The Italian driver, co-drived by Virginia Lenzi, thrilled the 8,000 spectators of the Gran Canaria Arena. Llarena-Fernandez are in seventh place, while Sesks-Renars are near to the top ten. Tomorrow the first real stage with six tests.

.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, May 2nd 2024 – Team MRF Tyres is immediately in the spotlight at the Rally Islas Canarias, the second round of the FIA European Rally Championship 2024 being held on the island of Gran Canaria. At the end of the opening day the spectacular show stage, which also takes place in the Gran Canaria Arena, attracted more than 8,000 spectators who supported the drivers, creating a unique setting.

The sporting challenge over these 1.8 kilometers saw Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi, in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, finishing with the second fastest time after holding the lead for a good part of the night. It was an excellent start for the Italian driver who, after achieving his best result ever in the FIA ERC at Rally Hungary, is aiming to be a protagonist also in this first round on tarmac.

Mabellini was also fast during the Qualifying Stage held in the early afternoon where he set the fifth best time. Aware that tomorrow’s leg will offer much more concrete ideas for the development of the race, Mabellini was satisfied with his day: “Good feelings, it was a positive day. We have to keep our concentration because tomorrow it will be proper rallying”.

Local heroes Efren Llarena and Sara Fernandez, also in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, closed this very short stage in seventh place. “I really like these special stages, they offer a great show for the fans and are good for our sport. I am happy. We have started the rally, now let’s get ready to start the long day tomorrow”.

Mārtiņš Sesks with Renārs Francis in the new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 were not far from the top-ten. The Latvian driver, one of the aces in the Team MRF Tyres line-up, drove a very spectacular opening stage. “We will give our all this weekend. We know that on tarmac we will have to work hard to play a leading role, but we want to improve our feeling with the GR Yaris Rally1 on this surface and I am sure we can do a good job thanks to our team and MRF Tyres”.

Tomorrow’s day will start at 10:38am and will include six stages and more than 95 timed kilometers, including the ‘Artenara-Galdar’ of over 21 kilometres. The day will end at 19:00 (local time) and the rally will then continue on Saturday for the final stage.

Above Mabellini-Lenzi (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2)

FIA European Rally Championship 2024 | Calendar
12-14 April V. Rally Hungary Gravel
2-4 May Rally Islas Canarias Tarmac
13-15 June Royal Rally of Scandinavia, Sweden Gravel
5-7 July Rally Estonia Gravel
26-28 July Rally di Roma Capitale, Italy Tarmac
16-18 August Barum Czech Rally Zlín Tarmac
30 Aug-1 Sep Rali Ceredigion, United Kingdom Tarmac
11-13 October Rally Silesia, Poland Tarmac