Remembering Alex Fiorio: 1965-2026, Italian Rally Legend

Some meetings are unforgettable. At Penmachno in 1990, during the Mobil1 Rally Challenge, I saw him standing before me. Alex Fiorio, with his Lancia-Martini overalls tied around his waist, a white Martini Racing t-shirt, and those trademark shades, was pouring himself a coffee. I could only stare, almost in disbelief. How could one person look so cool? It was a question that haunted me.

Twelve years later, at Raglan on the first morning of Rally New Zealand in 2002, we met again. I reminded him of our first encounter in the middle of Wales. Predictably, he had no clue. But the moment I mentioned the Mobil1 Rally Challenge, his eyes lit up, and the stories flowed. That conversation only confirmed his status as a bona fide legend.

Sad news came on Monday: Alex Fiorio passed away at the age of 61. As the son of Cesare Fiorio, the mastermind behind Lancia's World Rally Championship success who later led Ferrari's Formula 1 squad, motorsport was in his blood. But his path began on ski slopes, where his need for speed first found an outlet before cars called.

Baca JugaMengenang Alex Fiorio: 1965-2026, Legenda Reli Italia

Fiorio made his rally debut without his father's knowledge. He secretly entered an ice race and won. Cesare, reading about it in the newspaper, summoned him to his office. They made a deal: Alex could try some Italian events in a Fiat Uno, but if he wasn't impressive, it would all stop. Alex won almost everything he entered.

Rather than joining the factory Lancia team, Cesare directed his son to Jolly Club. "What could I do? I couldn't put him straight to the Lancia team because of his name... my name. We decided he could go to Jolly Club, that was the right place for him. But I felt it was difficult, I think he deserved a place in the [factory] team," Cesare recalled years later.

Alex Fiorio arrived in the WRC during a transition period. Group B was nearly over, and Group A hadn't yet captured the imagination of rally fans worldwide. His debut season in 1987 was historic: he clinched the inaugural FIA Group N Cup with three wins from six starts in a showroom-class Lancia Delta. A year later, in a Group A Delta, he finished second at Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Fiorio was more than just a son of a famous name. He proved himself on gravel and asphalt across Europe, even without a full factory drive. His legacy lives on: a charismatic driver who conquered rallies with a relaxed style, a wide smile, and undeniable speed. Farewell, Alex.