European debut full of satisfaction for all crews. Winning start for Bizzarri-Lanera in Tuscany. Steady home rally for Panato.
It was a high-adrenaline weekend in Andalusia, where the Rally Sierra Morena, part of the FIA European Rally Championship, saw MS Munaretto team colours shine brightly among the continent’s top drivers, with strong results both in the overall standings and across various categories.
Junior ERC reigning champion Mille Johansson returned to the spotlight with a strong and confident performance behind the wheel of the Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, finishing seventh overall after two fiercely competitive days on one of the most challenging routes on the entire ERC calendar. Alongside him, trusted co-driver Johan Grönvall delivered flawless pacenote management throughout the event.
A standout performance also came from young Jaspar Vaher, making his ERC debut on tarmac. The Baltic talent, driving the Peugeot 208 Rally4 with Sander Pruul calling the notes, claimed a well-deserved third place in the ERC Junior standings — a podium that confirmed his potential and consistency under pressure.
Matteo Doretto also enjoyed a positive debut, showing constant growth throughout the rally. Driving the Peugeot 208 Rally4 with co-driver Andrea Budoia, the Italian crew secured a solid seventh place among the Juniors, achieving their weekend goals and demonstrating adaptability and maturity on a surface far removed from their usual terrain.
There was no shortage of drama within the Munaretto ranks: Finnish prospect Tuukka Kauppinen, one of the most anticipated names of the weekend, saw his rally compromised right from the opening stages due to an off-road incident. However, the team performed a true miracle by rebuilding the Peugeot 208 in just a few hours, allowing the crew to rejoin the rally the next day. Despite the accumulated penalties, Tuukka and co-driver Topi Luhtinen pushed through and gathered valuable experience on demanding tarmac stages.
The next round will take place on the challenging gravel roads of the Rally of Hungary, where all Junior crews will debut the brand-new Lancia Ypsilon Rally4.
Meanwhile, it was another intense and emotional weekend back in Tuscany, where MS Munaretto once again left its mark.
Taking centre stage was the newly formed crew of Bizzarri-Lanera, who made a brilliant debut aboard the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. Competing in the Rally Cup Zone 7, the duo secured second place overall, claiming three stage wins and immediately proving the strength of their new technical and sporting partnership.
It was a bittersweet outing for Francesco Aragno and Giancarla Guzzi, who took on the Rally della Marca. Unfortunately, their season opener ended prematurely after an off in the third special stage, cutting short a promising start.
A composed debut for Tiziano Panato, who faced the rally with a radical shift: leaving behind both the Fabia Evo and naturally aspirated engines, he made his first start with the Skoda Fabia RS, co-driven by Milena Danese. The driver delivered a steady, intelligent performance and completed the rally without mistakes, confirming his growing confidence in the new setup.
