Rallye Elba Storico

There was a new success for Luco Da Zanche, paired with Maurizio Barone, in a Porsche 911 RS at the XXXV Rallye Elba Storico-Trofeo Locman in the penultimate round of the Italian Historic  Rally Championship, a race which effectively put fifth place finisher Matteo Musti, co-driven by Simone Brachia in a Porsche 911 Carrera, out of reach for the Championship title with one race still to run.

Local pair Francesco Bettini and Luca Acri got the better of initial leader ‘Toto’ Riolo to take second Photos Courtsey ACI Sport

A great lover of the Elban event,  Sicilian Salvatore “Totò” Riolo (Porsche), with co-driver Alessandro Floris, was the first to lead the rally, but on stage four, the 26.94km Volterraio Cavo, three-time Italian Champion Da Zanche put in a blinding performance and took the stage by more than 18 seconds.  Despite engine problems, which arose in the middle of the day, the driver from the Valtellina managed to hold on to finish the day on the top step of the podium. 

After the demise of main points rival Natale Mannino, Matteo Musti drove a tactical race to a fifth place finish and the 2023 Championship title

A two-way argument, with the fearsome local Francesco Bettini, with Luca Acri on the notes, on board a Martini-liveried Lancia Delta Integrale, who was trying to redeem himself after last year’s withdrawal due to an accident, kept Riolo on his toes, as he continued to pursue the leader.

Da Zanche drove a blinder in the fourth stage and never left the lead therafter

Read more in our October 2023 Issue