Four out of five had a lot of fun, the “manita” of the Suzuki Challenge at the Rally Greece Offroad only slapped Alfio Bordonaro and his co-driver Francesco Proietti.
For the Catanese, who (let’s remember) had even won the absolute overall at the Adriatic, almost everything went wrong on the dirt roads of Hellas, except for the sharpness of the opening prologue on Thursday evening. Then in the two long stages a series of technical and mechanical problems up to the decision to partially retire his Grand Vitara before the last sector.
In fact, as required by the specialty regulations, Bordonaro manages to put his production car back on track to finish the race and finish in the points, despite heavy penalties, at the bottom of the standings. Once an understandable disappointment has been filed away, the joy of Mauro Cantarello in the “Greek hero” version, with an official beard to reconcile the Drachma, should be emphasized.
Lorenzo Codecà, Mauro Toffoli, Suzuki Jimny
Photo by: ACI Sport
The man from Rovigo, well assisted by Federico Lezi, fired his cartridges very well, with a Grand Vitara always in the lead (except for the prologue at the end of Bordonaro), keeping calm in the excited final when everyone’s pulsations were at the limit (total time 7: 49’27 ”).
The hard and grim background, but judged beautiful by the entire roaring company, did not in the least affect the Suzuki Jimny of Lorenzo Codecà and Mauro Toffoli (8: 20’23 ”), always in rhythm at every juncture to conquer a significant square of honor.
The running-in of the new Suzuki weapon continues with satisfaction for the former Italian champion. As for endurance, ask the Marche brothers Giovanni and Francesco Farina for information, third at the finish line of the Challenge (8: 53’53 ”) with a Suzuki Vitara of expired homologation, as required by the category regulations, but intact reliability, first of the Group TH.
Finally, Giuseppe Ananasso is satisfied after more than nine hours driving (9h27’50 “). The Roman driver, sailed by Roberto Ibba, takes home the second place of the TH and the fourth of the Challenge with a Vitara that still shows its claws.
Giovanni Farina, Francesco Farina, Suzuki Vitara
Photo by: ACI Sport
SUZUKI CHALLENGE RANKING AFTER RALLY GREECE OFFROAD
1. Cantarello, 72 pt .; 2. Luchini, 54; 3. Codeca, 48; 4. Bordonaro, 40; 5. Flour, 30; 6. Ferroni, 17; 7. Morra, 17; 8. Petrucci, 12; 9. Ananasso, 12; 10. Allegranzi, 8; 11. Lelli, 6.
#Suzuki #Challenge #Cantarello #celebrates #Greece