ilTornante

Damiano Schena has secured the International Race Salita (IRS) Cup championship in the 1150cc E2SC-SS class after taking victory at the Pedavena–Croce d'Aune hillclimb in the Belluno region. The result marks the driver's fifth consecutive win of the season and caps an exceptional campaign for the San Zeno di Montagna-based competitor. Schena, piloting a Nova Proto NP03 prepared by Team Faggioli, finished fifth overall and first in class across both runs of the event. He had already secured the IRS Cup title mathematically before the weekend but was keen to compete at Pedavena, where he set a new class record—breaking a benchmark that had stood since 2023 when set by Simone Faggioli. The margin of victory in the second run was less than eight tenths of a second, with Schena holding an 18-centimetre advantage after the opening pass. The championship success forms part of a broader campaign in the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM) northern zone, where Schena's maximum points haul at Pedavena strengthens his position ahead of the series finale. Schena drives for New Star 3 and is supported by Team Faggioli.

Michele Mancin faced a difficult weekend at the Pedavena–Croce d'Aune hillclimb, hampered by technical problems with his Citroën Saxo Group A that left him unable to compete for top honours. The driver from Rivà qualified third in the A-S Group and A-S1600 class during Saturday's opening practice session, but slipped to fourth in the second run, finishing just outside the provisional podium positions. Mancin identified a faulty differential as the primary obstacle to competitive pace. "We started reasonably well," he explained, "but we immediately realised we were short on power with this gearbox setup. I'd arrive at the chicane needing an extra gear that simply wasn't there, and the same problem affected the final straight. In the second run we improved by over four seconds, but at least three points on the track I had to wait for the next corner, losing time." Despite exploring every possible adjustment ahead of Sunday's runs, the issue persisted. Mancin finished fifth in his class in race one and fourth in the final climb of the weekend, ending the two-day Belluno event fifth overall in the A-S category and A-S1600 class. "My race-one time matched Saturday's best," Mancin added, "and while we tried to trim here and there, there wasn't much more we could do under these conditions. I'm encouraged by my second run but disappointed with the rest of the weekend. On the positive side, the atmosphere in our class is excellent—we're all friends once the helmets come off." The result fell short of expectations in both the Italian National Hillclimb Championship (northern zone) and the International Race Salita series, though Mancin remains focused on the remainder of the season. "We know where to make changes to get back to the front," he concluded. "Once the differential is sorted, we're confident we can compete for podiums and wins again. The season isn't over yet and we still have time to aim high."

Mister Phoenix secured the 2026 O'Play European Championship prototype crown with a dominant fifth season victory at the 45th Buzetski Dani hillclimb in Croatia on 21 September. Piloting a Nova Proto NP03 for CR Corse in the P3 class, the driver sealed the title in emphatic fashion, capping a campaign that saw him win five rounds and finish on the podium in nine of ten continental events. Phoenix accumulated 197 points across the season, with his worst result a third-place finish at Saint Ursanne in Switzerland. His record comprised five victories (Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Croatia) and four second-place finishes (Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovenia). The majority of the season was contested in the P3 class against stronger competition, though the driver spent much of the campaign racing in P2 before finally competing in the correct P3 category for the final round. The Buzetski Dani victory also provided CR Corse an opportunity to test various setup configurations on the motorcycle-derived engine prototype. Phoenix expressed satisfaction with the campaign: "I'm delighted—everything went perfectly. My energy is spent now and I just want to savour being at the top. I'm grateful to everyone who helped me reach this milestone. It's an immense satisfaction that I feel is shared by the whole team. Looking back, I'm proud of what we've achieved, but I'm already looking ahead to the next challenge. My journey is far from over."

