The 57 Rallye Rías Baixas has returned this weekend to the top of Spanish motorsport, ever since it scored for the Spanish Rally Championship in 2015. Moreover, on this occasion, apart from scoring for the Spanish Rally Superchampionship (S-CER), it also scored for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup.

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.

TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SPAIN

Alejandro Cachón and Borja Rozada arrived at the Rallye Rías Baixas after a four consecutive podium finishes with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. It was the first time the Asturian driver participated in this rally, but, once again, his consistency and ability to adapt was proven by setting the best time in the qualifying stage.

The pair from the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Spain and Teo Martín Motorsport team started the day with the third fastest time in the first stage, but only 3.7 seconds behind the first classified driver. From that moment on, an exciting rivalry for the first place of the rally began. But, in the last stage of the day, Alejandro Cachón scored the scratch to finish the first stage in second position, 2.9 seconds behind the leader, Diego Ruiloba.

Saturday started with two new best times for Alejandro Cachón and Borja Rozada. One of them was the TS+, with which the Asturian driver added the three points that are awarded to the winner of this special stage. Before going through the midday assistance, the difference to the leader was 6.3 seconds.

In the afternoon, the Toyota España driver cut another second and, although in the two remaining special stages he tried to win, he finally finished second in the Galician race, which allows him to add his fifth podium of the season with the GR Yaris Rally2 and to become again the leader of the S-CER, with 163 points, two more than his immediate rival.

The next scoring event for the Spanish Rally Superchampionship will be the Princesa de Asturias, on September 6 and 7, an event where Alejandro Cachón already won in 2022.

TOYOTA GAZOO RACING IBERIAN CUP

The Rallye Rías Baixas, an unprecedented event in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup calendar, has marked the crossing of the equator within the single-brand cup organized by Toyota Caetano Auto, Toyota Spain and MSI.

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.

Alejandro Cachón (DRIVER): “I am very happy with the work done, not only in the Rallye Rías Baixas but in these first five rounds of the season, as we, the team and the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, have been very competitive, both on dirt and tarmac. In addition, this second position has enabled us to regain the championship lead and going into the summer break in the best possible position”.


Borja Rozada (CO-DRIVER): “I think that, up to this point and with so many new things this season, the whole team has worked perfectly well and we have shown that we can fight for the victory in every rally, even in a race in which Alejandro had not participated so until now. Now we will continue working to best prepare for the rest of the season”.