With the route reconnaissance completed yesterday with the production cars, it's time for the preliminary operations, technical and sporting checks, in Berchidda. These will conclude this morning, leaving the stage to the competition. The 23rd Rally dei Nuraghi e del Vermentino is already in full swing with the Qualifying Stage, which will decide the starting order for the race. This will be followed by the Shakedown, and from 2:00 PM, the starting ceremony and the double runs on the first two special stages.
The event, organized by Rassinaby Racing for over two decades, is the fifth and penultimate round of the Italian Terrain Rally Championship, the Zone 10 Rally Cup, and the Aci Sport Sardinia Delegation Regional Championship. The eighth edition of the Rally Vermentino Historicu, the penultimate round of the Italian Historic Terrain Rally Championship and the Regional Historic Car Rally Championship, will also be held on the same route.
The event is organized in collaboration with the Departments of Tourism and Sport of the Sardinia Region, involves the municipalities of Alà dei Sardi, Berchidda, Monti, Oschiri and Pattada, the Mountain Community of Monte Acuto, the Provinces of Sassari and Gallura Nord Est, is sponsored by Forestas and enjoys the support of the Automobile Club Sassari and the Aci Sport Delegation of Sardinia.
The entry list, which included 53 modern cars, including all the crews competing for the Italian title and many foreign and Italian specialists, includes Ruiu-Demontis in a Peugeot 208 Vti, while Casadei-Zanotti in a BMW M3 are absent from the ten historic cars.
Among the many drivers competing in the Modern category, two-time WRC3 world champion Matteo Fontana, the competitive Bulacia, Ciuffi, Constant, Battistolli, Andreucci, and Scandola stand out, joined by, among others, Vermentino figurehead Paolo Diana and Sardinians Bitti, Siddi, Gessa, Spanu, Cellino, Pusceddu, and Lambroni. Local drivers Ricciu, Marrone, Mara, Cocco, Cannas, Pes, Deidda, Angius, and Aini are expected in Rally4, while Valdarchi, Addis, and Lorrai are also on the starting line in Rally5.
In the eighth edition of the Rally Vermentino Historicu, counting towards the Italian Historic Gravel Rally Championship, Pelliccioni, Mazza, Leoni, Mombelli, Bentivogli, Fedolfi, and Tremonti will compete. Among the classics are Leoni and Uscidda.
The route includes 90.07km of timed racing spread across ten special stages, for a total of 433.08km. The start, finish, shakedown, qualifying stage, service park, race direction, press room, and regrouping in Berchidda are confirmed.
The sporting checks (until 11am) and technical checks (until 11.30am) are underway.
The engines started at 7:30 a.m. for free practice on the 2.58km of dirt track at "Berchidda," the site of the Qualifying Stage for the Italian Championship crews, and the Shakedown, which ran until 12 p.m. As explained by Francesco Fresu, who designed the course with Paolo Masuri, the Shakedown track is "the same as the 2025 edition, designed in the San Salvatore area of Berchidda. It's located a short distance from the service park and boasts mixed characteristics that allow you to experience all driving conditions. The first sector is slower and narrower, with an uneven surface, then the roadway widens and the surface becomes compact."
The ceremonial start will take place at 2:00 PM in Piazza del Popolo, in Berchidda. After passing through the ramp, the crews will head for Saturday's two trials, which will be repeated twice. The first will be the "Monti di Ala," starting at 3:01 PM and 6:17 PM. At 10.81 km, the race will be the longest, running through the Sa Paule area. "A medium-fast trial, this one has been revised compared to recent years. The start is new, near the Alà arena, and after a more flowing section, the route continues along a previously used section, with a wider road surface that allows for higher speeds. It's considered a very exciting and fun trial," explains Fresu.
Then comes the "Monte Olia," a short, fast 7.48km special stage set in the state-owned forest of the same name. The first car starts at 3:39 PM and the second at 6:55 PM. "A medium-fast stage, presented in a revised version compared to recent years. The start is new, near the Alà arena, and after a more flowing section, the route continues along a previously used section, with a wider road surface that allows for higher speeds. This stage is considered very exciting and fun to compete in."
After the first lap, a regrouping is planned at the Berchidda sports field (4.26pm) and an entrance to the service park (4.46pm). At the end of the day, the crews will stop first at the service park (7.42pm) and then at the Berchidda sports field for the night regrouping (8.24pm).
Tomorrow's program will feature two more stages, "Monte Lerno" and "Filigosu," to be repeated three times, with "Filigosu" serving as a power stage in the third lap. The "Monte Lerno" (starting at 8:33, 11:13, and 1:53) will see the crews compete in a 10.40km time trial section in the state-owned forest of the same name, in the Pattada area. The "Filigosu" will be offered in a 7.43km version, starting at 9:04, 11:44, and 14:24. The final finish and awards ceremony will begin at 15:05 in Berchidda's Piazza del Popolo. “Monte Lerno is a well-proven special stage, all sections used several times in Sardinian rallies. It starts uphill on a very hard surface and a narrow track. After a very driven section, the car tackles a flat section with a wider road surface, making it medium-fast. It could be one of the decisive special stages of the race because, while it's enjoyable and fun, after the first few kilometers it's a very challenging section where you can make the difference in terms of times. Finally, Filigosu will serve as a power stage on the final pass. It follows the great classic already proposed in the past, very spectacular and therefore popular with the crowds. It starts downhill, with a very fast start. Then, the entry into the Filigosu construction site with passages on the sections that characterized this stage at the Rally dei Nuraghi e del Vermentino, in particular the passage over the bridge at the entrance to the State Property Office. The stage then becomes driven, with several jumps, including the famous Camel Humps jump. It will certainly be a very interesting special stage,” concludes the expert navigator from Berchidda.
Engines
All set for the Rally of the Nuraghi and Vermentino
The 23rd edition is valid as the fifth round of the Italian Rally Terra Championship