Perez claims second in standout performance
Chesterfield rally driver Seb Perez and co-driver Dale Bowen delivered a standout performance at the 2026 Rally Storico Costa Smeralda, a round of the FIA European Historic Rally Championship, securing second overall in FIA classification.
The pair also took a well-deserved third overall in the Italian classification aboard the Amigos Tequila Beer sponsored #6 1975 Lancia Stratos HF GR4 rally car.
The pair made a front running start on Friday, that began with six special stages totalling 60.34 km, featuring the classic loop of Aratena (14.85 km), Monti (7.15 km), and Alà dei Sardi (8.17 km), each run twice.
Drama struck immediately on SS1 Aratena, where early incidents disrupted the running order, but Perez and Bowen quickly settled into a strong rhythm. By the end of the stage, they were 5th overall and 7.9 seconds off the leader.
By the end of SS2 Monti, they were 3rd fastest out of the stage and into 3rd place and maintained the position at the end of SS3 Alà dei Sardi, ready for the stages being re-run
As the leg progressed, they consistently remained among the leading group. Perez was taking advantage of the good weather and dry roads and by the SS6 Alà dei Sardi, they had taken command of the stage, coming through it with the fastest time and leading car to end the day’s work.
They had Maintained a top three overall position by the end of Leg 1, behind Lombardo and Consiglio, By the end of Friday, Perez had firmly established himself in the leading battle, demonstrating both speed and control on the fast Sardinian gravel.
Saturday’s second leg increased the challenge significantly, with 95.68 km of stages including the rally’s longest and most demanding tests, taking in Monti Canu (10.08 km), San Pasquale (13.62 km) and Aglientu (24.14 km), all being run twice
Perez with Bowen reading the pace notes continued their charge with a measured but competitive approach across the longer stages.
By the end of SS7 Monti Canu, they were second overall, finishing the stage in 3rd place, 03 of a second off Lombardo and Consiglio.
SS8 San Pasquale, saw them pile the pressure on the Porsche 911 of Lombardo and Consiglio, finishing only 2.5 seconds off a stage win and maintaining a second place overall.
SS9 Aglientu and SS10 Monti Canu followed and saw them maintain their positions.
By the end of SS11 San Pasquale and the final stage of the rally SS12 Aglientu the pair finished 2nd overall. They showed strong, consistent runs through both passes of Aglientu, the rally’s grueling 24 km test, maintaining position within the leading FIA EHRC contenders throughout the day.
Throughout Perez showed his talent with clean and committed driving across all six stages of Leg 2, avoiding the issues that caught out several rivals. His ability to balance pace with reliability proved decisive over the demanding second leg to take 2nd Overall – FIA European Historic Rally Championship classification and 3rd Overall – Italian Historic Rally Championship classification
Their result marks one of their strongest performances to date in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.