Slovenian Driver Boštjan Avbelj Wins Historic Italian Rally Championship Race

Slovenian rally driver Boštjan Avbelj, alongside co-driver Damjan Andrejka, achieved a historic victory by winning his first race in the Italian national championship. The pair triumphed at the Rally Due Valli, fulfilling a major goal set for the season and marking one of the most significant successes in the history of Slovenian motorsport.

Driving a Škoda Fabia RS rally2, Avbelj and Andrejka took the lead early on Saturday morning, after five of the thirteen special stages were completed on Friday. They maintained their advantage throughout the day, finishing 14.2 seconds ahead of the reigning champion Andrea Crugnolo, who was driving a Lancia Ypsilon rally2.

The rally featured several notable competitors, including former Formula 1 star Heikki Kovalainen and WRC2 driver Jari Huttunen from Finland. Avbelj's performance at the Rally Due Valli builds on his strong start to the season. He finished fifth in the opening race, Il Ciocco, and secured a third-place finish at the second event, Targa Florio, despite a minor error that led to his retirement in that race.

Avbelj has been competing regularly on Italian circuits for several years, having last appeared on Slovenian soil in 2019. His recent success in Italy includes winning a special stage at the Rome rally, which was part of the European Championship last year. This latest victory at the Rally Due Valli solidifies his position as a top contender in the Italian rally championship and a prominent figure in Slovenian motorsport.