The fight for the victory in the 25th Rally Isla de Los Volcanes began with the celebration of the super special 'Ciudad de Arrecife'. The show section recovered by Club Deportivo Evesport brought together hundreds of spectators in the surroundings of the Arrecife Fairgrounds. Diego Domínguez and Rogelio Peñate conquered everyone with a driving style that combined skidding with effectiveness in terms of the stopwatch.
The world championship teams invited to participate in the Lanzarote event demonstrated their level at the first opportunity. If the Paraguayan and the Canarian go to bed as leaders, Mads Ostberg and Patrik Barth do so only two tenths behind. The Nordics, who at noon had dominated both the Shakedown and the Qualifying Stage, will begin Saturday's day installed in the second position of the general standings.
The provisional podium was completed by Yeray Lemes and Aitor Cambeiro with the Hyundai i20 N Rally2 of Terra Training Motorsport. Just over four seconds separate the conejeros from the highest privilege. Fourth place is owned by the surprising Alejandro Rodríguez and Miguel Ángel Rodríguez. Their inexperience on land did not prevent them from extracting the maximum potential from their Ford Fiesta Rally3.
The current champions of the Spanish Gravel Rally Cup, Juan Carlos Quintana and Yeray Mujica, are fifth with the Skoda Fabia R5. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo representation is led by Esteban Feo and Jesús Alonso from sixth place. The top ten is closed by four other vehicles of the Japanese brand, those driven by Javier Sosa-Javier Fragiel, Borja Pérez-Rubén Pérez, Aníbal Hernández-Jonathan Hernández and Iván Marrero-Claudia Lemes.
With regard to the 2 Wheel Drive section, Cristian Calderín and Verónica Tejera are running first with the veteran Volkswagen Golf GTI. 'Toñín' Suárez and Jorge Cedrés, at the controls of a Ford Fiesta R2T, are their closest rivals.
Highlight the great presence of public in this appetizer with the show section of Arrecife, which an hour later also enjoyed the presentation of all the teams on the ramp installed in the Parque Islas Canarias, where each of them received the flag of departure from the authorities present and the presidents of the FCA and the FALP, in addition to the directors of the organization.
Previously, the best classified in the qualifity -all four-wheel drive cars participated- of Puerto del Carmen chose the starting order, surprising Mads Ostberg by choosing a delayed 12th starting position. Immediately afterwards it was Yeray Lemes' turn to choose and he also opted to start late, in 11th place. And so on, with Diego Domínguez in tenth position. With little room for choice, Aníbal Hernández will have the dubious honor of opening the track this Saturday in the rally.
