This Thursday officially kicked off the 27th edition of the Rally Isla de los Volcanes-Ciudad de Arrecife Trophy, in a presentation ceremony that took place at the Casa-Museo del Campesino, with the presence of the president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote Oswaldo Betancort and the vice president of the RFEDA, José Vicente Medina, who learned all the details of this event of the Spanish Championship from José Victor Rodríguez, president of the CD. Evesport, organizer of the event.
The most outstanding news was the confirmation of the world rally driver who will get to know the Lanzarote rally of the CERT-Rallycar this year, the Frenchman Pierre-Louis Loubet. His mission will be to continue the winning streak of international drivers from the last editions and for this he will have a Citroen C3 Rally2 from the prestigious Sport&You team. Loubet, 28 years old, will have his compatriot Loris Pascaud as co-driver and was WRC2 world champion in 2019. He is currently an official M-Sport Ford driver in the World Championship.
A promotional video opened the presentation of the RTIV25, in which Víctor Rodríguez reviewed the main events of the program and the structure of the event and thanked the extensive chapter of institutional support and sponsors.
Next, most of the personalities present spoke, starting with the presidents of the FALP and the FCA, Daniel Ponce and Miguel Angel Domínguez, respectively. Héctor Rojas and Marta Marrero also attended on behalf of Naviera Armas-Trasmediterránea and Javier Martín, marketing director of the Cabrera Medina Group (Orvecame and CICAR).
Most of the town councils were represented at the event. Tías by Ismael Cruz as Councilor for Sports, Teguise by the Deputy Mayor Rita Hernández, Arrecife by the Councilor for Sports, Tourism and Commerce Eli Merino and the Councilor for Beaches Davinia Déniz, Yaiza by its mayor Óscar Noda, San Bartolomé by its mayor Isidro Pérez and the councilor Mamadou, Tinajo by its mayor Jesús Machín and also a veteran of Lanzarote motorsport. Finally, the Cabildo of Lanzarote also had Juan Monzón, Councilor for Sports, in addition to its president. The latter stated the hard work that has been carried out in recent years between the organization and the Cabildo officials, so that this rally is as sustainable as possible and in line with quality sporting events, as well as respectful of the island's natural spaces. Shortly after, Oswaldo Betancort had to attend another event on his official agenda and José Vicente Medina would close the round of speeches.
The vice president of the RFEDA reviewed the importance that this Canary and Lanzarote event has for the national entity and how it is growing and improving every season, so he assured that it can aspire to higher levels thanks to its great organizational progression and projection at national and international level. A positive reputation that is already on the lips of many drivers.
This Friday, a promotional campaign of the RTIV25 and awareness of fans and the public will be launched in the motor media, inviting them to follow the rally responsibly. This is in addition to the one that the Canary Islands Federation has been carrying out on safety in all regional events, such as this event that also counts towards the Canary Islands Championship, the Las Palmas Championship and the Clio Trophy Spain de Tierra.
With six days to go before the closing of registrations, there are already almost 40 teams and it is expected to exceed the barrier of 50 participants, thanks to the effort of local drivers and followers of the CERT-Rallycar, who for the most part will not miss the most spectacular rally of the Championship. This year the record in the number of Rally2 type vehicles will be broken with total certainty, between 11 and 13 units are estimated with the data already available.
More activities
We remind you that the dates for this year are from August 7 to 9, with a test that will include previous tests, skakedown and qualifity, a special stage in the Arrecife fairgrounds, presentation of drivers/co-drivers and secret stages spread throughout the island.
In addition, there are other parallel activities planned by the CD. Evesport, such as tourist visits around the island for all foreign teams, simulation of the extraction of the occupants of an accidented competition car with an efficient new system. And also an update and pooling meeting with the officials, commissioners and timekeepers, which will be held this Saturday in Gran Canaria. The others will be in the days prior to the rally in Lanzarote.
