Gigi Galli, King of the Record at the 7th Hill Climb on Terra di Tandalò, Nicola Imperio Memorial

The Livigno native took a commanding victory, clocking an impressive time of 3:07.74 in the Kia Rio RX. Pepe Lopez and Umberto Scandola put on a show in the Hyundai i20 R5, while Spaniard Gil Alfonso Ventin stood out in the kart-cross race. Quirico Fundoni was the fastest Sardinian driver, while Valentino Ledda had some bad luck in the finale, but he won the Under 25s.

November 12, 2023 – Gigi Galli wins the 7th Tandalò Hill Climb Memorial Nicola Imperio. The Livigno native, already a star in the World Rally Championship and still among Italy's most respected drivers, has repeated his success in Italy's most spectacular hillclimb on gravel after his 2022 success, adding his name to the Roll of Honor and once again wearing the crown of King of Tandalò after setting a new course record of 3'07.74. A top-notch performance at the wheel of the powerful Kia Rio RX, which saw him delight the large crowd amidst drifts and extreme controls, an approach that allowed him not only to win the race and the title of King, but also to break the 3-minute-and-10-second barrier for the first time, posting a monstrous time that lowered his own record set a year ago by a full 7 seconds. "I'm really happy," Galli commented upon arrival. "I knew from the first time I came here that it was possible to break the 3'10 mark, and this year I gave it my all. Thanks to the guys on my team." together with whom we have developed an extraordinary car, to Pirelli and to Tandalò Motorsport who once again put on an excellent event”. Galli also won the #correreperunrespiro Trophy, made possible thanks to the collaboration with Rachele Somaschini's project in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation. Behind him, again in the King of Tandalò classification, there was no shortage of sparks. Umberto Scandola and Manuele Stella, in the Hyundai i20 R5 that Scandola had driven in 2020 and 2021, rediscovered for the occasion thanks to Gino Rally Invest, finished second by just one thousandth of a second with the rally category record set in 3'15.286. Spanish ace Pepe Lopez, navigated by Michela Imperio, completed the podium of the final manscione in 3'15.287 but consoled himself with the victory in the rally category of the Atipica and Experimental race. The Spaniard and the Veronese driver went toe-to-toe, pushing the Hyundai i20 R5 they shared to the limit in a battle that thrilled the crowd. Returning to the King of Tandalò's large deck, Spaniard Gil Alfonso Ventin, in a Yacar 600, finished fourth and first in the kart-cross class. He flexed his muscles in his competition debut, consistently leading many of the previous drivers. Quirico Fundoni finished fifth, the first local driver, with an excellent time of 3'21.885. It was a shame for Valentino Ledda, who had to stop due to mechanical problems on the large deck, just as he did last year with a puncture. The seventeen-year-old Sardinian, buoyed by the cheering of his home crowd, had finished a strong sixth overall and second in the kart-cross class in the Atypical and Experimental race, but was unable to repeat his feat in the ascent to the King of Tandalò, where he likely would have continued his weekend-long battle with Fundoni. The awareness of a great result and the victory in the Under 25 category remained. In the other categories of the Atypical and Experimental race, which drew up the rankings of the four best of the five climbs held before the Manscione, Slovakian driver Lea Horniakova (Alfa Racing AR-002 Junior Buggy) performed well in the women's and dirt speed categories; Luca Righelli and Andrea Bonassi in a Suzuki Samurai Sierra in the off-road speed category. Salvatore Sanna drove his Fiat Uno to victory in the Slalom category, while in the Rally category, behind Lopez and Scandola, the Budduso-based crew of Stefano Marrone and Daniele Canu (Skoda Fabia) deserves a special mention. Luca Sanna won the Historic Car category with his Fiat 127, while Team Autoservice Sport won the Sardinian team derby, ahead of Tandalò Motosport, who finished in second place. Third place for the Venetian Vimotorsport. In the race valid for the Italian Off-Road Speed Championship, a narrow victory went to Duilio Lonardi and Stefania Paganelli with their Rotax Maverick X3. The crew that was considered the favorite did not disappoint expectations and preceded Luca Pagani on a Bombardier Maverick X3, who finished 25 seconds behind, and the acrobatic Claudio Esposto on his Polaris ZRZ 1000. "An unforgettable edition," commented Gigi Satta, President of Tandalò Motorsport. "If the sporting spectacle was unparalleled, it was also unparalleled in terms of the setting. Buddusò responded once again with enthusiasm for the starting ceremony, the public turned out in large numbers both Saturday and Sunday, and the crowd at the finish filled us with pride. It was an honor to have so many drivers of this caliber, I believe the event has taken a further leap in quality, and for this I must thank first and foremost the Region of Sardinia, the Municipality of Buddusò, all our partners, and last but not least, our tireless work team. We set up a high-level course, the surface did not deteriorate, the drivers greatly appreciated this aspect, which I emphasize is One of our strengths, where we spend most of our energy before, during, and after the event. Thanks to everyone who decided to be there, and see you at the 2024 Tandalò Hill Climb.