ilTornante

The 61st edition of the Trofeo Luigi Fagioli hillclimb in Gubbio, Italy, has secured 258 competitor entries for the event scheduled for 23 August 2026. The 4,150-metre course, which climbs from the medieval Umbrian city to the Madonna della Cima pass, will also feature 42 historic vehicles competing alongside the main field. The weekend will serve as the opening round of the Italian National Hillclimb Championship. Organised by the Eugubino Corse Automobilistiche committee, the event has established itself as a flagship hillclimb in Europe, earning the nickname "Monte Carlo of hillclimbs". The three-day programme will include a newly constructed Arena Paddock open to the public, with supporting activities and attractions running from Friday through Sunday. The event maintains international standards across logistics, organisation, and ancillary programming. Preceding the main competition, a ceremonial evening is scheduled for Wednesday, 19 August at the Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini, where the Memorial Angelo and Pietro Barbetti award will be presented to Dallara Automobili and its founder Giampaolo Dallara. The recognition honours prominent figures in motorsport; Dallara, an engineer who graduated from Milan Polytechnic and worked in Formula 1 and Formula 2 before founding his company in 1972 at Varano de' Melegari, has built a global reputation for competition vehicles including sports prototypes, rally chassis, and single-seaters competing in IndyCar and worldwide series. The Wednesday evening ceremony will feature actress Pilar Fogliati as a guest of the Rotary Club Gubbio, alongside Mario Isola, who assumed the role of ACI Sport general director in July following his tenure as head of Pirelli Motorsport. An official presentation for media and enthusiasts is scheduled for Thursday, 20 August at 11:00 in the Sala Trecentesca of Palazzo Pretorio in Piazza Grande, Gubbio.

The 61st Trofeo Luigi Fagioli, the opening round of the 2026 Italian Hillclimb Championship, takes place in Gubbio this weekend, with a full week of supporting events beginning Wednesday, 19 August. Entry registrations close at midnight on Monday, with the official competitor list finalised by Tuesday. The week opens with the traditional Memorial Barbetti gala evening on Wednesday at Park Hotel Ai Cappuccini, hosted jointly by the Eugubino Motorsport Committee (CECA) and Rotary Club Gubbio. The ceremony honours past recipients including drivers Miki Biasion, Arturo Merzario, Andrea Montermini, Emanuele Pirro and Clay Regazzoni, alongside figures such as Mauro Forghieri, Giancarlo Minardi, Antonello Coletta and Ezio Zermiani. Thursday brings the official presentation at 11:00 in the Sala Trecentesca of Palazzo Pretorio, followed by a charity football match at 17:45 between Gubbio FC legends and the National Hillclimb Drivers team, with proceeds supporting the Eugubina Association for Cancer Research. Racing begins Friday with technical scrutineering, followed by official practice on Saturday and two timed runs on Sunday along the traditional Gubbio–Madonna della Cima course. A new Arena Paddock in the Roman Theatre area will serve as the centrepiece, hosting three days of entertainment including food vendors, music, simulators, special guests and a live broadcast on ACI Sport TV (Sky 228). Friday evening features a Pikes Peak retrospective with champion Simone Faggioli and his team, showcasing the Nova Proto NP01 ATM. Saturday hosts the second edition of the Trofeo Meet Street, a tuning showcase attracting around 70 performance cars from across Italy. Sunday includes a motorcycle rally with over 100 expected entries and the final podium ceremony. A multimedia exhibition on the Trofeo's 60-year history runs through Sunday at Galleria della Porta in the city centre.

The Automobile Club Trapani has retained Fabrizio Fondacci as race director for the 68th edition of the Monte Erice hillclimb, scheduled for 4–6 September across the Trapani province in western Sicily. The event will count towards the Italian Historic Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSA), the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM), and the Italian Classic Speed Hillclimb Championship (CIVSAC). Fondacci, an internationally recognised official, brings extensive experience including 18 Formula 1 Grand Prix appointments and numerous hillclimb, circuit racing and rally events. He will be supported by Francesco Sanclemente as assistant race director; Sanclemente is based in Valderice and brings local knowledge of the course and surrounding terrain. AC Trapani president Giovanni Pellegrino stated that retaining the experienced team ensures high standards of safety, sporting conduct and operational rigour. He added that the 2024 edition will feature enhanced partnership with commercial sponsors, with increased visibility along the route from Valderice to the finish in the medieval village of Erice, which overlooks the Gulf of Custonaci, Monte Cofano, the Egadi Islands and the Trapani salt pans.

