The ACI Team Italia standard-bearers faced a significant test of character at the Rally Show Santa Domenica in Croatia.
At this end-of-season event, the young drivers of the national team achieved notable results. Matteo Bernini, driving the Hyundai i20 R5, finished second among the juniors and tenth overall. Meanwhile, Giovanni Trentin gained valuable experience and had a promising debut in the Toyota Yaris Rally2.
The rally, marking its 14th year, presented over thirty kilometers of challenging dirt tracks. Both Bernini and Trentin competed in the prestigious Rally2 category, ending the season on a positive note.
Bernini, joined by ACI Sport Federal Instructor Piero Longhi for this event, delivered a commendable performance. Driving the Hyundai i20 R5, prepared by his family-run team and equipped with Pirelli tyres, Bernini completed the race flawlessly. His efforts resulted in a tenth-place overall finish and a second-place finish among the juniors in his class, also securing fourth place overall in the R5/Rally2 category.
Trentin, on the other hand, faced a more challenging weekend. Navigated by Alessandro Franco and supported by Movisport, he debuted in the Toyota Yaris Rally2. Trentin started strong, finishing Saturday in a competitive third place overall and leading the R5/Rally2 class among juniors. However, a mishap in a chicane cost him a four-minute delay, plummeting his standings to eighty-sixth overall and twenty-third in his class. Despite this setback, Trentin demonstrated resilience and speed, managing to climb back up to thirty-ninth place overall and twelfth in the R5/Rally2 category, just shy of the junior podium.