Solid podium for MRF Tyres at Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, 6 May 2023: Efren Llarena and co-driver Sara Fernandez won a solid podium for MRF Tyres in the 47th edition of the Rally Islas Canarias which concluded here on Satureday.

It helped the Indian tyre giant’s rally team to continue on their improvement curve on the tarmac surface.

Yoann Bonato is a two-time winner in the FIA European Rally Championship after a sublime drive to victory on Rally Islas Canarias today.

With fellow Frenchman Benjamin Boulloud co-driving, Bonato started leg two 11.0s in front of European championship leader Hayden Paddon. He eventually triumphed by 36.9s following a day dominated by the changeable weather conditions – and some seriously close competition throughout the field.

Paddon takes crucial second

Paddon extended his title advantage in second place with defending European champion Efrén Llarena coming home third. Jon Armstrong claimed FIA ERC3 honours, Bendegúz Hangodi inherited the FIA ERC4 victory after long-term leader Roberto Daprà retired, while Michelin was the Winning Tyre.

Efren Llarena & Sara Fernandez excel for MRF Tyres

Between the team MRF Tyres crews, Efren Llarena together with Sara Fernandez finished in 3rd position: working on car setup throughout the day paid off as the two closed the event with a solid podium.

In the top ten also Martins Sesks and Renars Francis who reached the finish in 8th position: the Latvian driver managed to gain some positions by finding a better feeling with car setup stage after stage, together with a better physical shape after some health issues in the previous days.

Sadly, Simone Campedelli and Tania Canton had to retire during the last road section due to a technical issue: Simone was gaining some positions with a consistent run during the whole day.

Fastest Crew

What a day for Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi! they have been the fastest crew among the Dealer Team drivers, claiming their maiden ERC stage win in SS11. An unfortunate weather change in the morning meant he lost almost all the time gained yesterday but the young Italians managed to climb up as much as possible in the remaining stages with an aggressive driving style and they completed their crescendo with the second stage win on the power stage and a final 12th place. They are followed by Mads Ostberg paired with Patrik Barth in 18th position: the Norwegian kept working on the car’s setup and times on the boards showed that the direction taken was the right one.

Italian duo, Andrea Nucita – Rudy Pollet positioned their car in 6th position in the final classification: satisfaction for his improved driving style setting the target to keep his pace as much higher as possible. For Bogdan Cuzma – Ilka Minor a solid event: positively impressed with the Medium compound behavior within the wet and damp and some good mileage for the next tarmac events to tackle. Unfortunately, Javier Pardo and Adrian Perez, has been forced to retire due to a double puncture in SS9.

About the Rally Islas Canarias

With the stages climbing and descending at a frequent rate, drivers pay close attention to corner speed and lines to ensure optimal momentum is maintained, while precise car set-up and pacenote accuracy are vital. One of the notable features of the sealed stages is the abrasive surface, constructed partly from volcanic lava. It means grip levels are high and remain constant if it rains, although tyre wear can increase in dry conditions. However, with the opportunity to take ‘cuts’ through corners limited, the roads remain relatively debris-free. The rally’s 47´th edition marks a return to a more traditional May date.

Final provisional classification:
3. Llarena Efrén – Fernández Sara +53.4
6. Nucita Andrea – Pollet Rudy +1:15.0
8. Sesks Mārtiņš – Francis Renārs +1:33.8
12. Mabellini Andrea – Lenzi Virginia +1:47.5
16. Østberg Mads – Barth Patrik +2:36.9
21. Cuzma Bogdan – Minor Ilka +11:04.6

DNF.Pardo Siota J. – Pérez Fernández A.
DNF. Campedelli Simone – Canton Tania