Alex Fiorio, a standout competitor in rally racing, has passed away after a battle with stomach cancer. He was 61.
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An Italian by birth, Fiorio enjoyed considerable success in rally during the 1980s and 1990s. He won the 1987 WRC Group N title while controlling a Lancia, and then he finished top three in the 1988 and 1989 World Rally Championship seasons while battling the biggest names in the sport.
Fiorio never won the outright title in WRC, but he continued to contend for strong finishes. He also secured six victories in the European Rally Championship after switching manufacturers and driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth.
This diagnosis is one that Fiorio had announced on Instagram. He posted on June 8 and confirmed that he had stomach cancer.
Alex Fiorio, the 1987 WRC Group N champion and son of former Lancia team boss Cesare, has died aged 61 following a battle with cancer.
DirtFish sends its condolences to the Fiorio family and his friends. pic.twitter.com/EvxoSIggOJ
— DirtFish (@DirtFishRally) August 17, 2026
"So many of you have written to me: 'Alex, you look well, you've lost weight...' I believe you - I have cancer... I was diagnosed three days ago," he wrote.
"I have cancer of the stomach, of the pylorus... I'll fight. I'm strong and I'll fight. I don't want messages of comfort, I just want to let you know that we probably won't be in touch for a few days."
Fiorio changed sports in the early 2000s. He remained involved in the rally racing scene, but he began managing the Honda Benetton Playlife Racing team of the MotoGP world championship.
It was during Fiorio's tenure that this team won the manufacturers' championship.
"On behalf of the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL), we would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Alex Fiorio," the ATCL said in a statement on social media.
"Alex Fiorio will always hold a special place in the history of Lebanese motorsport as the winner of the 1994 Rally of Lebanon. His remarkable career, exceptional talent, and dedication to the sport left an unforgettable mark on the international rally community.
"We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family, his friends, and the entire Automobile Club d'Italia family during this difficult time."
