The Rally di Poreč in Croatia brought heartbreak for young Italian rally driver Giovanni Trentin, who missed a class victory by a razor-thin margin of just one-tenth of a second. Representing MT Racing and ACI Team Italia, Trentin and his co-driver, Danilo Fappani, drove an exceptional race in their IK Sport Opel Corsa Rally4, showcasing speed and resilience. However, an unfortunate penalty early on Sunday derailed their chances of taking the top spot.
Trentin’s weekend began with strong promise. On Saturday, he set the second-fastest time in his class and placed twelfth overall, seizing an early lead in his category and breaking into the overall top ten. Hopes were high for a powerful performance on Sunday, but a mistake in the first stage of the second day led to a costly setback.
“We started well,” Trentin shared. “But a mistake on the first stage on Sunday caused us to clip the rear, bending a suspension arm and costing us about thirty seconds. We were six minutes late at the next time check, trying to fix the damage, and received a one-minute penalty. On the following stage, despite the bent arm, we pushed hard and managed to match the leading class time. It was a real shame, but we didn’t want to give up.”
After the pitstop, thanks to swift repairs from Lorenzon Racing, Trentin and Fappani returned to the course with renewed determination. Over the next five stages, the MT Racing and ACI Team Italia driver was unstoppable, claiming the fastest time in each remaining stage. This impressive comeback lifted Trentin from twenty-second to ninth overall and put him within striking distance of the class victory—just one-tenth of a second short of overtaking the class leader.
“Once the car was fixed, we faced another setback in the fifth stage,” Trentin added. “We caught up to the competitor in front, who seemed to have mechanical issues, and lost just under ten seconds. Given the final classification, those seconds proved decisive. Finishing second by just one-tenth is tough to accept. Without the penalty and that time lost in the fifth, we would have won. Still, I’m proud we kept such a strong pace in my debut at this rally. Huge thanks to MT Racing, ACI Team Italia, Movisport, IK Sport, Lorenzon Racing, Danilo, and all the sponsors supporting us this year.”
Despite the frustrations, Trentin’s fierce rally comeback displayed his potential and adaptability. His debut at the Rally di Poreč has set a strong foundation for the young driver’s future, proving that he is a rising force in the international rally scene.