Diego Degasperi claimed victory and a new outright course record at the 42nd Pedavena–Croce d'Aune hillclimb in Italy's Veneto region, posting 1'50.80 in the second run and an overall time of 3'41.66. The result improved the previous best by six hundredths of a second and marked a standout performance at the 4,000-metre event. The event saw multiple records fall across its two days of competition. Franco Caruso, who had been leading, was forced to retire in both runs, opening the door for Degasperi's breakthrough. The first run had already seen the outright course record of 1'58.74—held since 2023 by Simone Faggioli—broken. In the motorcycle-engine category, Damiano Schena's previous benchmark of 1'58.48 in his NovaProto NP03 with Aprilia power was also surpassed. Romy Dall'Antonia achieved a personal milestone by breaking the 2'06" barrier in her class. Local competition provided memorable moments, particularly a close battle between two Škoda entries piloted by Belluno-based drivers Veronese and Sartor. Fabrizio Vettorol emerged as the fastest driver from the region, finishing 19th overall in his Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo with a time of 4'29.21. The 42nd edition drew over 2,000 spectators, with 1,600 transported via shuttle service—a new feature praised by attendees. The event attracted more than 200 competitors and generated 13,000 YouTube views, while regional broadcaster Telebelluno's coverage reached viewers as far as Sicily. Race director Fabrizio Bernetti and safety coordinator Alberto Nardari were credited with smooth organisation, with the course cleared and racing resumed within 20 minutes following any incidents.

The tenth edition of Historic Minardi Day concluded at Imola's Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, drawing over 20,000 enthusiasts and fielding 590 racing cars across two days. The event, which has run annually since 2016, transformed the circuit into a dynamic motorsport museum, with an additional 200 vehicles participating in parades and static displays. The weekend opened with a ceremonial lap by Gian Carlo Minardi, driving a 1956 Lotus Eleven powered by a Coventry Climax 1000cc engine and piloted by Roberto Farneti. The on-track programme featured an extensive grid of historic single-seaters spanning Formula Junior, Formula Abarth, Formula Italia, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 4, GP3, GP2, F3000, prototypes, and historic GT cars, supported by clubs including Scuderia del Portello, Scuderia Nuvolari Italia, and Club Motori Modena. The centrepiece remained the 34 historic Formula 1 cars, representing over four decades of championship evolution. The grid ranged from a 1971 Ferrari 312 B2 to a 2013 Toro Rosso STR8 ex–Jean-Éric Vergne, and included notable machines such as Graham Hill's 1973 Shadow DN1, the six-wheeled 1977 Tyrrell P34/2, Riccardo Patrese's 1978 Arrows A1B, and a 1:1 scale replica of the McLaren MP4/15. Aston Martin brought a Formula 1 showcar to Imola via Fondmetal, marking the wheel supplier's return to the championship after 26 years—a symbolic closure given that Fondmetal last competed in F1 in 2000 alongside Minardi with Fernando Alonso as test driver. The event attracted numerous motorsport figures including engineers Aldo Costa, Gabriele Tredozi, and Nigel Cowperthwaite, alongside former drivers Thierry Boutsen, Bruno Giacomelli, Pierluigi Martini, Arturo Merzario, Riccardo Patrese, and Gabriele Tarquini. The Checco Costa Museum hosted presentations, book signings, and talks, while the Museo Checco Costa displayed six Minardi single-seaters spanning the team's history, plus two Racing Bulls. On Sunday 20 September, the ACI Storico Festival organised the Raduno Terre di Romagna, with 120 crews departing the circuit for Faenza before returning for a parade lap. The fifth Memorial Ferdinando Minardi award was presented to Massimo Campodoni, a leading automobilia expert and motorsport historian.

Philippe Prette has secured his third consecutive championship in the GT2 European Series by Pirelli, this time in the Masters Cup category, after a dominant weekend at Zandvoort. The LP Racing driver, piloting a Maserati GT2, wrapped up the title mathematically with one round remaining, accumulating 170 points—56 clear of his nearest rival—following two class victories and two pole positions in the Netherlands. Prette's championship-clinching performance came in Race 2 on Sunday, where he started from pole position in class and maintained his pace through the mandatory pit stop. Despite running second after the stop, he pressured his main rival and regained the lead six minutes from the finish, securing the points needed for the title with the final round at Portimão (17–18 October) still to come. He crossed the line in second place overall, benefiting from a penalty applied to a competitor in another category. Maserati's weekend at Zandvoort yielded additional podium finishes in the Pro Am Cup. The number 8 car of Niccolò Pirri and Yu Lee Thomas claimed second place in Race 1, while the number 7 entry of Roberto Pampanini and Mauro Calamia from Dinamic Motorsport finished second in Race 2 after climbing from sixth on the grid. The Iron Dames by SP Racing entry of Laura van den Hengel and Sara Bovy was unable to start Race 1 due to unrepaired technical damage from qualifying. Vincent Biard, Head of Maserati Corse, highlighted the significance of three consecutive titles: "This success demonstrates the competitiveness of the Maserati GT2 and its ability to deliver consistent performance season after season. Achieving this in our centenary year of the Trident logo and our motorsport heritage reinforces the appeal of the GT2 for teams and drivers seeking a performant, reliable car capable of competing at the highest level."

