The single-make Suzuki Rally Cup series takes center stage at one of the season’s most eagerly awaited events in Italy. Competitors will navigate 112 km of timed routes through the UNESCO heritage landscapes of Belbo Valley, Langa Astigiana, and Bassa Langa from Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13. The competition heats up with Lorenzo Varesco, Jean Claude Vallino, and Giorgio Fichera vying for supremacy, while newcomers in the “Racing Start” category make their mark.
Just weeks after its inaugural round, the Suzuki Rally Cup—sponsored by Suzuki Italia and showcasing the swift and agile Swift Sport Rally cars—returns with a high-profile second round at the 19th Rally Regione Piemonte. This highly anticipated event promises to captivate the Italian rally scene from April 11 to 13, featuring 112 km of competitive driving across 13 special stages. Highlights include the nighttime spectacle in Alba and the “Santo Stefano” power stage, which will be broadcast live on RAI Sport and ACI Sport TV.
Chasing Points
Following a challenging round at Rally il Ciocco, Lorenzo Varesco leads the Suzuki Rally Cup standings, closely followed by Nicolò Bottega. Despite limited experience with the Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid, Varesco demonstrated impressive speed in wet conditions. However, the upcoming sunny and potentially rainy weather in Alba may reshuffle the deck, compelling contenders to push hard from the start. This includes the ambitious under-25 drivers, who make up more than half the participants.
Jean Claude Vallino, born in 2004, enters determined, fueled by a second-place finish in his debut on a Swift Sport Hybrid. Last year’s “Racing Start” winner is now eyeing the overall trophy, showcasing his potential early on. However, he faces stiff competition from seasoned driver Giorgio Fichera and co-driver Luca Vignolo, who aim to overcome past misfortunes and clinch a victory.
Other young contenders include Giovanni Villardi and Nicolò Barla, who showed promising partial times at Ciocco, positioning them as frontrunners. Stefano Vitali, paired with his father Maurizio, enters his third year in the Suzuki Rally Cup, ready to compete at the top. Meanwhile, Giorgio Basso Corradi, navigated by Fulvio Alberti, aims to rebound from an early retirement at Ciocco by finishing strong and gaining valuable experience.
Emerging Talents in Racing Start
The “Racing Start” category, featuring the Suzuki Swift Boosterjet, sees new and returning competitors. With Pellè absent, Andrea La Cola, third at Ciocco, aims to capitalize on the opportunity alongside Antonello Moncada. Lorenzo Olivieri begins his 2025 campaign with Lucrezia Viotti, a seasoned category contender, aiming to make up significant points. Newcomers Marco Uzzi and Roberta Steffani focus on gaining experience and completing the rally.
Event Schedule
The action kicks off with the shakedown on Friday, April 11, from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by the official rally start at 8:00 pm in downtown Alba. The race extends over three days, featuring the “Super Prova Sparco” city circuit and the live-broadcast “Power Stage” from Santo Stefano Belbo. Special stages include Loazzolo, Cossano, Diano d’Alba, and the new San Grato stage on Sunday.
Suzuki Rally Cup Standings
- Varesco – 28pts
- Vallino – 23pts
- Fichera – 19pts
- Vitali – 14pts
- Rivia – 12pts
- Pellè – 10pts
- Martinelli – 9pts
- La Cola – 8pts
- Villardi – 7pts
Car Details and Prizes
The 2025 season features several models, including the Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid, Suzuki Swift BoosterJet, and Suzuki Swift Sport 1600, all tuned to maximize performance and driver skill development. The competition also promises a substantial prize pool of €125,500, with significant rewards for top performers in various categories.