Tommaso Ciuffi and Pietro Cigni claimed victory at the Rally Città di Foligno, marking the start of the 2025 Italian Gravel Rally Championship (CIRT). The Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 team staged an impressive comeback, securing a win by a margin of 13.0 seconds over their nearest competitors. Alberto Battistolli and Simone Scattolin, also driving a Skoda, took second place, while Giovanni Trentin and Alessandro Franco from ACI Team Italia completed the podium, showcasing the prowess of Czech-manufactured rally cars.
The CIAR Junior category saw a decisive win for Geronimo Nerobutto and Matteo Zaramella in a Renault Clio RS Rally5, who finished 30 seconds ahead of their closest rivals. In the ACI Sport 4WD Cup, Alex Lorenzato and Andrea Marcon led the field in a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Meanwhile, the Two-Wheel Drive category was dominated by Davide Bartolini and Alexandra Prunache in a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
This year’s season opener was a thrilling display of skill and strategy. Tommaso Ciuffi, alongside Pietro Cigni, overcame a cautious start and minor errors, posting three blistering stage times to redeem last year’s retirement at the same event. This victory marked Ciuffi’s first titled race win and set the stage for a renewed rivalry with reigning champion Alberto Battistolli, who managed a strong initial pace in his Pirelli-shod Skoda.
Eighteen-year-old Giovanni Trentin, representing ACI Team Italia in his first CIRT rally, surprised many with a stellar performance. Despite being new to the RS version of the Skoda Fabia, he scored three fastest times in the initial stages, establishing a lead he maintained throughout the race. His third-place finish, secured despite a late puncture, was a significant achievement.
Paolo Andreucci, a fourteen-time Italian champion, experienced a setback with a one-minute delay due to service exit issues but rebounded strongly to finish fourth with the fastest time in the final stage. Mille Johansson, alongside Johan Gronvall, showcased the Hankook tires in their Italian debut, finishing fifth despite some inexperience with the new technical setup.
The German duo, Liam Muller and Alexander Hirsch, achieved their best CIRT result, finishing sixth. The rally concluded with impressive performances by several debutants and established competitors, ensuring a competitive season ahead.
The junior division of the rally was equally competitive, with Geronimo Nerobutto making a triumphant return to the junior category, bolstered by added experience and leading from the start to win convincingly. The battle for second place was intense, culminating in the final stages with Sebastian Dallapiccola and Fabio Andrian overtaking Mattia Ricciu and Giovanni Mazzone for a memorable finish.
In the ACI Sport Cups, Alex Lorenzato and Andrea Marcon took the first win in the 4WD category, and Davide Bartolini claimed victory in the Two-Wheel Drive class, each demonstrating their prowess in a challenging field.
Overall Rally Citta di Foligno Results
01: T. Ciuffi/P. Cigni (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 51m 01.6s
02: A. Battistolli/S. Scattolin (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 13.0s
03: G. Trentin/A. Franco (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 18.9s
04: P. Andreucci/R. Briani (Citroen C3 R5) + 20.0s
05: M. Johansson/J. Gronvall (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 24.4s
06: L. Muller/A. Hirsch (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 39.9s
07: C. Tiramani/F. Grimaldi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 evo) + 1m 05.7s
08: F. Farina/S. Raccuia (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 evo) + 1m 19.4s
09: J. Lavio/A. Haapala (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 28.5s
10: P. Lafay/A. Chioso (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 1m 54.4s