The Las Palmas Provincial Mountain Championship kicked off last Saturday with the thirteenth edition of the Ascent to La Pasadilla, a race that featured the participation of several Lanzarote teams. The first race of the season was won by the conejero Rubén Curbelo at the controls of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, setting the best times in the two official heats that were held. Marcos González was fifth in a race that helped him maintain the pace of competition ahead of the national competition he faces this season.
The Ascent to La Pasadilla was organized by Escudería Telde and featured a timed section of 7.1 kilometers. The drivers registered in the race had a first practice heat and then had to complete two timed heats, with the best time of the two heats counting towards the final classification.
The Lanzarote driver Rubén Curbelo, at the controls of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, dominated the race from start to finish. In the first timed heat he set a time of 3:54.407, beating Iván Armas with the BMW M3 by just over three seconds and Gustavo Bolaños with the Mitsubishi Evo VII by six. Marcos González, driving a Renault Megane, set the fifth best time in this section with a time of 4:07.244.
All the drivers improved their times in the second official heat, with the top positions in the overall standings remaining unchanged. Rubén Curbelo improved his time by two seconds, setting a time of 3:52.101. The rest of the competitors, despite improving their time, were unable to beat the time set by Rubén Curbelo in the first official heat, which reflects the dominance of the Lanzarote driver in this race.
The victory in the XIII Ascent to La Pasadilla went to Rubén Curbelo, who makes an unbeatable start to the Las Palmas Provincial Mountain Championship. The podium was completed with second place for Iván Armas and third position for Gustavo Bolaños. Marcos González had to settle for fifth position overall, with the race helping him not to lose his competitive rhythm.
