XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico-Trofeo Locman Italy: Francesco Bettini triumphs on home sun
26-09-2026 18:00 - Press releases
Dream victory for the local driver, codrivered by Alyssa Anziliero with the Subaru Legacy RS
Capoliveri, Elba Island, Italy – 26 September 2026 – Francesco Bettini has written a new chapter in the history of the XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico-Trofeo Locman Italy, claiming a spectacular victory on home sun with the Subaru Legacy RS prepared by Team Balletti.
The local driver, making his debut with the Japanese four-wheel-drive machine and codrivered by Alyssa Anziliero for the first time, dominated the Italian and European Historic Rally Championship event, setting the fastest overall time and winning nine of the ten special stages.
It was a particularly significant success for Bettini, who becomes only the fourth driver from Elba to win a rally on the island, following Claudio Caselli in 1992, David Giacomelli in 2001 and Emanuele Mannoni, winner in 2010 and 2011.
There is an important historical distinction: all those previous victories were achieved with modern rally cars. Bettini is therefore the first Elban driver to win the historic Rallye Elba, fifteen years after Mannoni’s last success.
Bettini controls the Italian Championship
Bettini’s main challenge in the Italian Championship came from Andrea Smiderle, partnered by Gianni Marchi in a similar Subaru. Their fight ended on the demanding 26-kilometres Volterraio stage on Saturday morning, when a contact damaged a wheel and forced them to retire.
From that point, Bettini was able to control his advantage and also secured victory in the Fourth Group.
Matteo Luise and Melissa Ferro, in a BMW M3, finished second overall after another consistently strong performance, a result which also secured Luise the 2026 Italian Fourth Group title.
Third place went to Alberto Salvini and Tagliaferri with Porsche Carrera RS. Salvini also claimed victory in the Second Group, recovering strongly after losing time because of an unsuitable tyre choice during the opening stages of Saturday.
Delecour dominates the European field
The European Championship classification was dominated by international star François Delecour, together with Fabrice Gordon, and his Peugeot 306 Maxi to a commanding victory.
Making his first appearance on Elba’s special stages, the Frenchman immediately took the lead on the opening stage and never relinquished it, producing a series of spectacular performances that thrilled the large crowds along the route.
Delecour secured both overall European victory and the Pre-2000 category.
Second overall was Maciej Lubiak, codrivered by Grzegorz Dachowski in a Porsche 911, with the Polish crew also taking the Pre-1992 category. The European podium was completed by French Genesca-Sompayrac with Toyota Corolla WRC, winners of Category 5/WRC.
Close battles throughout the Italian field
The First Group saw victory for Antonio Parisi and Giuseppe D’Angelo in a Porsche 911, ahead of rivals Giuliano Palmieri and Lucia Zambiasi, who finished 24.6 seconds behind. Palmieri nevertheless secured the Italian First Group title with his result.
In the Third Group, Volpato-Sordelli leaders until Friday evening with their Ford Escort RS 2000, before a mechanical failure handed victory to Bianco-Barbieri in a Porsche 911 SC.
The podium was completed by Sbalchiero-Crivellaro in a Fiat 127 and local driver Massimo Giudicelli, with Simone Marchi, in a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Several heroes to retire
The rally also saw several prominent competitors forced out of the fight. Multiple Italian and European Champion Renato Travaglia, returning with a Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4, retired after a mechanical failure on Friday. He restarted on Saturday, set the fastest European time on the opening stage, and subsequently decided to withdraw.
Salvatore “Toto” Riolo was also forced to retire his Subaru Impreza after persistent brake problems, while Walter Pierangioli and Michela Baldini stopped their Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 after three stages following a driveshaft failure.
Bergamaschi wins the A112 Abarth Trophy
The Trofeo A112 Abarth once again provided one of the most entertaining battles of the rally.
Bergamaschi-Sella claimed victory by 16 seconds over Fedolfi-Podeschi, while Molino-Barrera completed the podium.
