Rally Fvg-Alpi Orientali Historic: Sossella and Muradore win

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Manuel Sossella won the 60th edition of the Rally del Friuli Venezia Giulia, a race that concluded today, Sunday, October 26, in Manzano. The Vicenza-born driver, driving a Skoda Fabia RS, completed the seven-stage program in a time of 44:52.6, returning to the top step of the podium after more than three years (his last win was at the Dolomiti Rally in April 2022). Navigated by Gabriele Falzone, the driver also won the Zone 5 Rally Trophy, a competition that included the event organized by Scuderia Friuli Acu. The winner of the 29th Rally Alpi Orientali Historic was Rino Muradore from Cividale, who completed the course in a Ford Escort RS1800 in 52:21.7. The race, reserved for historic cars, was a national championship. For the Gorizia Corse driver, this was his first win on home soil.

THE MODERN RACE . Already leading the standings after the first day of testing, Sossella consolidated his lead in the second stage, winning four of the six special stages on the calendar and taking all three passes of the "Trivio," the longest section of the event (14.61 km). The Venetian also secured his place in the Italian Cup final, scheduled for mid-November in Messina. In second place, 1'25''3 behind the Vicenza native, was Simone Miano, a driver from San Pietro al Natisone, co-driven by his wife, Maria Daylis Santana. The local driver, making his Skoda Fabia Evo debut, drove a rally that continued to improve, grabbing the silver medal after the third and final run of the Trivio. He was the first Friulian to cross the finish line. Third place went to Claudio De Cecco from Manzano, teamed with Alice De Marco, 1'32''1 behind Sossella. In a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, the driver won the over-55 category, earning a spot in the Coppa Italia final. Two other Friulian crews rounded out the top five. Nicola Cescutti and Paolo Cargnelutti (Skoda Fabia RS) from Carnia finished fourth, 1:39.1 behind Sossella, while Michael Cantarutti from Cividale, paired with Yari Costantini (Skoda Fabia RS), finished fifth, 1:45.1 behind the winner. Also among the locals, seventh place went to Gabriele Beltrame from Manzano (Oleis) (Skoda Fabia Evo), co-driven by Anna Giacinto. Matteo De Sabbata (Giulia Barbiero on co-driver) finished eighth, disappointingly. The Udine driver (Skoda Fabia RS) suffered a puncture on the first pass of “Trivio,” losing more than 2 minutes. He recovered ground during the day, winning two passes of “Cladrecis.” Top ten (tenth position) for Udine drivers Matteo Duca and Giorgia Tullio in their Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

LOCAL VICTORIES . In the various categories, victory in the RC3N group, the Rally3 class, and twelfth place overall went to Cividale native Michele Ianesi (with David Barichello) in a Ford Fiesta. First place in the S1600 class went to Cividale native Denis Piceno, co-driving for Bernd Zanon (Renault Clio, 14th place overall). Victory in the Rally4/R2 class went to Pordenone native Riccardo Zavagno from Fiume Veneto, co-driven by Spilimbergo native Elisa Toniutti in a Peugeot 208. The driver also took 23rd place overall and a class win in the Zone 5 Rally Trophy. Victory in the A7 class went to Pordenone native Stefano Miotto from Brugnera, driving a Renault Clio Williams with Raffaele Meneano. In A6, victory went to Stefano Reputin, from Carnia, assisted by Matteo Gressani in a Peugeot 106. First place in the RC5N group and Rally5 class went to Giuseppe Bertolutti (Renault Clio), from Faedis, who shared the cockpit with Alvise Tosi. In N2, Manuel Lesa (Peugeot 106), from Prepotto, took the win, co-driven by Michele Cussigh. Eighth place in the Rally4 class went to Luca Rossetti, from Pordenone, the 2008 Italian overall rally champion. He suffered a puncture on the first pass of "Trivio." "Rox" was driving the Peugeot 208 that belonged to Matteo Doretto, a driver from Pordenone who died last June at the age of 21 during a test prior to his participation in the Rally Poland. Rossetti was co-driven by Matteo's mother, Barbara Arcangioli. A total of 50 crews crossed the finish line.

THE HISTORIC RACE . Rino Muradore led the way solo, winning all the scheduled special stages. Fulvio Astesana and Marina Mandrile in a Ford Sierra Cosworth finished second (2:12.7 seconds behind the winner), with Luigi Terpin and Stefano Ierman in an Opel Kadett third (2:19.1 seconds behind the leader). Seven drivers crossed the finish line in Manzano.