of the rally, Ciuffi and Cigni looked untouchable in their Škoda Fabia RS R5. The Tuscan crew set a blistering pace on the opening day, pulling ahead of the competition and stamping their authority on the event. Their confident performance had many thinking the rally was already decided before the dramatic finale.
“We had a great rhythm throughout the rally,” said Ciuffi. “But perhaps we were too cautious on the last stage. Still, it’s been a fantastic battle, and we’ll give it everything at the Rally delle Marche.”
Lavio’s return to form
Finland’s Jaakko Lavio and co-driver Antti Haapala were the surprise performers of the rally, clinching third place in their Škoda Fabia Evo R5. After missing previous rounds due to bad luck, Lavio showed his pace in Sardinia, setting two second-fastest times and keeping up with the top contenders. His first Italian podium is a testament to his talent, and he will be a name to watch in the final stages of the season.
“Sardinia is a magical place for me,” Lavio said. “It’s incredible to stand on the podium here. We finally had a clean rally, and everything came together.”
Oldrati’s late charge and the rising stars
In fourth place, Enrico Oldrati and Giacomo Ciucci steadily climbed the standings after a slow start. The Škoda Fabia RS R5 crew found their rhythm midway through the rally, finishing strong and setting themselves up well for the season finale.
Meanwhile, the battle for positions 5th to 8th was a showcase of the sport’s rising talent. Christian Tiramani and co-driver Fabio Grimaldi emerged on top, narrowly besting Angelo Pucci Grossi and Francesco Cardinali, who lost time to a puncture on the final stage.
Fontana and Arnaboldi secure 4WD Cup win
Among the standout performers was Matteo Fontana, who—alongside co-driver Alessandro Arnaboldi—drove their Ford Fiesta Rally3 to seventh place overall. Despite competing against more powerful Rally2 machinery, Fontana’s consistent pace earned him the ACI Sport 4WD Cup title, with the crew claiming their fifth consecutive class win.
“It’s an incredible feeling to win the 4WD Cup with a round to spare,” Fontana said. “This rally was tough, but we managed to hold our ground among the big names.”
Marchioro/Marchetti claim 2WD title
In the Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) category, Nicolò Marchioro and Marco Marchetti clinched the season title with a race to spare. Driving a Peugeot 208, they finished second in Sardinia behind the German duo J. Müller and Ruf but sealed the championship thanks to their earlier dominance throughout the season.
Final Results
01: A. Battistolli/S. Scattolin (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2)** – 52’39.8
02: T. Ciuffi/P. Cigni (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 0.5s
03: J. Lavio/A. Haapala (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) + 33.3s
04: E. Oldrati/G. Ciucci (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 19.3s
05: C. Tiramani/F. Grimaldi (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) + 1m 48.2s
06: A. Grossi/F. Cardinali (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 2m 14.9s
07: M. Fontana/A. Arnaboldi (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 2m 15.8s
08: L. Müller/A. Hirsch (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) + 2m 17.4s
09: G. Manfrinato/F. Zanella (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 3m 01.8s
10: S. Bizzarri/L. Lanera (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 3m 44.0s
CIRT Standings After Round 5
01: T. Ciuffi – 51 points
02: A. Battistolli – 49 points
03: M. Heikkilä – 36 points
04: U. Scandola – 35 points
05: E. Oldrati – 34 points
An epic season finale awaits
With the Italian Gravel Rally Championship heading into its final round at the Rally delle Marche on 16-17 November, the title race is poised for a thrilling conclusion. With four different winners in five events, the championship has been as unpredictable as it has been exciting.
Will Ciuffi hold onto his narrow lead, or can Battistolli complete his incredible comeback? One thing is certain—fans can expect an electrifying finish to one of the most competitive CIRT seasons in recent memory. Stay tuned for the ultimate showdown!