The 61st Trofeo Luigi Fagioli, Italy's opening round of the national hillclimb championship, will introduce a new spectator-focused initiative in 2026. The Arena Paddock, a dedicated fan zone spanning the Roman Theatre car park in Gubbio, will run throughout the three-day event (21–23 August) and transform the paddock experience with live entertainment, food vendors, simulators, and direct access to drivers and teams. The venue will host multiple themed events, beginning Friday 21 August with a presentation by champion driver Simone Faggioli and his team, who will share behind-the-scenes footage and stories from their recent Pikes Peak International Hill Climb campaign, featuring the Nova Proto NP01 ATM. Saturday 22 August brings the 2nd Trofeo Meet Street, a tuning car gathering expected to draw around 70 modified vehicles from across Italy. On race day (Sunday 23 August), a large screen will broadcast the hillclimb live via ACI Sport TV, while the inaugural motorcycle rally "Il Trofeo Fagioli si mette in… moto" debuts with over 100 two-wheeled entries. The Arena Paddock, developed in partnership with Buffalo Beer, will feature live music, DJ sets, racing simulators, and a main stage. After the official podium ceremony at Madonna della Cima, the top three finishers will return to the paddock stage to celebrate with spectators. Entry for the hillclimb—valid across the Italian Supersalita championship, CIVM North and South divisions, the national two-cylinder class, Assominicar Challenge, and the Città di Gubbio historic car cup—closes 23:59 on 17 August. The full 2026 edition will be officially presented on 20 August at Palazzo Pretorio.

The Italian Super Salita championship heads toward its conclusion with two remaining rounds: the Luigi Fagioli Trophy in Gubbio (21–23 August) and the Coppa Nissena in Caltanissetta (11–13 September). Both events carry a 1.5 coefficient in points allocation, setting up a decisive finish to the season. Michele Gregori, a 37-year-old driver from Pieve Santo Stefano, currently sits fourth in the E2SC-SS up-to-1600cc class standings with 41 points, piloting a Nova Proto NP03 with central driving position under Team Faggioli support. The car made its debut in mid-June at Trento-Bondone. Leading the class is Andrea Santo Di Caro with a perfect 100 points, followed by Michele Puglisi (75 points) and Filippo Ferretti (48 points). Gregori won this same class in 2022 driving a Gloria. Gregori described the season as "more than positive" despite the mid-campaign switch to the new chassis. The updated Nova Proto NP03 features a newer engine, revised suspension geometry, and 30 centimetres of additional steering lock that aids visibility through chicanes. At Terminillo, he trimmed nearly 10 seconds from his previous times. "It's a year of growth for me," Gregori reflected, noting that Di Caro, Puglisi and Ferretti have demonstrated superior pace, though emerging talents Matteo De Luca and Gerardo Rosa in Osella Pa21 Jrb machinery have also made significant progress. At Gubbio, competition will intensify with the return of Ivan Pezzolla, last year's absolute winner at the Luigi Fagioli Trophy, and French driver Kevin Petit. Gregori remains undecided on Caltanissetta but confirmed plans to race at Orvieto in late September. He narrowly missed the overall podium at Sarnano by 0.85 seconds, a result that would have been stronger had the second run not been cancelled. Beyond competition, Gregori highlighted the camaraderie within the 1600cc class. "With Giancarlo Maroni, Andrea Santo Di Caro, Michele Puglisi, Filippo Ferretti and Mirko Torsellini, there is genuine friendship outside the car," he said. "On track there is healthy competition, but off it we often gather for dinner together. That spirit is what motorsport should teach everyone."

Entries are now open for the 5th Slalom Città di Ucria, scheduled for 5–6 September and organised by ASD Ucria Racing. The event will carry four competitive validities: the Southern Italy Trophy, Sicilian Slalom Championship, Messina AC Social Championship, and the Nebrodi Trophy, which will conclude its 2026 season at this round. The race will also feature the Vincenzo Belladonna Memorial, honouring a prominent figure in the local motorsport community. The 3.85-kilometre course will feature 17 braking zones and is known for its technical variety and demanding driving conditions. Previous editions have consistently attracted over 100 entries, placing the event among Italy's leading slalom competitions. Last year's winner Giuseppe Giametta from Trapani claimed his second consecutive victory, ahead of Silvio Fiore (Catania) and Santi Leo (Messina). The event benefits from strong support from Ucria's municipal administration, led by Mayor Vincenzo Crisà, and has become an important occasion for territorial promotion. Beyond the competitive programme, the weekend will include a traditional Saturday evening gathering for drivers, teams, officials and enthusiasts. The organisation is already preparing the course and all necessary logistics to accommodate participants and spectators.

