Born in 2023 as a gamble that proved successful, the Rally Sulcis Iglesiente, now in its fourth edition, has become one of the most anticipated events of the Sardinian motorsport season, as well as one of the most heartfelt, significant, and iconic events for the region from which it takes its name. For this reason, the press conference presenting the 2026 edition was held in the Council Chamber of the Sulcis Iglesiente Province in Carbonia.
With just hours to go before registration closes, the number of participants is approaching a record: nearly 80 crews are expected, across both Modern and Historic Rally, from all over Sardinia and the Italian mainland. Also at the starting line will be a star: Pontus Tidemand (in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 prepared by Lions Team, with compatriot Theo Bergsten co-driving), a former Skoda and Ford M-Sport factory driver with 56 World Rally Championship appearances, including the 2017 WRC2 world title, the 2013 WRC Junior world title, and the 2015 Asia-Pacific Rally Cup victory. Tidemand has chosen Sulcis Iglesiente as a test event for the 2026 season.
Taking place from Friday, March 13th to Sunday, March 15th, the Sulcis Iglesiente Rally will be the first round of the Zone 10 Rally Cup and the Aci Sport Sardinia Delegation Regional Championship. It will also count towards the Gr Yaris Rally Cup, the Michelin Trofeo Italia National, the Trofeo Pirelli Accademia CRZ, and will award the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara Trophy (first two-wheel drive crew) and the Tommy Rossi Memorial (last place). The event is organized by Mistral Racing with the support of the Region of Sardinia, the Province of Sulcis Iglesiente, the Aci Sport Sardinia Delegation, the Aci Cagliari, the Fondazione di Sardegna, the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara Foundation, the Historical Environmental Geomining Park of Sardinia, and twelve municipalities: Iglesias, Carbonia, Giba, Gonnesa, Nuxis, Perdaxius, Piscinas, Portoscuso, San Giovanni Suergiu, Santadi, Tratalias, and Villaperuccio.
To illustrate all the details of the event, in addition to the organizers Giacomo Spanu and Gabriele Deidda of Mistral Racing, also the regional councilor for Industry Emanuele Cani, Stefano Piano of the regional Department of Tourism, Crafts and Commerce, and regional councilor Alessandro Pilurzu; Mauro Usai, president of the Province of Sulcis Iglesiente and of the Santa Barbara Mining Trail Foundation and mayor of Iglesias; Antonello Fiori, president of AC Cagliari and ACI Sardegna; Edoardo Di Lauro, head of safety for the Sulcis Iglesiente Rally; Roberto Curreli, commissioner of the Sardinian Historical and Environmental Geomineral Park; Michele Stivaletta, deputy mayor of Carbonia and councilor for Tourism; Mariano Cogotti, mayor of Piscinas; Gianluigi Loru (vice president of the Province of Sulcis Iglesiente) of Perdaxius; Marcellino Piras, mayor of Villaperuccio; Massimo Impera, mayor of Santadi; and Elvira Usai, mayor of San Giovanni Suergiu; Giorgia Meli, Vito Spiga, and Mirko Poddighe, councilors for Sport of the municipalities of Carbonia, Iglesias, and Portoscuso; and Serenella Tronci and Damiano Cani, councilors for Sport and Tourism of the municipality of Nuxis. Emanuele Cani stated: "Thanks to the mayors present, to the Province that hosts us, to the Geomineral Park, and to the organizers of this important event, which tenaciously reaches its fourth edition. It is a significant event, a fully-fledged part of the regional calendar, and I hope it will continue in the coming years, becoming increasingly effective in terms of the impact it can have on a region that needs to be told and promoted. We do not have specific expertise in tourism, aspects that our colleagues Cuccureddu and Portas, in charge of Tourism and Sport respectively, manage admirably, but I focus on the great abandoned mining heritage. The Sulcis Iglesiente Rally can be an opportunity to remember our important past history, which should not be forgotten but rather recounted: there are many mining sites that can be promoted and re-evaluated, realities and beauties that can add to the extraordinary landscape and environmental heritage of Sulcis Iglesiente. The President of the Region was in Saxony a few days ago to promote a cultural twinning in relation to the major Einstein Telescope project, and there's a great deal of global attention to these territories, including ours, which holds a significant record, and this could be an opportunity to showcase it. Good luck to everyone at the rally." Stefano Piano added: "The Sardinia Region, once again, supports these activities. We hope that the Sulcis Iglesiente Rally will be awarded regional funding through the tender that will be published next week. Thanks to the organizers and all the municipalities that made themselves available and ensured that this event brought the beauty of this area to the attention of those who have not yet had the opportunity to discover it." Mauro Usai continued: "Thanks to the organizers, the regional authorities, the mayors, and all those who, in various capacities, represent institutional actors and even enthusiasts who believe in this challenge, which has become a reality of unity and collaboration throughout the Sulcis Iglesiente region. Through motorsport, we are developing an extraordinary experience, a challenge begun in 2023 that is confirming all the expectations and goals we had set ourselves: to give legs and wheels to a sport followed by so many people and, above all, the method we choose to promote our region, because through the rally, all the peculiarities and most beautiful things that Sulcis Iglesiente has to offer are discovered. What is new compared to previous years is that, in addition to the Municipality and the Fondazione Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara, the Province of Sulcis Iglesiente is joining in, and this is a sign that it too, through the Sulcis Iglesiente Rally, is becoming a protagonist in these initiatives to promote and enhance tourism. I am proud to be able to say this together with friends and colleagues with whom we have never met. We didn't hesitate for a minute when we decided to make our modest but significant contribution to organizing the rally. I thank my colleagues, the administrative structure, and everyone who collaborated." Roberto Curreli stated: "I'm extremely pleased that the Park is among the institutional partners of this event, primarily because our mission is to promote the local area. Sulcis Iglesiente has a profound mining tradition and represents a cornerstone of Italian history. It offers beautiful and unique landscapes, prehistoric and historical sites, such as the Montessu necropolis in Villaperuccio or the Romanesque churches of Perdaxius. Added to this is the entire geo-mining and natural heritage. Through sporting events, we can promote the area, and an event like the rally gives us worldwide visibility. I thank the organizers for organizing the Rally again this year, and all the governments involved." Giacomo Spanu emphasized: "We're thrilled because a new record number of entries is expected: approximately 75 crews will be at the start of the fourth edition of the Rally. The arrival of a two-time world champion like Swede Pontus Tidemand will be the icing on the cake for the spectacle that drivers of this caliber are able to offer. A huge round of applause goes to all the institutions and partners who, year after year, increasingly believe in this project, which enriches the region by ensuring the right combination of sport and promotion." Gabriele Deidda added: "Mistral Racing, on the eve of the fourth edition of the Rally Sulcis Iglesiente, continues to strongly believe in this project and, in this way, is demonstrating to the institutions that have promoted it for years that Sulcis has more room than ever for quality motorsport, available to the wonderful territory that hosts it." Edoardo Di Lauro, the engineer responsible for safety at the Rally, described the route in great detail.