Dani Berdomás and Brais Mirón (Grupo Breogán) became the fourth team to win the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup.
The Rally Reino de León has had the highest registration of drivers within the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup to date and it has also been one of the most evenly matched races, with several changes of leader throughout the weekend.
Ricardo Costa and Rui Vilaça (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing), who were tied on points in the overall classification with Miguel Campos and Nuno Rodrigues da Silva (Inside Motor), set the best time in the stage that opened the rally on Friday. A stage that revealed the toughness of the terrain, so characteristic of this event.
On Saturday morning, the weather was very changeable and rain showed up in the first special stages. After the neutralization of the first stage, Miguel Campos (Inside Motor) set the best time in the second of the day, showing his intentions to push for a new victory.
But it was Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció), who reappeared in León after his victory in Galicia, who, despite not feeling too comfortable in the León stages, would take the lead at the end of the second section, only 2 seconds ahead of Ricardo Costa (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing). However, his lead would be fleeting, as he later had to retire, as did Miguel Campos (Inside Motor). The youngest driver on the entry list, Oriol Comabella (Motor Club Sabadell), who was contesting his first rally in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup, also failed to finish.
Dani Berdomás (Breogán Group), with a more conservative pacing in the early hours of the morning, would change strategy in the afternoon to seek a victory he was struggling for, despite being one of the fastest drivers in the Cup. Moreover, in the TC B-2 he set the fourth best absolute time, ahead of rivals with more powerful cars, showing the potential of the Toyota GR Yaris.
This victory allows Berdomás to keep his title chances in the first edition of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup. The Galician driver has become the fourth different winner in the four rallies of this innovative single-brand cup, highlighting the existing equality among the participants.
Meanwhile, Fran Cima and Juan Luis García (Asturhíbrido), have performed a rally from less to more to reach the second place on the podium, thanks to the best time set in the penultimate stage, one of the hardest of the rally. He also scored the show section held in the centre of the city of León, thus adding an extra point that keeps him in third place in the overall standings. Third finished Ricardo Costa (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing), the only driver so far who has always been in the top positions. This regularity is enough for him to become the outstanding leader of the championship.
Rubén Muñoz (CSM Automoció) finished fourth, scoring his best result. Germán Gómez was fifth and Víctor Calisto closed the Cup classification.
The Rally Reino de León was the last of the gravel rallies that will be followed by the four asphalt rallies, the next one being the Rally Viana do Castelo, on July 8 and 9, in Portugal. Before the rally all the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup, drivers will carry out group tests to try out different improvements that could be implemented for next season.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION TGR IBERIAN CUP – Rally Reino de León |
|||
DRIVER |
CO-DRIVER |
TEAM |
TIME |
Daniel Berdomás |
Brais Mirón |
Grupo Breogán |
1:05:30.700
|
Fran Cima |
Juan Luis García |
Asturhíbrido |
+ 00:09.800 |
Ricardo Costa |
Rui Vilaça |
Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing |
+ 00:31.100
|
Rubén Muñoz |
Joan Codinachs |
CSM Automoció |
+ 05:56.500
|
Germán Gómez Fortes |
Jovino Peláez Fernández |
Escudería Surco
|
+ 15:31.100 |
Víctor Calisto |
Márcio Calisto |
Inside Motor |
+ 17:50.400
|
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