Danny Zardo from Treviso claimed victory in the 43rd Coppa del Chianti hillclimb, piloting a Giada T118 in the fourth grouping (production cars from 1982–1990). The 8 km course along the SR 122 Chiantigiana between Molino Quercegrossa and Castellina in Chianti was completed in a best time of 3'23"94, which also stood as the fastest run of the day overall. In the fourth grouping, Salvatore Totò Riolo from Sicily finished third in his PCR A6 BMW, securing the category lead and moving closer to the national grouping title despite mechanical issues that hampered his challenge for the outright win. Piero Lottini from Pisa took second in both grouping and overall classifications, continuing his strong record at the Chianti venue. Giuliano Peroni from Florence won the third grouping in an Osella PA 8/70 BMW, effectively securing the category championship. Fosco Zambelli from Bologna extended his lead in the second grouping with an Alfa Romeo GTAm 1750, posting the ninth-fastest time overall, while Lucio Gigliotti from Calabria remained competitive in his Fiat 128 in the TC1150 class. In the first grouping, Harald Mössler from Austria prevailed with the fifth-fastest time in a Darren MK3, ahead of Tiberio Nocentini in a Chevron B19 Cosworth. The event marked the eighth round of the Italian Historic Car Championship and represented a return to the famous Chianti road course. Organisers Targa Racing Club, in collaboration with Siena Racing Driver and the Automobile Club Siena, worked with local authorities in Castellina in Chianti to stage the competition.

WSC and ACI Sport have announced a strengthened partnership for the TCR Italy Championship beginning in 2027. The Italian series will continue to operate within the ACI Racing Weekend framework, but with a revised structure featuring a five-round calendar—a decision informed by feedback from the majority of competing teams. The new format aims to consolidate the national championship while creating space for competitors to participate in other TCR events across Europe. WSC will maintain a direct presence at all championship rounds through a dedicated Championship Coordinator, a role designed to strengthen operational and sporting links between the TCR concept promoter and the Italian series. TCR Italy remains one of the longest-running championships under the TCR regulations, having adopted the format since its inception in 2015, and continues to serve as a key platform for drivers, teams and manufacturers competing with production-based vehicles. International pathway opportunities begin in 2026. WSC will award prizes to top performers in the 2026 TCR Italy season, creating a direct connection to the 2027 international landscape. The 2026 Italian champion will receive entry and tyre supply to compete in the Italian round of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour 2027. Additionally, the driver who best embodies the TCR spirit during 2026 and the Under 25 class winner will receive entry and tyres for the Italian round of the TCR Europe Championship 2027. WSC president Marcello Lotti described TCR Italy as "one of the most precious jewels in the TCR crown" and thanked ACI Sport general director Mario Isola and the new management for their collaborative effort. Isola emphasised the importance of building a stronger structure while listening to teams and drivers, and highlighted the series' identity through its connection to production-based vehicles available in dealerships. The 2027 calendar comprises five rounds across Italian circuits: Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli (7–9 May and 6–8 August), Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi (25–27 June), Mugello Circuit (23–25 July), and Autodromo Nazionale Monza (15–17 October). The compact schedule is intended to improve sustainability for teams and drivers while maintaining opportunities for participation in other European TCR competitions.

