Avbelj shines again in Alba, Sambugaro stars at the Paganella Rally. Zantedeschi in the top ten, bad luck for Griso and Kauppinen.
It was a weekend of mixed emotions for MS Munaretto, who tackled two events across the Italian rally scene. Between top-level performances and a few inevitable setbacks, the team comes away with standout results, strong signs of progress, and a hint of regret.
CIAR – RALLY REGIONE PIEMONTE
In the scenic hills among the Moscato vineyards, Bostjan Avbelj claimed his second consecutive victory in the Italian Rally Championship – Promotion (CIARP), also taking top points in the Power Stage. This double success puts him at the top of the CIARP standings and further cements his third place in the overall CIAR classification — a clear sign of his consistency and determination.
Expertly navigated by Damijan Andrejka and increasingly at ease behind the wheel of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 prepared by MS Munaretto, the Slovenian driver entered the Rally Regione Piemonte with one goal: to break the spell of bad luck that haunted him in 2022 and 2023. After a tight and thrilling battle among the front-runners, Avbelj put in a final push to win the last special stage. He narrowly missed the overall podium by just two seconds, securing an impressive fourth place overall.
The same rally also saw the competitive debut of the brand-new Lancia Ypsilon Rally4, fielded by MS Munaretto with two high-profile lineups: Finnish rising star Tuukka Kauppinen and experienced Italian Michele Griso.
Kauppinen, co-driven by Veli-Pekka Karttunen, made an immediate impact — second-fastest in the shakedown and winner of Friday night’s Super Special Stage. Unfortunately, a minor mistake during SS3 forced the young Finn to retire temporarily. Thanks to the exceptional efforts of the MS Munaretto crew, he was back on the road for Sunday’s leg, using the opportunity to gather valuable experience and mileage.
Misfortune also struck Michele Griso, partnered with Nicolò Lazzarini. The seasoned driver was building confidence on the new car when an off-road excursion during SS5 ended their rally prematurely and ruled out any chance of restarting on Sunday.
CRZ4 – PAGANELLA RALLY
From northwest to northeast Italy for the second edition of the Paganella Rally, set in the stunning Alpine backdrop of Andalo. Two Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars were entered under the MS Munaretto banner.
Michele Sambugaro, alongside Mauro Cumerlato, delivered a strong comeback after a cautious start. A Saturday spin dropped him to eighth overall, but the Trentino driver bounced back in Sunday’s leg with two stage wins. His late charge brought him within touching distance of the podium — falling short by just one second in the final test. A fourth-place finish nonetheless confirms his pace and builds momentum for upcoming events.
Positive results also came from Diego Zantedeschi, navigated by Stefano Righetti. The gentleman driver from Verona finally broke into the Top Ten, after narrowly missing out at Rally del Bardolino in March. A clean and consistent drive allowed him to showcase the performance of the ever-more-familiar Fabia RS Rally2.
MS Munaretto wraps up a bittersweet but encouraging weekend — marked by standout performances, clear progress, and strong prospects for the remainder of the season.
