Historic – Martini Trophy
Thirty days ahead of the event organized by the Automobile Club Sassari, registration is now open for the national race and the regularity rally, with the latter serving as the season opener for the Italian Championship.
Porto Cervo, March 25, 2026 – Less than thirty days remain until the ninth edition of the Costa Smeralda Historic Rally – Martini Trophy, scheduled to take place in Porto Cervo from April 23 to 25. This year’s event is further enhanced by the European title for the “pre-1992” category—the latest in a long series of accolades earned by the Automobile Club Sassari over the past eight years. While registration for the FIA race is already open, entries for the national race began on March 24, as established by the Supplementary Regulations. Applications will be accepted until midnight on Friday, April 17.
The FIA title joins the accreditation for the Italian Historic Car Rally Championship (acquired in 2020) and the “Classiche” series (since last year); for these championships, the Costa Smeralda will serve as the second of eight seasonal rounds. The event also maintains its status for several ACI Sport-sanctioned series, including the A112 Abarth Trophy. This spectacular initiative dedicated to the small Autobianchi cars, successfully promoted by Team Bassano, has been a fixture since the second edition.
A brand-new addition this year is the rally’s validity for the Memory Fornaca, a trophy dedicated to the memory of a figure who contributed immensely to the world of rallying. Thanks to the “Amici di Nino” association—founded by a group of enthusiasts from Turin to honor him—this series reaches its 15th edition by expanding its reach to Sardinia. Also noteworthy is the event’s validity for the ACI Sardinia Regional Championship. Additionally, a special prize will be established in memory of Luigino Podda, the legendary and unforgettable mechanic of the Lancia Team during its “golden years”; further details will be announced soon.
Since its first edition in 2018, the Costa Smeralda Historic Rally has also hosted regularity challenges. Evolving from the now-retired “sport” format to the current “average speed regularity” (regolarità a media), the discipline now sees crews competing in two distinct categories based on the maximum speed imposed during precision stages: “Media 50” and “Media 60.” The difference lies not only in the 10 km/h gap but specifically in the types of cars admitted, with “race-spec” cars finding their natural fit in the higher speed category. Both categories have their own dedicated Italian Championship, and the 2026 season for both will kick off on the asphalt of the two legs scheduled for the last weekend of April.
As per the regulations, the average speed regularity specialists will follow the main rally field, specifically after the A112 Abarth Trophy cars: first the “60” category, followed by the “50.” These competitors will also enjoy a special “showcase” at the end of precision stage 11 (the penultimate stage); they will head to Porto Cervo to cross the finish ramp at Molo Vecchio ahead of the rally crews, where their awards ceremony will also be held.
In closing, as the event enters its full operational phase, the President of ACI Sassari, Giulio Pes di San Vittorio, expressed his gratitude to the Sardinia Region, the administrations of Olbia and Arzachena, and all involved municipalities. Special thanks were also extended to the event partners: Smeralda Holding, Sparco, Martini, Cerasarda, Pirelli, Testoni Bunker Point, Sardares, Cantine Surrau, and the Autoplus Group.
Photo: Giuseppe Mazza