The European Le Mans Series will mark a decade of racing at Spa-Francorchamps with a strong entry for the four-hour event scheduled 21–23 August 2026. The grid will feature 47 cars, 140 drivers, 30 teams and representatives from 30 nations, making it one of the season's most significant rounds. The Belgian fixture arrives as the fourth championship event, following races at Barcelona, Le Castellet and Imola, and is expected to reshape the title battles across all categories: LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3. Four Belgian drivers will race on home soil, including Jean Glorieux, a former Michelin Le Mans Cup LMP3 champion now competing in LMP2 Pro/Am with DKR Engineering, and Maxime Martin, winner of the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours in LMGTE Pro, who will drive the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 No. 62 for Team Qatar by Iron Lynx. Alessio Picariello, a two-time ELMS LMGTE champion, returns to the grid in a Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 for Proton Competition. In LMP2, United Autosports leads the championship with Ben Hanley, Grégoire Saucy and Griffin Peebles on 58 points in the Oreca No. 22, ahead of Forestier Racing by Panis on 52 points. The LMP2 Pro/Am class presents a tightly bunched fight, with Algarve Pro Racing and Vector Sport both on 43 points at the top. LMP3 sees Rinaldi Racing's Alvise Rodella, José Fernandes Cautela and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen leading on 49 points, just eight ahead of Inter Europol Competition. In LMGT3, TF Sport's Corvette No. 33 holds a one-point advantage over Proton Competition's Porsche No. 75, with Kessel Racing's Ferrari No. 57 a further point back. Spa's technical layout—featuring Eau Rouge-Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont—makes it one of Europe's most demanding circuits. The tenth-anniversary race will serve as both a celebration and a potentially decisive championship turning point. The weekend runs Friday to Sunday, with the race on Sunday; tickets start from €8.

Kadija Mourtaji secured a divisional podium finish and fourth in class at the Svolte di Popoli hillclimb on her debut in the Ferrari 296 Challenge, continuing a rapid progression through the Italian marque's racing lineup. The driver, competing for Scuderia RO Racing, has moved through three different Ferrari models in recent weeks—from the 458 in E2SH specification to the 488 Challenge Evo, and now the latest 296 Challenge. Mourtaji managed third in her division and fourth overall in the GT class at the fast and demanding Popoli event, posting competitive pace across both race runs. Speaking after the weekend, she reflected on the transition to the more powerful machine: "I'm pleased with the podium result. For a debut in such a demanding car, it's a good outcome, though I know I could have shaved another couple of seconds by tightening up a few areas I've already reviewed on video. The approach we've chosen is methodical—no need to overextend unnecessarily." On the 296 Challenge itself, Mourtaji highlighted the step forward in stability and traction compared to the 488. "It's a significant jump in how the car feels through corners and on corner exit," she explained. "The extra security when managing throttle application, combined with improved aerodynamics and overall grip, makes it noticeably faster. I'm learning a lot on these powerful, quick machines and want to continue at the right pace with the enthusiasm I feel." Mourtaji credited coach Giovanni Del Prete for his guidance throughout the transition and thanked sponsors BON BON by Alviero Martini and the Infante group for their support. She is managed on-track by the Catapano team and receives factory support from Sanasi.

