The race has been introduced on Sunday in Zoppola in the presence of the Major Papais, as homage in the memory of “Caco” Azzaretti. Because of the excessive water quantity on the Tagliamento and Cosa riverbeds, the track has been changed. Positive reactions by the Bajas World Champion Ruoso and the Italian Cross Country Champion Codecà. All greatest protagonists of the World Cup are lined up with their cars, bikes and quads
PORDENONE, 9th March 2014_A touching moment on Sunday at the City Hall in Zoppola, during the press conference introducing the 21st edition of the Italian Baja. The Cross Country Rallies World Cup race will take place from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th March among the beautiful landscapes offered by the typical “grave” soils of the Meduna, Cosa and Tagliamento rivers. The race opening with the Memorial Claudio “Caco” Azzaretti, celebrated in the name of one of its founders, has been acclaimed by the crowd; his daughter Donatella commentates: “Daddy felt the Baja as if it was one of his loved women, the Fuoristrada club represented his family and the “grave” were the fulfillment of his freedom’s dreams just few steps away from home”. The ceremony also wished to homage Roberto Casetta with a special memory in the name of the Technical Officer who owned extraordinary human and professional qualities; the Organizer Mauro Tavella personally consigned a plate to his relatives. NEWS ABOUT THE TRACK. The opening Super Special Stage planned on Friday 14th among the Meduna fords from Cordenons to Zoppola (9,20 km, car start at 4.30pm) has been confirmed. Heavy torrential rains fallen during last two months obliged organizers to change the original track; it won’t cross the Cosa torrent and the Tagliamento river, but will be divided in two Selective Sections, to be repeated 5 times. On Saturday 15th March the Selective Sections will be called “Pasch” (44 km from Cordenons to Tauriano) and “Cosa” (19 km from Cosa to “Ponte della Delizia”) and will include three practice passages. On Sunday, participants will have to face in the opposite direction the Selective Sections “Valvasone” (19 km from “Ponte della Delizia” to Cosa) and “Mosaico” (44 km from Tauriano to Cordenons). CHAMPIONS’ LIKING. Although because of different reasons, both the World biker Alessandro Ruoso and the Italian Cross Country Rally driver Lorenzo Codecà affirmed their satisfaction about the track changes brought by the Organizers. Ruoso’s opinion is that the bike “marathon” lap planned on Sunday (two consecutive passages with an only refuelling stop) could make the difference among competitors performances. Codecà, on the other hand, believes in the increasing possibility of succeeding for his Suzuki Grand Vitara, as riverbeds’traps will be therefore escaped . RESPECT FOR ENVIRONMENT. The environmental responsibility demonstrated by the World competition (participants are coming from 3 Continents) is represented by the “Zero Impact” policy developed by the Italian Baja in acquiring forest hectars in Costa Rica to compensate the production of carbonic hanydride during the event. Besides, the Assistance Area at the Pordenone Fair will utilize once more the electric energy produced by a photovoltaic system. SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT. Last year the Fuoristrada Club 4×4 encouraged and collected funds in favor of the Youngs Area of the Aviano CRO. “This time our involvement – explained Tavella, supported by the satisfaction demonstrated by the Major of Zoppola, Francesca Papais – will be addressed to the Ideal Standard Committee, to support the families of workers who nowadays are facing its deep economic crisis”. The social involvement is expressed also by the Onlus “Uno di noi – One of us” represented by Gianluca Tassi: driving courses for disable persons will be proposed at the Pordenone Fair during all three days of race, in co-operation with Ironwhire. BIASION AS TESTIMONIAL. The “Super Miki” will partecipate in the race with a Mitsubishi L200 prepared by Ralliart and could be able to obstacolate the Russian favorite Gadasin and Vasilyev, the Saudi Al-Rajhi and the Brazilian Varela. Fans and motor addicts could also closely admire the champion during the special meeting at the Pordenone Fair (on Friday evening 14th March, from 9.00pm), organized by the Fuoristrada Club 4×4, Knife Racing and RinnovaMente.