Two rallies in one. A massive undertaking to showcase the Island to the farthest corners of the Planet. On one side, the Italian Auto and Motorcycle Championships. On the other, the Test Event requested by the International Federations to bring Sardinia into the Rally-Raid World Championship. Go ahead, there’s a challenge for everyone, starting from that between Cerutti and Lucci.
Abstract
In the Sardegna Rally Raid 2026, May 15-18, two distinct events coexist under the same organization (AC Sassari and Moto Club Insolita Sardegna). On one hand, the National Motorally/Raid TT and Cross Country Championships, chosen by the majority of participants. On the other, a “Candidate Event” (RRCE) requested by FIA and FIM for a possible entry into the 2027 calendar of the Rally-Raid World Championship (W2RC).
Dual national and world event** – On one side, the Italian titles (Motorally/Raid TT and Cross Country), on the other, the Candidate Event for the 2027 W2RC World Championship, with different road-books and routes, longer special stages, but the same paddock and dates.
The headline challenge of the motorcycle elite. It’s the duel between Jacopo Cerutti (standard Aprilia Tuareg, Team GCorse) and Paolo Lucci (Husqvarna 450 Rally, Team Solarys). **Winner at the start: Sardinia** – The island confirms itself as an ideal terrain for great motorsport epics, hosting Dakar-level cars and motorcycles. There’s still a last-minute spot for those who want to take up the challenge.
Olbia, May 10, 2026. Motorally and Raid TT on one side and Cross Country on the other have the Sardegna Rally Raid for their respective national titles. But there’s more. Much more. Yes, from May 15 to 17, there is a Sardegna Rally Raid that develops from the request of the International Federations, FIA and FIM, for a “test” for access to the 2027 calendar of the Rally-Raid World Championship (W2RC). Same geographical areas, same days, shared paddock. It’s valid for the European Baja Championship and takes place on a different route, longer special stages, same paddock, identical, extraordinary atmosphere. The “bulk” of the participants have chosen the national route, but there is the small, fierce elite task force that has picked up the gauntlet thrown down by AC Sassari and Moto Club Insolita Sardegna (yes, the same Organization).
It’s a fantastic challenge for everyone. For the organizers, supported in the project by the Regione Sardegna, for the administrators of Olbia who made the City available for the Rally during the days of the feast of San Simplicio, the patron saint, and naturally for the Aces who chose the Main Event in solidarity with the World Championship perspective. But there is one actor who has already won: Sardinia, which has already shown itself to be an ideal terrain for this and other Motorsport epics. On the distinct route of the Sardegna Rally Raid Candidate Event (RRCE), Dakar motorcycles and the twin-cylinders of the new era beloved by enthusiasts will race, alongside cars that are offspring of the Dakar and World Championship Regulations, meaning up to the impressive T1 Ultimate.
One for all. The Sardegna Rally Raid RRCE motorcycle arena already has its headline clash. It’s the challenge between the twin-cylinder of the moment and the single-cylinder designed and built for the Dakar. The aces take the field. On the Aprilia Tuareg of the official GCorse team, Jacopo Cerutti, the dominator of the national and world category scene in recent seasons. On the Husqvarna 450 Rally of Team Solarys, Paolo Lucci, the strongest Italian in the “Dakar” contingent. The pleasure of racing in Sardinia suggests raising the bar even further. Cerutti has chosen to race with the standard version of the Tuareg, Lucci to ride the motorcycle that Tommaso Montanari rode in the last Dakar (who will be on the other side, Motorally and Raid TT, to “spy” on his colleague).
Go ahead. For those who, in turn, want to take up the challenge leading to the super trophy of the Sardegna Rally Raid Candidate Event, there is still a “last minute” possibility (that’s the right word to use!).
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
