Ciocco Rally – finally some good news

As somebody wrote on a motorsports forum – “Ciocco Rally – Paradise – nice weather, great cars and smiling faces… What else do you need to have a great rally?” How about a clean up at the end ? The 3rd Ciocco 12 Hour Rally ended recently with Massimo Gasparotto and Alberto Bordin outright winners in their Citroen Xsara WRC. As regular readers of barganews might be aware, we have not been what could be called fans of the Ciocco Rally. In the past we have complained on this site about the noise levels, the danger of rally cars using public roads and above all the mess that is left behind once the Rally moves on.

Two years ago we wrote a couple of article pointing out that what was needed was a clear up operation to restore the valley to its original condition before the rally. That article can be read here An even more irate article (here) appeared a week later stating that many places were still littered with beer bottles, rubbish and the metres and metres of plastic tape used to direct the drivers along the correct routes. The rally was finished, the drivers, cars, mechanics, journalists and supporters had all returned home but their rubbish still remained. 7 days later, most of the rubbish is still there, although some of it has been moved out of sight – it had now been dumped in the stream.

So, it came as a nice surprise this afternoon when the award winning barganews photographer O’Connor took a tour of the route that the 3rd Ciocco 12 Hour Rally had used and came back with a smiling face and no images of empty beer bottles, plastic tape or litter. The only evidence that he could find of the Rally ever taking place was some serious tyre marks left on some of the corners as the rally cars braked before entering the curves.

Good news hardly ever makes the news. Its always the bad news the gets the front page so it is nice every now and again to report on something positive.

Well done Ciocco Rally.