A thrilling head-to-head rewards the Team Bassano duo, who place the Porsche 911 RS ahead of everyone, getting the better of the Subaru Legacy of the tough Smiderle flanked by Marchi by 6”7. The Lancia Stratos of Perez and Bowen completes the absolute podium. Lombardo also makes the “European” race his own. The award ceremony at the Molo Vecchio closes an intense and exciting ninth edition of the rally organized by the Automobile Club Sassari
Porto Cervo, April 26, 2026 – After over 150 kilometers of special stages and an emotion-filled finale, the stopwatches delivered their verdict, handing the victory of the 9th Costa Smeralda Historic Rally – Martini Trophy to Angelo Lombardo and Roberto Consiglio competing with the Team Bassano standard-bearing Porsche 911 RS. Having finished the first leg in the lead, the Sicilian duo engaged in a thrilling challenge with the Subaru Legacy of the Venetians Andrea Smiderle and Gianni Marchi, getting the better of them by 6”7. For the Japanese all-wheel-drive duo, it was an all-out attacking race that also yielded four partial successes, the same number as the winners. In third place, in the overall standings, finished the Britons Steve Perez and Bowen Dale with the Lancia Stratos. Of great effect at the climax of the award ceremony, was the presentation to the top three overall of the ceramic helmets made in retro style by Cerasarda: an exclusive prize that received an emotional appreciation from the recipients.
Given the double validity, the standings of the two championships were drawn up where in both Lombardo and Consiglio resulted absolute winners and also assignees of the prestigious and coveted Martini Trophy. The continental one therefore saw Perez and Dale climb one place compared to the overall one, and the podium was completed by the other crew from across the Channel, Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss on a Ford Escort RS with which they won the 3rd Group. The 4th was instead the prerogative of Renato Travaglia and Massimo Nalli with the BMW M3 with which they finished in fourth place overall. Finally, we scroll down to position thirteen where placed the Porsche 911 S 2.0 with which Giuliano Palmieri and Lucia Zambiasi toasted to success in the 1st Group. Exciting and touching was the moment dedicated to the delivery of the prize dedicated to the memory of Luigino Podda, historic mechanic of the Lancia team in the golden years of the World Championship, awarded to the driver of the first classified Turin car: surprised and moved, Seb Perez raised to the sky the special trophy up for grabs, won with his Lancia Stratos on the sides of which also showed off the memory of Sandro Munari.
More lively and attended was the race valid for the Italian Historic and Classic Car Rally Championship. With the confirmation of the first two positions for Lombardo and Smiderle, the tricolor podium was completed by the BMW M3 of Travaglia and Nalli. In fourth position another Bavarian “rear-wheel drive”: the one that Adriano Lovisetto and Marco Corda brought, at their first experience on the roads of Gallura, to fourth place overall; behind them, thanks to a convincing performance, finished Enrico Volpato and Samuele Sordelli with the Ford Escort RS which also led them to victory in the 3rd Group. In sixth position another Ford: the Sierra Cosworth of Giorgio Costenaro and Elsa Dal Dosso followed by the “little” Peugeot 205 Rallye with which Marco Casalloni and Giovanni Maria Figoni ran a race to be framed. Following in eighth position is the Porsche 911 RS of Giosuè and Fabio Rizzuto, authors of a positive performance also considering the fact that it was their first at the Costa Smeralda and, immediately behind, closed Antonio Dettori and Marco Demontis on a Renault Clio 1.8; closing the top-ten is the Lancia Delta Integrale 16V of Giuseppe Collura and Piero Taccini.
As happened in the continental standings, also in the tricolor one Giuliano Palmieri and Lucia Zambiasi toasted to victory in the 1st Group.
Thanks to the victories in all four Groups, Team Bassano once again routed the competition in the standings dedicated to the teams, also adding the success in the women’s category thanks to the work of Elena Gecchele and Anna Bressan on a Fiat 124 Spider.
Great competitive spirit also in the A112 Abarth Trophy, proposed from this year with the double race formula and relative double score. Both legs were won by the 2025 title holders Fabrizio Zanelli and Claudio Zanni. A “photocopy” result also for the remaining podium positions with Ivo Droandi and Carlo Fornasiero second and Marcogino Dall’Avo with Guglielmo Caneschi, third.
Closing the event, crowned by a large and passionate crowd that flocked to the Molo Vecchio of Porto Cervo, was the award ceremony attended by local authorities and representatives of the Law Enforcement as well as the Port Authority.
A final and dutiful note is dedicated to the heartfelt acknowledgments that the President of the Automobile Club Sassari addresses to the precious supporters of the event, without whose support it would not be possible to achieve such results. Thanks therefore to the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, to the administrations of Olbia and Arzachena and of all the Municipalities involved, and to the partners Smeralda Holding, Sparco, Martini, Cerasarda, Pirelli, Testoni Bunker Point, Sardares, Cantine Surrau and Autoplus Group.
