A home victory for the 10th Due Valli Classic, which for the first time was run with the medium regularity formula and which saw the final victory go to Nicola Manzini from Verona, navigated by Cristiano Androvandi from Tuscany in a Lancia Beta Coupè, two excellent interpreters of the speciality: "It is a great satisfaction to win the home race in such a beautiful setting like Piazza Bra," commented Manzini on the podium, "a result achieved also by finishing ahead of two-time European medium regularity champion Paolo Marcattilij.
It was precisely the Milanese driver who was the most serious opponent for the final victory with his Porsche 2.0 T, flanked by Francesco Giammarino, who commented on his race as follows: "I found beautiful trials and a very well organised race, truly a beautiful discovery with challenging and enthralling timed sections."
Closing out the podium of the Due Valli Classic were two other regularity specialists of the calibre of Mauro Argenti and Roberta Amoroso in a Porsche 911 T.
While waiting for the Targa Florio HRR, the second race of the Italian Championship, for the Verona-based race that has abandoned the sport after the introduction of the new regulations, it is a passage that has contributed to igniting a lively debate among the regulars with those who have been able to test this discipline spread throughout Europe in conjunction with rallies and those who, as lovers of the sport, are lashing out against those who, through their more rally-like behaviour, have decreed the limitations introduced.
The first to comment on Facebook was a veteran of road racing (rally, regularity sport, regularity media), Mauro Argentim, who said at the end of the Due Valli:
"Here are my thoughts on the Due Valli in media. In Sport I went for the result and for the pleasure of driving my Porsche on roads closed to traffic. Making 100 driving at the limit in a rally, my pace in the Sport was 70%: this was safe because in the most dangerous, winding or bumpy sections I slowed down and then recovered in the fast sections. I always took care to arrive at the yellow one or two minutes early and I never made it a point of boasting to get there even earlier. So basically, limited risk, driving pleasure, respect for the car. In the Verona average you had to go to the limit in the sections where you were not averaging, with risks for the crew and possible damage to the car, and then go slow in the fast parts and back to the limit in the sections where you were not averaging. I went very fast in those sections, took a bit of a risk (which I don't want to do because otherwise I'd be rallying) and suffered because I 'rubbed' my car too much. This was even more so for those who had slower cars than mine. Hence, more risks and, what's more, without safety equipment from 50% of the participants. To summarise: for those who want to go fast, the average is ideal because for 30% of the tests you have to go at full throttle, while in the fast you have to go slow. Having said that, I really enjoyed the race in Verona, even though the perfect organisation and the prize-giving ceremony in Piazza Bra in front of the Arena with the stage and anthems alone merited participation. To do an average race in (relative) safety, however, you have to make the equipment (roll bars, helmets, suits, etc.) compulsory, as I was told will be done soon from a regulatory point of view. In conclusion, a positive experience, but don't tell me they've abolished Sport because people were going too fast: Sport was abolished because SOME people were going too fast, believing they were rallying, and so they penalised everyone else."
The intervention of the Porsche driver, third overall in the general classification, received positive comments such as that of Marco Bentivogli: "It died because of those 'subjects'. Now all that remains is to adapt." and Diego Coghi: "Congratulations Mauro for the race . I agree 100/100 with what you wrote. It had been a long time since I understood how certain behaviours in a race were allowed.", but also contrary opinions like the one of Ezio Corradin, competing at the Due Valli with Fabio Soldà on a Porsche Carrera RS and fifth overall: "To cry, even if I brought home two cups it's ridiculous, you mustn't register for these events anymore, I feel sorry for the organisers who lose revenue but if there are 0 registrations someone will ask himself some questions. " countered by Francesco Gallo, second in the class up to 2000 in the fourth grouping paired with Maria Rosa Volpi aboard a Simca Sunbeam Ti: "I had fun, I knew what I was getting into, so I accepted all the situations as best I could, if the Campagnolo will be on average I will be there."
In short, 2023 will be the year of comparisons for regular drivers, between medium and sport regularity, while waiting for 2024, which could bring other novelties.
