Jacopo Cerutti has made the 2027 Africa Eco Race his main comeback target, although recovery from a serious injury is proving slower and more difficult than expected. The crash happened in July during a special stage of the Ro Rally in Romania, when a car suddenly appeared in his path. Cerutti suffered a serious injury to one knee, while the tibia and fibula of his other leg were fractured.

He underwent surgery in Romania and then returned home to continue treatment and physiotherapy. More than three months on, the rehabilitation remains painful and is demanding more time. The injury has effectively ended his current racing season, while the prolonged wait is also taking an emotional toll. Cerutti is described as having better days when progress is visible and harder days when the delay becomes difficult to bear.

The target remains, but the terms may change

Cerutti nevertheless remains highly confident that he will line up for the 2027 Africa Eco Race. He does not assume that he will arrive in peak physical condition, and accepts that the rally may require a different approach. That is a shift from his original plan: before the injury, he wanted to sustain the exceptionally competitive level he had shown with the Aprilia 660 Rally. His return will therefore have to follow the pace of rehabilitation rather than simply the demands of the racing calendar.