Yes. It’s easy to say, but it’s even better to race. And finally, the (big) preliminary numbers are filed away, and we line up for the start of the Race. Three stages, nearly 500 entrants for over 500 kilometers against the clock. It is the monumental start of the event that directly connects Sardinia to the World.
Abstract
At dawn, the orderly landing of the Sardegna Rally Raid begins. Molo Brin gradually fills up: it’s the bivouac of the “multicolored caravan” spreading along the dock and seafront. Sports and technical checks of riders and vehicles take place, in a carousel that blends with city life and the celebrations for San Simplicio – sacred and profane, a unique occasion.
From May 15, it gets real: intricate forests, pink granite mountains, roads of Gallura, Romangia, Monte Acuto, and Anglona. A paradise-labyrinth where the road book is the only guide. Sardinian nature explodes in all its wondrous, unique scenery.
Competing are champions from the European Baja Moto, Italian Cross Country, and national Motorally series. Two versions of the route, signed by World Champion course designer Tiziano Siviero. A showdown among Italy’s top riders: Jacopo Cerutti (Aprilia), Alessandro Botturi (Yamaha), Paolo Lucci (Husqvarna). Among cars: defending champion Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki), Andrea Schiumarini, Lorenzo Codecà, and the Ladies Dakar team – Serena Rodella and apnea champion Paola Tagliabue.
Three days of racing, 792 total kilometers, 504 against the clock. For Regularity and Experience classes: imposed times. Green light!
Olbia, May 14, 2026. The orderly, discreet, and only vaguely exciting landing began at dawn and continued for most of the morning. Time enough to see Molo Brin, the historic dock of seafaring Olbia, slowly fill up as it welcomes the paddock (or rather, “bivouac”) of the 2026 Sardegna Rally Raid. The “multicolored caravan” spreads like an oil slick along the quay and Olbia’s seafront, bustling with activities that foreshadow the competition. These are the preliminary operations: the sporting checks of participants and technical checks of their racing machines. Competition motorcycles and cars parade for scrutineering in a showcase carousel that stretches into the Olbia afternoon, blending not only ideally with the city’s fabric – among the ancient streets of this maritime town – but also with the program celebrating the patron saint, San Simplicio. Sacred and profane, the religious procession and the competitors’ parade merge in an unrepeatable fusion.
Then, from dawn on May 15, it will be Sardinia: the northern belt of intricate forests and pink granite mountains. The journey will touch Gallura, Romangia, Monte Acuto, and Anglona. A Paradise, as already said, and a labyrinth of roads and forest trails whose riddle can only be solved by precise use of the road book – the rally’s logbook that reveals at each page a small fragment of the route, and altogether, we may exaggerate, the novel of the 2026 Sardegna Rally Raid edition. Let’s not forget, all this happens during the period when the island’s nature explodes in all its magnificent, unique scenery.
These are the Champions of the European Baja for bikes, the Italian Cross Country, the national Motorally and Raid TT series, forming the complex competitive structure of the Sardegna Rally Raid. The Organizers – AC Sassari and Moto Club Insolita Sardegna, under the patronage of the Sardinia Region and the Automobile Club d’Italia – have dedicated two versions of the course to suit the different aims of the classes. This is an idea of Tiziano Siviero, World Champion and course designer, who wanted this “special” never before seen in the rally-raid album. The cross challenge featuring Italy’s three best rally-raid men – Jacopo Cerutti (Aprilia Racing), Alessandro Botturi (Yamaha), Paolo Lucci (Husqvarna) – can only be described as highly anticipated. But there is expectation, personal and otherwise, for many of the car drivers as well, including Alfio Bordonaro (Suzuki), the reigning Sardegna Rally Raid Champion, Andrea Schiumarini (“L Dugento” as Patron Rickler calls him), Lorenzo Codecà (Suzuki), and the the super ladies of the Ladies Dakar team – from the Dakar to the Island: Serena Rodella and Paola Tagliabue, apnea champion, on Suzuki, or the yet legendary Christine Giampaoli “GZ” Zonca, Polaris..
Finally… or rather, to begin with: three days of racing, three stages, packaged as follows:
Stage 1: SS1a Coiluna Loelle + SS1b Fiorentini – 120 km liaison, 190 km selective section – 310 km total
Stage 2: SS2a + SS2b Monte Acuto – 65 km liaison, 180 km selective section – 300 km total
Stage 3: SS3 Padru + Terranova – 57 km liaison, 125 km selective section – 182 km total
A total of 792 kilometers, of which 504 are selective sectors against the clock or, for the Regularity and Experience classes, imposed times.
Green light!
Thank You!
Sardegna Rally Raid Press Office
Piero Batini (pbatini@gmail.com)
Sardegna Rally Raid. FIA-FIM Rally-Raid World Championship Candidate
Auto: Campionato Italiano Cross Country e SSV
Moto: Campionati Italiani MotoRally e Raid-TT, Europeo Baja
Epicentro: Olbia
Organization:
Automobile Club Sassari and the support of Moto Club Insolita Sardegna
Con il sostegno dell’Automobile Club d’Italia e della Regione Autonoma della Sardegna
www.sardegnarallyraid.com
info@sardegnarallyraid.com
press@sardegnarallyraid.com
Sportity: S2R26FIA, S2R26FIME
