The gap was a mere six-tenths of a second between the winners, Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai, in the Skoda Fabia RS and the reigning champions, Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Elia Ometto in the Citroen C3. Basso and Granai secured a well-deserved podium and victory in the CIR Promozione, driving another Fabia RS. In the CIAR 2RM, Davide Pesavento and Alessandro Michelet won on their debut in a Peugeot.
In a race marked by challenging conditions, including torrential rain and mud, the Sparco CIAR delivered an exhilarating spectacle. The intense competition saw Basso and Crugnola battling throughout the 48th Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio. The decisive moment came during the second pass through the notorious “Careggine” stage, where Basso overcame his morning struggles to win by a narrow margin of six-tenths of a second.
The rally commenced under heroic conditions, orchestrated by the Organization Sport Event. Early on, Bostjan Avbelj, paired with Damijan Andrejka in another Skoda Fabia RS, took the lead by excelling in the rain. However, a puncture on PS5 derailed their lead, paving the way for Basso to move ahead. Despite a solid start, Basso fell behind Crugnola during the first Sunday run through “Careggine” but managed a strong comeback in the final stages.
At the podium’s base, the world team Gryazin-Aleksandrov faced setbacks, losing significant time while navigating the challenging “Fabbriche di Vergemoli” stage. This incident significantly altered the standings. Fabio Andolfi, in his Italian debut driving a Hyundai i20 Rally, secured a commendable fifth place, showing notable progress as the race advanced.
In the Italian Absolute Two-Wheel Drive Rally Championship, young Davide Pesavento made a remarkable debut, securing his first career victory despite penalties. The intense competition in the 2WD category culminated in a dramatic finish when Lucchesi-Bracchi, contenders for the victory, crashed in the final stage.
The single-make trophies also highlighted outstanding performances. In the GR Yaris Rally Cup, Salvatore Lo Cascio triumphed, creating a significant lead over his competitors. Meanwhile, the Suzuki Rally Cup saw Lorenzo Varesco and Nicolò Bottega celebrate a debut victory in the Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid with a substantial margin.
The overall standings of the 48th Rally Il Ciocco e Valle del Serchio are as follows:
- G. Basso/L. Granai (Skoda Fabia RS) – 1:03’59.8
- A. Crugnola/P.E. Ometto (Citroen C3) – +0.6 seconds
- B. Avbelj/D. Andrejka (Skoda Fabia RS) – +16.2 seconds
The CIAR Sparco and CIR Promotion rankings reflect the intense competition and skill displayed by the drivers throughout this challenging and thrilling event.
