The 57th Rallye Rías Baixas, belonging to the Spanish Rally Super Championship, has returned this weekend to the top of Spanish motorsport, since it was eligible for the Spanish Rally Championship in 2015. An unprecedented event on the calendar of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup, which has marked the crossing of the equator within the one-make cup organized by Toyota Caetano Auto, Toyota Spain and MSI.
The rally began on Thursday with the ceremonial start in the center of Vigo, before the drivers took part in the first timed stage on Friday afternoon.

On this occasion, and against the drivers who started as favorites at the wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris RZ Cup, it was José Lamela (Breogán Group) who started setting the best time in TS1, although Josep Bassas was only 4.4 seconds behind. Bruno Bulacia (CSM Automoció), leader of the championship and who had just won in Lisbon, was third, 4.7 seconds behind.

Behind, Javi Villa (Asturhíbrido), one of the fastest drivers on tarmac this season, set the best time in TS3, although José Lamela (Grupo Breogán), with a new best time in TS4, became the fastest driver on Friday, leaving Josep Bassas (IPPON Motor Vallés) 14.7 seconds behind and Javi Villa (Asturhíbrido) in third place, 18.1 seconds behind.

Further back, Bruno Bulacia (CSM Automoció), fourth so far, and Pedro Lago (Toyota Caetano Auto), fifth, maintained a nice fight and finished the first day with a 1.6-second gap. Miguel Campos (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing), José Mulero (Labasa) and Manuel Martins, closed the classification. Iván Raña had to retire due to an issue.

On Saturday morning, José Lamela (Labasa) maintained the pace of the previous day and won a new scratch. Javi Villa (Asturhíbrido) had a problem and had to retire in the second stage, which allowed Bruno Bulacia (CSM Automoció) to take third position, which he would keep until the end of the rally.

Josep Bassas (IPPON Motor Vallés) scored a new scratch in TS8, which put him at the top of the classification. However, in the next stage he lost more than 22 seconds due to a problem and gave the lead to Lamela again, and both drivers reached the last special stage only 2.7 seconds apart. Finally, in this last stage, Bassas was the fastest and claimed his first victory in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup.

Pedro Lago (Toyota Caetano Auto), who until the sixth stage was fighting with Bruno Bulacia (CSM Automoció), was penalized in TS7 with five seconds, staying in a comfortable fourth position, followed by Miguel Campos (5th). Manuel Martins, who was also penalized with five seconds, finally finished in sixth position among the GR Yaris RZ.

Thus, the championship is still led by Bruno Bulacia (108 points), while Javi Villa and Miguel Campos are tied in second and third positions, with 72 points.

The next round of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup will be the Rallye Villa de Llanes, on September 20 and 21, which will be the last event of the year on tarmac.