Fontana claims maiden rally victory at Casciana Terme
Matteo Fontana secured his first career rally win at the 44th Rally Casciana Terme, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 alongside co-driver Alessandro Arnaboldi. The WRC3 defending champion and current series leader, competing for HMI team, topped the eight-stage event organised by Laserprom 015 and Squadra Corse Città di Pisa across roads in the province of Pisa. Fontana used the outing—valid for the Coppa Rally di Zona 7—to develop familiarity with the car on asphalt for the first time.
Fontana moved to the lead during the third timed stage on Sunday, overtaking Claudio Arzà, who had controlled the opening two stages on Saturday evening. The battle intensified on the final day as Rudy Michelini, piloting a Skoda Fabia RS for P.A. Racing with Nicola Angilletta on notes, challenged Arzà's second-place position. Michelini prevailed to secure second overall despite competing with a lingering injury from August, while Arzà completed the podium in third. Fontana's international FIA priority meant he did not score in the Zona 7 classification, allowing Michelini to claim maximum points in that contest.
The top five was rounded out by Lorenzo Sardelli in fourth on a Skoda Fabia RS and Daniele Silvestri in fifth, also in a Fabia RS. Further down the order, Filippo Puccetti and Mirko Luisotti finished seventh in a Skoda Fabia Evo on their first Casciana Terme appearance, while Mirco Straffi and Camilla Carini took eighth in a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Fabio Pinelli made his debut in a Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 but was hampered by front-end contact on the final stage, finishing ninth.
In the historic rally category, Brunero Guarducci won the 3rd Historic Casciana Terme at the wheel of a BMW M3 with Emanuele Mischi navigating. The Pistoia driver finished ahead of Lio Tommi and Roberto Ricci in an Alfa Romeo 33, with Federico Scatena and Michele Benedetti third in a Peugeot 205 Rallye. A minute's silence was observed during the closing ceremony in respect of recent fatalities in Italian motorsport.