The 61st Trofeo Luigi Fagioli will present its full 2026 schedule and details at a press conference on Thursday 20 August at 11:00 in the Sala Trecentesca of Palazzo Pretorio in Gubbio's Piazza Grande. The event, widely regarded as the "Monte Carlo of hillclimbs" in European road racing circles, will outline its programme, innovations, services and organisational plans for the August 21–23 weekend. The hillclimb will host the opening round of the Italian National Hillclimb Championship (Campionato Italiano Supersalita), alongside the Italian Mountain Speed Championship (CIVM) North and South divisions, the Italian Two-Cylinder Championship, the Assominicar Challenge, and the Gubbio City Cup for historic cars competing in two practice and two race runs. The event will be broadcast live on ACI Sport TV (Sky channel 228 and web). Entry registrations remain open until Monday 17 August at 23:59. Special events begin on Wednesday 12 August at 18:00 with the opening of an exhibition titled "I favolosi sessanta" (The Fabulous Sixty) at the Galleria della Porta on Corso Garibaldi, tracing the hillclimb's history from its origins. The same evening will see the presentation of the second volume of "Di piloti, bolidi e altre storie" (Of Drivers, Bolides and Other Stories), a history of the Gubbio event written and photographed by Tonino Menichetti and discussed with journalist Mario Donnini of Autosprint. The exhibition will run through 23 August and includes a section dedicated to the centenary of the Automobile Club Perugia. The initiatives have been supported by the Perugia Foundation, Rampini Auto and Romeoauto.

GT Racing enjoyed a successful weekend at Le Svolte di Popoli, an Abruzzo hillclimb counting towards the CIVM Nord and Sud championships. The team fielded four cars and secured three victories across multiple classes, providing strong momentum heading into the summer break. Vanni Tagliente delivered an impressive recovery drive despite missing practice due to technical issues with his Seat Leon. On Sunday, he bounced back to claim victory in both the RS Plus class and RS Plus 2.0 TB category. Mirko Ciabini continued his upward trajectory in his third outing with GT Racing, finishing second in RS Cup and RSTC2 aboard a Peugeot 308 Cup, building on progress shown in previous rounds. Roberto Chiavaroli, a regular competitor at Popoli, proved his mastery of the Abruzzo circuit once again. Driving a Mini JCW, he won the RS Group and RS 2.0 TB class. Vito Tagliente, GT Racing's team manager, was forced to retire from the opening race but recovered in the second encounter to take victory in GT Cup with a Ferrari 458. The team now enters a summer break to recharge and prepare its machinery for the final stretch of the season.

Salvatore Venanzio claimed victory at the 22nd edition of the Santopadre Hillclimb, a round of the Italian ACI SPORT National Hillclimb Championship. Driving a Nova Proto NP03, the Campania-based driver set the fastest time of 1'48"42 in the second run to secure the overall win. Domenico Palumbo finished second in a Radical SR4 with a time of 1'48"57, also from the second ascent, while Gianluca Miccio took third place in a Radical SR4 Suzuki, clocking 1'49"41 on his third run. The event, organised by Motorsport 2 C under Diego De Nardo's direction, attracted 48 entries with 47 classified, representing an increase on the previous year's participation. In the supporting classifications, Michele Langella (Peugeot 106 S16) won the under-23 category, Arianna Palomba (Fiat 500) took the women's title, and Domenico Mascolo (Fiat Giannini 650 NP) claimed the historic cars class. Scuderia Venanzio was awarded the team trophy. Various class winners were recognised across the RS, E2SSTMSS, E2SH, SS, E1, Racing Start Plus, N, A and BC categories. The ceremony concluded in Piazza Marconi with a full prize presentation and fireworks display.

The Ruoti hillclimb, held on the winding roads of the former Appian Way near Potenza in southern Italy, made its comeback after a six-year absence with 78 competitors and strong local support. Saverio Miglionico, the 2017 Italian champion, secured a commanding victory aboard an Osella PA21 Honda, counting towards the Italian Cup (4th zone ACI SPORT) and the 23rd CPB Challenge. Miglionico's first-run time of 2'22.61 over the 2,995-metre course proved decisive, allowing him to build an unbeatable margin despite minor errors in subsequent passes. The battle for the remaining podium places proved tighter. Giovanni Cutro claimed second place in a GMN kart cross with a best lap of 2'33.76, while Alessandro Lovallo rounded out the top three in a Radical SR4 Suzuki (2'34.76). Antonio Tizzani finished fourth overall and first in the E2 SS category aboard a Gloria B5 Suzuki. The results saw representation across multiple vehicle classes, including silhouette cars, production-based machines, and classic two-cylinder vehicles. In the touring car category, Tommaso Paradiso dominated the field with his Mercedes SLK Compressor, leading fifteen entries in that class. The event also featured three female competitors, including Italian Formula Challenge 2025 champion Paola Pepe in a Citroën VTS, and Desiré Marino, who secured her first victory in an Autobianchi A112. The event was organised by Basilicata Motorsport with support from Ruoti's municipal administration.