On the 15th and 16th of April in Porto Cervo.
The sixth edition of the Costa Smeralda International Historic Rally was in Porto Cervo on April 15 and 16. The race was for the Italian Historic Rally Championship and the Italian Regular-Medium Championship. The 2023 edition of the Rally – Trofeo Martini was an opportunity to take a step back to the golden years of the race. There were fascinating personalities, such as Cesare Fiorio, and drivers like Miki Biasion. Just before the gala dinner at the Cala di Volpe hotel, they presented the opening car: the splendid Kimera EVO37.
The park at Porto Cervo’s Molo Vecchio was very impressive, where mechanics, in not ideal weather conditions, worked hard to get the cars ready few minutes before the start. There were many Porsches ready to tackle the four special races on Saturday, San Pasquale and Aglientu, and the other four on Sunday at Lo Sfossatu and Calangianus.
Trials with predominant asphalt, but with many challenging turns, climbs and descents, with most of the routes excellently marked and with the presence of many marshals also to report road exits or cars stopped for mechanical problems.
Winners of the Costa Smeralda International Historic Rally
The Porsche RS of Matteo Musti and Agostino Benenti won five of the eight special trials. And they won the first place of the Historic Rally, also topping the second grouping. While the Sardinian crew, composed by Sergio Farris and Giuseppe Pirisinu, with the Porsche 911 SC prepared by the Gagliardo team, won the second place by winning two special trials. The passion of the Sardinian public is never lacking on these occasions with the perfect organization by AC Sassari and its President Giulio Pes of San Vittorio, always present.
By Carlo De Bernardi – Passionate and experienced 911 collector