Abel Jurado Palacio is the new King of Tandalò

Two days of hillclimbing on Buddusò’s gravel roads. Abel Jurado is the new King of Tandalò

The five heats of the Tandalò Hillclimb saw gravel specialists go head-to-head, with Italians and Spaniards leading the way. The race began on Saturday morning with the shakedown, on a very damp surface that Bemoter had carefully prepared in the weeks leading up to the event. Three heats took place on Saturday, followed by the fourth and fifth special stages on Sunday, and the final Manscione, which crowned Abel Jurado Palacio the new King of Tandalò.

Saturday: In the Italian Dirt Track Speed Championship, Kartcross category, Christian Tiramani (Planet Kart cross K3) led the field, followed by Simone Firenze (Semog Bravo Sport) and Marcello Gallo (kartcross Life Live). In the Junior Buggy category, Mario Masala (kartcross Yacar) came out on top. Natale Casalboni led the Tax category in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX. In the Super Buggy category, reigning Italian champion Davide Casarin (Hosek Ford 2300T) led the field, followed by Emanuele Consoli (Jvdc2x1000 Suzuki), with Dino Semenzato (Romsport01) in third place. Stefano Visentini (Buggy Elektra BMW 1300) led the Buggy 1600 category, followed by Alessandro Gizzi (Peterautosport Suzuki). In Group 1, Pierpaolo Caputo (Peugeot 205Rally) led the field, followed by Andrea Tonoli (Punto 2000). At the end of the day’s Italian Off-Road Speed Championship, Duilio Lunardi (Can-am) was the fastest, followed by Ivano Nicoletta (Peugeot 205 T20) and Luca Pagani (Polaris). In the Atipica Sperimentale event, Spaniard Javier Ramilo was fastest in his Yacar kart cross, followed by Fabrizio Marrone and Francesco Fresu in their Peugeot 208 R5, and fellow Spaniard Abel Jurado in his Yacar kart cross. Former Italian WRC driver Gigi Galli also won Special Stage 3.

Sunday: under a grey sky but on a perfect track, the final stage of the race got underway.

On the first run-up of the day, Heat 4, Gigi Galli topped the Atipiche Sperimentali class, bringing his talent and experience to the fore on the slippery surface. Claudio Esposto led the Off-Road Speed class, while Marcello Gallo topped the Dirt Track Speed class as he prepared to defend his 2019 King of Tandalò title.

The rain shook things up a little in the fifth and final heat, changing the standings. Abel Jurado Palacio won the Atipica Sperimentale heat and the event overall. Simone Firenze won the Dirt Track Speed heat and the event overall, followed by Christian Tiramani and Gallo. Emanuele Lagrotteria and Emanuele Gaggero won the fifth Off-Road Speed heat and the event overall.

Once the races were over, the most eagerly awaited moment of the weekend arrived: the crowning of the 2021 King of Tandalò. Only the top 30 drivers across the various categories qualified for the final climb, which would determine the best driver of the 2021 event. In the one-shot final climb, the Manscione, everyone gave it their all. This year, Spanish driver Abel Jurado once again came out on top in his Ya-Car Kart Cross. His time was not the fastest of the event, as the rain during the break had left the surface very slippery, but it was faster than everyone else’s.

The organizers were delighted by Michela Imperio’s success among the co-drivers, with Daniele Griotti at the wheel. It was a spectacular link between what Nicola left us and what the remarkable young Michela has so perfectly inherited: talent, kindness, charm and great dedication.

We would also like to thank our partners Mirtò, Geasar, Grimaldi, Nieddu and Bemoter for their support, as well as the Sardinia Region, the Municipalities of Buddusò, Alà dei Sardi, Pattada, Nule, Osidda and Padru, and the Monte Acuto Mountain Community.

The Hillclimb organizers would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Marrone family, who have helped make the event a success over the past five years.

drivEvent and Tandalò Motorsport Press Office