Di Palma Controls Rally Valli Ossolane as Podium Fight Delivers Intensity

Report by Gabor Bajnoczki

17 June 2026

Alpine Roads of Chablais

The 62nd Rally Valli Ossolane once again proved why it is one of the standout asphalt events in Italy, combining demanding mountain stages in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola region with a spectacular atmosphere throughout the weekend.

Run over nine special stages, the rally quickly developed into a precision-driven contest. From the opening kilometres, Giuseppe Di Palma and co-driver Roberto Mometti took control in their #5 Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, setting the pace and managing the rally from the front.

Di Palma built his advantage during the opening loop and never looked back, delivering a controlled performance to secure victory by just under 30 seconds after a clean and consistent run across both days.

The fight for the podium

Behind him, the fight for the remaining podium positions provided most of the weekend’s tension. Marco Signor and Daniele Michi secured second place in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, while Corrado Pinzano and Mauro Turati completed the podium in third after a close battle that lasted throughout the event.

Further back, Davide Caffoni and Mauro Grossi finished fourth, once again the leading local crew at their home rally, ahead of Alessandro Re and Daniel Pozzi in fifth.

Rally Valli Ossolane Stages

The stages offered a classic Valli Ossolane mix: narrow, technical forest roads combined with faster, flowing sections where commitment and precision were equally important. Small mistakes proved costly, making consistency a decisive factor across the event.

However, as always in Ossola, the atmosphere was one of the defining features of the rally.

Thousands of spectators lined the mountain roads, especially on the Cannobina and Fomarco stages, creating natural amphitheatres in the hillsides. The proximity of the fans to the action turned the event into a full-scale rally spectacle from start to finish.

Organisationally, the event ran smoothly, with strong stage management and a clear focus on safety while maintaining accessibility for fans across the route.

For many, the 2026 edition will be remembered less for individual stage times and more for its overall intensity: a fast, technical asphalt rally delivered in front of one of the most passionate crowds of the season.

Di Palma’s commanding win, the tight battle for the podium and the outstanding atmosphere once again wrote a strong chapter in the history of Rally Valli Ossolane.

On a personal note, it was an incredibly enjoyable and impressive event for me as well, and I will definitely be back next year.


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