Michele Bormolini triumphs in the first Italian round 2022

Michele Bormolini (Skoda Fabia) is the star of the first Italian round of the Ice Challenge 2022 in Livigno. Open applause for Christian Tiramani (Kart cross). Friday special video of the Livigno races on SKY tv 228.

Michele Bormolini dispelled the myth and won, by measure, the first round of Ice Challenge - Italian Ice Speed ​​Championship 2022 in Livigno. The home rider imposed a frenzied pace on the challenge in a weekend perfectly organized by BMG Motor Events with the support of Yokohama Italia, OMP Racing, MAK Wheels and Bell Helmets.

The young driver from Livigno, also winner in Class 6, at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia R5 prepared by Colombi, was confronted with a super Ivan Carmellino (Fiat Grande Punto Proto) and with his brother Loris, who alternated on the same Skoda Fabia R5. At the end this was the final podium, with Carmellino first in Class 8, even if at first it was Andrea Caspani who emerged from the group with the Opel Astra ex Snobeck, then slowed down by a broken joint.

“I am really very happy - commented Michele Bormolini - I was really missing this result and I hope it can be a good omen for the 2022 rally season that is about to begin”.

More than positive debut on the ice for Ilario Bondioni, fourth with the Skoda Fabia R5 flying the Rally Club Grigis Selvino flag which saw him first in Class 4. Fight on the edge of seconds with Marco Gianesini at the start with an identical car and fifth at the finish line .

The weekend lived on the flawless progression of Christian Tiramani. The twenty-one-year-old driver from Piacenza, recently nominated by ACI Sport to represent Italy in the new FIA Rally Stars, a program that aims to find talent to make his debut in the WRC World Rally Championship, had a stratospheric race. First among kart-cross with his K3 600 (GriusrallySport), Tiramani put together the best overall chronometric performance of the Livigno round, ahead of the 4X4 cars. A result that projects the current Italian kart-cross champion to the top of the category standings and heralds a championship of great intensity.

In addition to Caspani, Rachele Somaschini and Simone Firenze, expected on the eve, were also slowed down by episodes. The driver from Cusano Milanino, making her debut on the KIA Rio RX prepared by Gigi Galli, set the best time among the cars in the second heat, keeping up with Ivan Carmellino, but in the last timed fraction she punctured, complicating the final result that does not detract however nothing at its excellent debut. El Diablo, on the other hand, on his Semog Bravo, had a weekend to forget, thanks to a problem with a joint that came back several times and in the end saw him compete for a few kilometers.

In kart-cross (Class 11), Raffaele Silvestri (K3 / Nico Racing), winner here last year, and Paolo Lunardi (K3 600), owner of Planet Kart-Cross Italia, slowed down in the final, completed the podium. from a puncture that prevented him from closing perhaps even higher.

First success of the season also for Vittorio Gonella (Polaris RZR Turbo) in the Side-by-Side Buggy category (Class 12) which he deserved with a really remarkable pace, so much so that at the end of Saturday he was ninth overall. Behind him an excellent Tamara Molinaro (Yamaha YZX 1000) competing for the first time with the side-by-side that was driven by Craig Breen last year.

Among the two-wheel drive, victory for Jean-Claude Vallino (Opel Astra / Meteco Corse) who also conquered Class 2, preceding Edoardo Nolasco with a fun Fiat Panda Kit and winner in Class 1.

In the other classes, success for Rudi Bicciato (Lancia Delta / Scuderia Mendola) in Class 3, Piergiacomo Riva (Fiat Panda 4X4 / Meteco Corse) in Class 5 despite an accident in the first heat which then complicated his weekend. Emanuele Lagrotteria (Equivoque Jeep) won Class 7, while Sergio Durante on D4S Motorsport's Giannini 360 GP4, powered by hybrid propulsion, won Class 13.

The weekend ended with a sparkling Master King, six one-on-one laps with eight riders on the starting grid. Aldo Pistono (Opel Astra / Hawk Racing Team) won it after a good overtaking on Ilario Bondioni, while third place was decided with one lap from the end in what was the moment of greatest adrenaline of the two days in Valtellina. At first Rachele Somaschini had tried the lunge on Marco Togni (Audi Coupe Quattro), but an indecision in the fight allowed Sergio Durante to slip between the two. It seemed made for Togni but at the start of the last lap, Durante launched an unexpected attack going to claw the podium.

Ice Challenge - Italian Ice Speed ​​Championship 2022 will be back on track next week, January 22-23, from ICE Pragelato. Appointment instead on Friday 21st with the special curated by ACI Sport TV which will be broadcast on SKY channel 228 and will deepen every detail of the Livigno challenge.

© photo by Alberto Caldani & Luca Riva