Confirmed
Former WRC runner-up Alex Fiorio dies aged 61
Italian rally driver Alex Fiorio, who finished runner-up in the 1989 World Rally Championship, has died at 61 after a cancer battle.
The motorsport world is mourning the passing of Alessandro “Alex” Fiorio, the Italian rally driver who achieved notable success in the World Rally Championship during the late 1980s. Fiorio, who battled cancer for several months, died at the age of 61. His family confirmed the news of his death on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Alex Fiorio was born on March 10, 1965, and his career was deeply intertwined with the sport through his father, Cesare Fiorio, a prominent figure in motorsport who managed Lancia's rally operations and served as sporting director for Ferrari's Formula 1 team.
Early Career and WRC Debut
Fiorio began his WRC journey in 1986, competing with a Jolly Club Fiat Uno Turbo. The following season, he moved to a Lancia Delta HF, securing the Group N title and his first WRC outright points finish by placing seventh at Rallye Sanremo. This period marked his emergence as a talent to watch within the rallying community. His connection to Lancia would prove pivotal in his career, as the manufacturer provided the machinery for his most significant achievements.
Peak Performance in the WRC
The years 1988 and 1989 represented the pinnacle of Fiorio's WRC career. In 1988, driving for the Jolly Club Lancia team, he secured five podium finishes, including second-place results in four events, concluding the season third in the championship behind factory Lancia drivers Miki Biasion and Finland’s Markku Alén. His breakthrough first WRC podium came at the Monte Carlo Rally.
Fiorio further elevated his performance in 1989, finishing as the championship runner-up to his Lancia stablemate Biasion. That season saw him achieve four more podiums, including second-place finishes in Argentina and on home soil in Italy. Despite reaching the podium on multiple occasions throughout his career, a coveted outright WRC event victory eluded him.
Post-Lancia and Other Endeavours
Following his successful tenure with Lancia, Fiorio transitioned to Ford in 1991, driving a Sierra RS Cosworth. However, he was unable to replicate the consistent podium finishes he had achieved with Lancia. While a WRC win remained elusive, he found considerable success in the European Rally Championship, claiming six event victories, with his final triumph occurring in 1998 at the Rally of Turkey in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth.
Beyond rallying, Fiorio also explored other areas of motorsport. In the early 2000s, he transitioned to motorcycle racing, serving as team principal for Honda Benetton Playlife Racing in the 125cc World Championship. During his leadership, the team secured a manufacturers' world championship title. Fiorio remained involved in the rally scene until his cancer diagnosis was revealed in June. He is survived by his parents, Cesare and Francesca, his brother Cristiano, sister Giorgia, wife Oxana, and daughters Mariapaola and Francesca. His legacy in rallying remains significant, particularly for his contributions to Lancia's golden era and his consistent challenge to the sport's elite.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- RallyJournalrallyjournal.com
- Motorsport.commotorsport.com
