When the Trapani countryside transforms into a high-speed motorsport laboratory this July, scale and strategy will collide on roads carved through history. The third edition of the Rally Valle del Belice arrives bearing a historic benchmark: 59 total crews registered, marking the highest participation figure since the event’s inception under the joint stewardship of the Automobile Club Trapani and the Sporting Club Partanna. Amidst this expanded grid, Eros Di Prima’s Island Motorsport squad—operating in partnership with Tempo srl—stands out by sheer mass alone, deploying a 12-car armada split across modern and historic classifications.
For an event packing 11 special stages and over 72 competitive kilometers into a tight weekend format, the logistical and tactical demands on team management are immense. Saturday's early shakedown and opening two stages around Gibellina establish an immediate baseline before Sunday’s demanding loop of nine trials—repeated across three distinct routes traversing Belice, Cassaro, and the stark visual geometry of the Cretto di Burri. On surfaces historically known for punishing low-grip conditions and slippery asphalt, managing tyre wear and mechanical attrition becomes just as vital as raw pace.
The Modern Vanguard and Historic Spearheads
Leading the modern contingent under the Island Motorsport banner is Francesco Di Giorgio, piloting a Peugeot 208 Rally4 fielded by Ferrara Motors. Di Giorgio, affectionately dubbed the sindaco sprint,
carries proven regional credentials into the weekend: an eighth-place absolute finish at the 2004 inaugural edition alongside a fresh podium secured in April at his home rally, the Rally Valle del Sosio. This weekend, he shares the cockpit with co-driver Lella Rappazzo.
Across the historical spectrum—where machines bridge decades of rallying evolution—attention fixates on Giuseppe Termine. Making his debut on the notoriously selettivi asfalti of the Belice territory, the Ribera native anchors his campaign aboard a Porsche 911 Carrera RS of the 2nd Grouping, partnered by Sergio Musso. Termine enters the weekend holding the provisional championship lead in the 4th Zone TRZ standings with 56 points, shadowed closely by Avara at 53 and Rizzuto at 42. Securing a strong result in Trapani serves a dual purpose: consolidating regional supremacy and laying an unassailable foundation for the title chase.
The Supporting Ranks and Class Warfare
Beyond the outright championship contenders, the Island Motorsport garage is packed with internal class rivalries and multi-generational entries. In the 3rd Grouping, family pride takes center stage as Rosario and Alfredo Altopiano step into an Opel Ascona 400. They face fierce division benchmarks, including Gandolfo Placa and Mario Alessi in an Opel Ascona RS, who directly square off against the Opel Kadett GTE driven by brothers Giuseppe and Gianmarco Amato.
Additional depth arrives via Francesco Salomone Dongarrà paired with Angelo De Salvo in a Volkswagen Golf GTI, the evergreen A/112 Abarth of brothers Luigi and Giovanni Marino, and the pairings of Saverio Falco with Alessandro Catania (Volkswagen Golf GTI) alongside Angelo Capraro and Calogero Calderone (Fiat 127). Completing the 4th Grouping roster are Island vice-president Fulvio Garajo alongside Vincenzo Giambertoni in a Renault 5 GT Turbo, Sebastiano Ribaudo with Paola Marino in an Opel Corsa GSI, and Giovanni Bonafede with Flavia Vizzari aboard a compact Seat Marbella.
| Crew | Vehicle | Category / Class |
|---|---|---|
| Francesco Di Giorgio - Lella Rappazzo | Peugeot 208 Rally4 | Modern (Ferrara Motors) |
| Giuseppe Termine - Sergio Musso | Porsche 911 Carrera RS | Historic (2nd Grouping) |
| Rosario Altopiano - Alfredo Altopiano | Opel Ascona 400 | Historic (3rd Grouping) |
| Fulvio Garajo - Vincenzo Giambertoni | Renault 5 GT Turbo | Historic (4th Grouping) |
| Sebastiano Ribaudo - Paola Marino | Opel Corsa GSI | Historic (4th Grouping) |
Strategic Outlook and Tactical Demands
The operational landscape of the Rally Valle del Belice heavily favors crews who balance aggression with precise car placement. Past editions—such as the 2025 historic iteration won by Antonio Di Lorenzo and Franco Cardella in a Porsche 911 Carrera RS—demonstrated how easily high-powered rear-wheel-drive machines can come undone on glass-slick tarmac. Di Lorenzo famously noted the constant battle to avoid concluding in a wall
due to the deceptive nature of the regional asphalt.
For Termine, Di Giorgio, and the wider 12-crew stable, success will not stem from outright speed alone, but from survival through the nine Sunday stages. As local municipal administrations and the Trapani Automobile Club lock down safety protocols across Partanna, Gibellina, Santa Ninfa, Salaparuta, Poggioreale, and Montevago, the stage is set for a grueling technical examination where consistency will ultimately crown the victors.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- Riccardo original
- La redazione 02 original
- Redazione Motori original
- Giuseppe Di Gesù original
- Comunicati Stampa original