The 53rd Cronoscalata della Castellana Orvieto will take place on 25–27 September, counting towards both the Italian National Hillclimb Championship north and south divisions. Entry closes on Monday 21 September, with over 150 drivers already registered. The event, celebrating 60 years of competition, will feature a 6.19 km course on the SR 79bis Orvietana between San Giorgio and Colonnetta di Prodo, with 308 metres of elevation gain and an average gradient of 4.69%. Reconnaissance runs are scheduled for Saturday 26 September, followed by two timed runs on Sunday 27 September. Both races will be streamed live via ACI Sport Official, with full coverage on ACI Sport TV (Sky channel 228 and Tivùsat channel 52). A public presentation of competing drivers will take place in Piazza del Popolo on Friday at 18:00, following technical scrutineering. On Wednesday 23 September at 17:30, local authorities and event organisers will present the 2026 edition at Orvieto's municipal council chamber. The 2024 edition was won by Simone Faggioli, with Stefano Di Fulvio and Samuele Cassibba completing an all-Nova Proto podium.

Mirko Torsellini, a driver from Siena, concluded the 2026 Italian Super Hillclimb Championship in third place overall after finishing fourth at the 71st Coppa Nissena in Sicily. The result capped a season in which Torsellini established himself as a consistent frontrunner in the national series, competing in a Norma M20 FC 3000cc machine on Pirelli tyres, prepared by Faggioli Racing Team. On the 5,450-metre Sicilian circuit, Torsellini demonstrated his pace in his first outing at the venue, posting a competitive time of 2'03.61 in the race run—just 0.17 seconds behind third-placed Samuele Cassibba. The driver proved quick from the qualifying session onwards, adapting well to the unfamiliar track. Adverse weather conditions led to the cancellation of the second race run, leaving Torsellini with mixed feelings about the weekend. "The balance is positive, though there's a touch of regret because there was still room to improve," he said. "I'm convinced I could have lowered my time further in Race 2 and given myself every chance." Reflecting on the season, Torsellini noted that his third-place finish exceeded his initial expectations. "At the start of the year, the goal was to grow race by race and be competitive, but honestly I didn't expect to reach this level of performance or to fight consistently for top positions," he explained. Looking ahead, Torsellini indicated that significant developments for the 2027 season are under consideration, with hints potentially emerging at the Alghero–Scala Piccada hillclimb in Sardinia.

Driver Antonino Migliuolo, competing under the name O'Play for Phoenix Racing Team, will contest the 45th Buzetski Dani hillclimb in Croatia this weekend to conclude his participation in the European Mountain Championship. The event, held north of Istria in the Quieto river valley, features a 5,001-metre course with 250 metres of elevation gain and an average gradient of 5.01 per cent, with competition held over two runs. Migliuolo has maintained a perfect attendance record throughout the ten-round European championship season, competing across Austria, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia and Croatia. This weekend marks his final outing of a campaign in which he has demonstrated competitiveness across multiple categories: he previously secured titles in Category 1 (touring cars) driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX 3.0, and has also competed in Category 2 (prototypes) with a Nova Proto NP03 run by CR Corse. The Buzet event will also serve as a testing opportunity, with CR Corse fielding its full fleet and using the weekend to evaluate the Nova Proto NP03 in Group P3 prototype configuration ahead of 2027. A celebration is planned at the paddock on Saturday evening, bringing together team members, supporters and sponsors to mark the conclusion of another season of competition.

Salvatore Tortora secured the Italian Supersalita RS Cup championship at the 71st Coppa Nissena in Caltanissetta, the final round of the 2026 Italian Hillclimb Championship. Driving a Peugeot 308 prepared by AC Racing, the Cava de' Tirreni driver claimed his third national hillclimb title and also won the same class in the CIVM Nord series during the season. The event was significantly affected by adverse weather conditions, which led to the cancellation of the second run. Despite the truncated format, Imperial Racing Division's competitors left their mark on the final round. Gianni Loffredo finished third in the RS 1.6 TB class at Caltanissetta, securing third place overall in that category for the championship. Driving a Mini JCW prepared by the Abate brothers, Loffredo maintained consistent performances throughout the season with Scuderia Vesuvio. Antonio Aquila, also representing Scuderia Vesuvio in a Seat Leon run by SP Racing, fought for the title until contact with the barriers during the first run ended his championship hopes. The subsequent cancellation of the second ascent closed his bid for the crown. In the TCR Sequential category, Antonio Scorza finished second at Caltanissetta and claimed second place in his class for the championship. Antonino Rotolo was unable to compete effectively due to engine problems with his Osella. With the Supersalita season concluded, Imperial Racing Division now turns attention to the remaining rounds of the Italian motorsport calendar.