Published on: 21/10/2025 Updated on: 21/10/2025
Talent alone is not enough. Dedication, teamwork and a solid support network are needed.
Matteo Bernini and Lorenzo Mattucci, two young promises of Italian motorsport who have managed to impose themselves on the international scene by winning the Junior title of the Croatian Rally Championship with one race to spare.
An extraordinary result that confirms the steady growth of this crew and the effectiveness of the ACI Team Italia project, a hothouse of talent supported by the Federation and technical partners who believe in the future of Italian rallying.
Victory in Croatia: a triumph worth double
The Croatian Rally, the penultimate round of the Croatian Championship and also valid as the final round of theERC (European Rally Championship), represented a challenge at the highest level.
For Bernini and Mattucci, the objective was clear: to gain experience, maintain the leadership and bring home precious points in view of the championship.
Mission accomplished.
The Italian duo, aboard Team Bernini's Pirelli-tyred Hyundai i20 R5, finished with a perfect performance that earned them victory in the national series and the mathematical capture of the Junior title.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- 🥇 1st in the Croatian Championship
- 🏁 4th in the international ranking
- 🚗 31st overall in the ERC race.
A result that establishes Bernini, just 16 years old, as one of the most promising youngsters on the international rally scene.
The value of team and support
Every victory comes from a choral effort.
Behind Bernini-Mattucci's performance is a support network made up of technicians, families, sponsors and motorsport professionals who share the same passion for competition.
The crew wanted to publicly thank those who believed in their journey:
"Thanks to everyone who supports us, the Federation, our sponsors and our families," Bernini said after the race.
Also crucial was the contribution of Andrea Nucita, driver and tutor at the ACI Sport Federal School, who supported the two young men in Croatia, offering technical and strategic advice.
As Lorenzo Mattucci tells:
"Special thanks to Andrea Nucita, who supported us throughout the race with great professionalism."
Next goal: the overall title
After clinching the Junior title with one race to spare, Bernini and Mattucci are not stopping.
The focus is already on the last round of the season, the Međimurje Rally (October 24-26), where the crew aims to complete a historic feat: winning the Croatian Championship Absolute title.
A few points separate the two from the finish line, but the determination is that of great champions:
"We want to end the season as leaders," Bernini reiterated.
Youth, talent and passion: the new generation of Italian rallying
Bernini and Mattucci's success is a strong signal for the entire Italian rally movement: confirmation that passion, method and the right support can take you far, even beyond national borders.
MA-FRA, which has always been close to the world of competition and the development of young talent, celebrates this triumph as a testament to the values that sport and business share: determination, precision and team spirit.
