21.12.2003 GIANDOMENICO BASSO WINS THE BETTEGA SUPER 1600 TROPHY AT THE BOLOGNA MOTOR SHOW

During the two month close season break of the World Rally Championship, the Bettega Trophy at the Bologna Motor Show has become, in the last few year's, one of the most challenging rally-style events, although it cannot be considered a real event due to the unusual track design situated between the fair's pavilions.

The Graphic Arena track allowed the drivers to challenge in parallel, in similar manner to the Race of Champions, although they didn't use same-specification cars, but drove their usual mounts, like the Subaru Impreza of the new World Rally Champion Petter Solberg, the Peugeot 206 WRC of outgoing World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm and even the new Skoda Fabia WRC of rising Swedish star Toni Gardemeister.

Hugely popular with the show goers, the arena, surrounded on three sides by grandstands, were packed for every event. With all round visibility from the stands, a giant TV screen relaying the action live and enthusiastic commentary, the arena proved a real hit.

The top class saw a popular victory go to Andrea Navarra with Aimont Racing's Subaru Impreza, his sixth consecutive victory in the event. World Champion Petter Solberg wowed the crowds with his performances and narrowly lost out in the final to Navarra while his showmanship at the conclusion of the event was cheered to the rafters.

Italian hardware was prominent in the Super1600 Trophy on Friday 12th during the qualifying runs and on Saturday 13th for the finals. Giandomenico Basso, after his unlucky conclusion to the Italian Rally Championship, demonstrated his talent, and won the 2003 edition of the Super1600 challenge.

It was his last outing with Trico Motor Sport's Fiat Punto Super1600 and after scorching his way into the finals he faced Luca Rossetti at the wheel of the Vieffecorse's Citroen Saxo. Storming into a clear 2-0 lead in the parallel challenge, he left his compatriot without the chance to run the third playoff.

Basso's big adversary, Paolo Andreucci, failed to reach the final, a roll on Friday morning forced him to run in the finals for the third place with an older 2002 specification Fiat Punto brought by his Procar team as a back-up. Paolo Andreucci, the recently crowned Italian Rally Champion, was however able to defeat Luca Bizzarri at the wheel of the Powercar Renault Clio Super1600.

The preliminary heats also saw some exciting new drivers competing, including the youngster Alan Scorcioni in a Fiat Punto, the Finnish star Latvala driving Astra Racing's Ford Puma and Andrea Dallavilla with a Renault Clio.

by Marco Tenuti