Both very demanding for the crews, the two “average” races raised the curtain on the Tricolor of the specialty. Predictions respected in both categories which saw the Peugeot 309 and the Honda Civic triumph.
Porto Cervo, April 27, 2026 – The one disputed on the days of Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April was a tightly timed run with spectacular views on the stages of Gallura and Costa Smeralda, first round of the 2026 Italian Historic Regularity Car Rally Championship in the two categories “50” and “60”. A championship start that has already provided important indications in a tricolor key, on a route made even more selective by the variety of the stages and by the typical conditions of the Costa Smeralda roads.
Ten starters in the “average 60” where the brothers Fabio and Paolo Verdona confirmed themselves as one of the reference points of the category, who with the Peugeot 309 Gti 16V of the Scuderia del Grifone built their success thanks to a solid and error-free race, closing with 109 penalties. Behind them classified Davide Gerosa Brichetto and Roberto Bortoluzzi, on an Audi Quattro (Verona Historic), second with 149 penalties, while completing the podium were Antonella Monza and Susanna Nicolini, on a Porsche 911 SC of the Scuderia Milano Autostoriche, third with 282 penalties. At the foot of the podium placed the Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.6 of Maurizio Verini – winner in 1978 of the 1st Costa Smeralda Rally on a Fiat 131 Abarth – paired with Laura Martines and closing the top-five were Alfredo and Valentina Cucciniello on a Ford Fiesta.
In the “average 50” it was a winning race for Vittorio Catanzaro flanked by Leandro Deiana on a Honda Civic 1.6 of the Scuderia del Grifone; after a head-to-head with Marco Gandino, competing on an ex-Trophy Fiat Uno 70 together with Fausto De Marchi, the future winner pulled away after the retirement of his rival and closed with a wide margin against Enrico Colombo and Francesca Guerrucci, on a Porsche 911 2.7 detached by 261 penalties, while on the third step of the podium climb Mariano Fiorese and Laura Marcattilj, on a Porsche 911 SC with 305 penalties. Giorgio Onori and Giacomo Iorio on a Lancia Fulvia finish fourth at just 5 points from the podium, and the fifth position is won by Giovanni Fante and Federico Giuntini on an Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint.
The arrival of the last car of the Costa Smeralda Historic Regularity Rally – Martini Trophy on the stage at the Molo Vecchio in Porto Cervo, has definitively brought down the curtain on the successful 2026 edition of the event organized by the Automobile Club Sassari, for the realization of which President Giulio Pes di San Vittorio renews his thanks to the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, to the administrations of Olbia and Arzachena and of all the Municipalities involved; to the partners Smeralda Holding, Sparco, Martini, Cerasarda, Pirelli, Testoni Bunker Point, Sardares, Cantine Surrau and Autoplus Group.
Image: ACI Sport
Press Office Costa Smeralda Historic Rally Andrea Zanovello – www.azetamedia.com