PHOTOS: BETTINI (by Actualfoto) and DELECOUR (by Amicorally)
www.rallyelbastorico.net
MEDIA OFFICE
c/o Alessandro Bugelli – journalist (ODG 110772 – USSI 3886 – AIPS 9541)
a.bugelli@gmail.com
Source: Press Office
Capoliveri, Elba Island, Italy – 26 September 2026 – Francesco Bettini has written a new chapter in the history of the XXXVIII Rallye Elba Storico-Trofeo Locman Italy, claiming a spectacular victory on home sun with the Subaru Legacy RS prepared by Team Balletti.
The local driver, making his debut with the Japanese four-wheel-drive machine and codrivered by Alyssa Anziliero for the first time, dominated the Italian and European Historic Rally Championship event, setting the fastest overall time and winning nine of the ten special stages.
It was a particularly significant success for Bettini, who becomes only the fourth driver from Elba to win a rally on the island, following Claudio Caselli in 1992, David Giacomelli in 2001 and Emanuele Mannoni, winner in 2010 and 2011.
There is an important historical distinction: all those previous victories were achieved with modern rally cars. Bettini is therefore the first Elban driver to win the historic Rallye Elba, fifteen years after Mannoni’s last success.
Bettini controls the Italian Championship
Bettini’s main challenge in the Italian Championship came from Andrea Smiderle, partnered by Gianni Marchi in a similar Subaru. Their fight ended on the demanding 26-kilometres Volterraio stage on Saturday morning, when a contact damaged a wheel and forced them to retire.
From that point, Bettini was able to control his advantage and also secured victory in the Fourth Group.
Matteo Luise and Melissa Ferro, in a BMW M3, finished second overall after another consistently strong performance, a result which also secured Luise the 2026 Italian Fourth Group title.
Third place went to Alberto Salvini and Tagliaferri with Porsche Carrera RS. Salvini also claimed victory in the Second Group, recovering strongly after losing time because of an unsuitable tyre choice during the opening stages of Saturday.
Delecour dominates the European field
The European Championship classification was dominated by international star François Delecour, together with Fabrice Gordon, and his Peugeot 306 Maxi to a commanding victory.
Making his first appearance on Elba’s special stages, the Frenchman immediately took the lead on the opening stage and never relinquished it, producing a series of spectacular performances that thrilled the large crowds along the route.
Delecour secured both overall European victory and the Pre-2000 category.
Second overall was Maciej Lubiak, codrivered by Grzegorz Dachowski in a Porsche 911, with the Polish crew also taking the Pre-1992 category. The European podium was completed by French Genesca-Sompayrac with Toyota Corolla WRC, winners of Category 5/WRC.
Close battles throughout the Italian field
The First Group saw victory for Antonio Parisi and Giuseppe D’Angelo in a Porsche 911, ahead of rivals Giuliano Palmieri and Lucia Zambiasi, who finished 24.6 seconds behind. Palmieri nevertheless secured the Italian First Group title with his result.
In the Third Group, Volpato-Sordelli leaders until Friday evening with their Ford Escort RS 2000, before a mechanical failure handed victory to Bianco-Barbieri in a Porsche 911 SC.
The podium was completed by Sbalchiero-Crivellaro in a Fiat 127 and local driver Massimo Giudicelli, with Simone Marchi, in a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Several heroes to retire
The rally also saw several prominent competitors forced out of the fight. Multiple Italian and European Champion Renato Travaglia, returning with a Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4, retired after a mechanical failure on Friday. He restarted on Saturday, set the fastest European time on the opening stage, and subsequently decided to withdraw.
Salvatore “Toto” Riolo was also forced to retire his Subaru Impreza after persistent brake problems, while Walter Pierangioli and Michela Baldini stopped their Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 after three stages following a driveshaft failure.
Bergamaschi wins the A112 Abarth Trophy
The Trofeo A112 Abarth once again provided one of the most entertaining battles of the rally.
Bergamaschi-Sella claimed victory by 16 seconds over Fedolfi-Podeschi, while Molino-Barrera completed the podium.
PHOTOS: BETTINI (by Actualfoto) and DELECOUR (by Amicorally)
www.rallyelbastorico.net
MEDIA OFFICE
c/o Alessandro Bugelli – journalist (ODG 110772 – USSI 3886 – AIPS 9541)
a.bugelli@gmail.com
Source: Press Office
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