Palermo, Saturday, May 10, 2025 – The 109th edition of the Targa Florio has lived up to its promises, delivering a thrilling spectacle filled with emotions in both the Absolute Italian Rally Sparco and the historic event of the Italian Historic Rally Championship. Over 200 crews battled through intense challenges and breathtaking duels along the winding roads of the timeless Madonie Circuit, showcasing the best of rallying.
In the CIAR Sparco, the victorious duo of Andrea Crugnola and Pietro Ometto took home the win in their Citroën C3, further solidifying their lead in the championship standings. After a rain-soaked start, Crugnola and Ometto seized control during the second special stage and never looked back, clinching their fourth career victory at the Targa Florio, marking their third consecutive win. “The final stage was shorter but felt endless because when you’re going fast, you need to stay focused,” Crugnola stated at the finish line, clearly elated by the win.
Hot on their heels, Giandomenico Basso and Lorenzo Granai finished second in their Skoda Fabia RS, just 11.9 seconds behind. Basso opened the second day of racing with a scratch time on the PS1 “Targa” and continued to push hard, even earning 1.5 points during the Power Stage, but was unable to close the gap to Crugnola. Meanwhile, Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton rounded out the podium in third place, also in a Skoda, thanks to a strong finish that included three consecutive scratch times.
At the other end of the field, Bostjan Avbelj and Damijan Andrejka finished fourth, securing the top spot in the Campionato Italiano Rally Promozione. The Slovenian duo, also in a Skoda Fabia RS, faced early challenges due to rain but maintained their lead in the CIRP with their solid performance. They were followed closely by Roberto Daprà and Luca Guglielmetti, who celebrated their first special stage victory on the lengthy “Scillato” stage.
In the midst of the modern rally, the Targa Florio Historic Rally took place, featuring a dramatic finish that had fans on the edge of their seats. Angelo Lombardo, navigating with Roberto Consiglio in a Porsche Carrera RS, was leading until a mechanical failure forced them to retire just before the PS11 “Scillato 3”. This unexpected turn of events opened the door for Salvatore “Totò” Riolo, who, alongside Maurizio Marin in a Porsche 911 SC, capitalized on the situation to secure his sixth victory in the historic category and his tenth overall in the Targa Florio.
Riolo’s triumph continues to strengthen his legacy in the race, having achieved seven victories in the Historic Rally alone. The race was marked by twelve special stages, including “Targa”, “Campofelice-Collesano”, “Scillato”, and “La Generosa”, all of which contributed to the excitement of the event.
Andrea Smiderle and Gianni Marchi finished second in the historic category, marking a strong debut in their Subaru Legacy, while Matteo Musti and Francesco Granata placed third in a Porsche Carrera RS. Natale Mannino and Giacomo Giannone secured fourth place in a Porsche 911 SC, and the Foppiani brothers, Vittorio and Adelchi, finished fifth in a Lancia Delta Integrale, adding valuable points to their championship standings.
The competition remained fierce, with Riccardo Mariotti and Giuseppe Tricoli finishing sixth in a Ford Sierra Cosworth, while Roberto Rimoldi and Davis took seventh in another Porsche 911 SC. Raffaele and Salvatore Picciurro finished eighth in a Porsche Carrera RS, followed by Riccardo Bianco and Salvatore Cicero in ninth, and Nicola Tricomi and Giuseppe Lusco in tenth, both also in Porsches.
Notably, Matteo Luise retired due to a technical issue with his Fiat Ritmo 130 Abarth, which added to the drama of the rally. The event concluded with a sense of excitement and anticipation as the Campionato Italiano Rally Auto Storiche 2025 gears up for its next challenge at the Valsugana Historic Rally, scheduled from May 30 to June 1, 2025.
The final standings for the Targa Florio Historic Rally are as follows:
1. Riolo-Marin (Porsche 911 SC) in 1:11'49.5;
2. Smiderle-Marchi (Subaru Legacy) at 30.1 seconds;
3. Musti-Granata (Porsche Carrera RS) at 2'03.1;
4. Mannino-Giannone (Porsche 911 SC) at 4'06.0;
5. Foppiani-Foppiani (Lancia Delta Integrale HF) at 6'29.4;
6. Mariotti-Tricoli (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth) at 6'33.1;
7. Rimoldi-Davis (Porsche 911 SC) at 7'10.8;
8. Picciurro-Picciurro (Porsche Carrera RS) at 7'50.4;
9. Bianco-Cicero (Porsche 911 SC) at 8'39.2;
10. Tricomi-Lusco (Porsche Carrera RS) at 11'01.8.
With the Targa Florio Historic Rally now in the books, fans and participants alike are eager for the next round of the championship, as the action continues to unfold in the thrilling world of rally racing.
