ERC
Suárez storms new-look ERC Qualifying Stage
José Antonio Suárez has become the first winner of the FIA European Rally Championship’s new-look Qualifying Stage.
Completing the 6.38-kilometre Los Villares test in a table-topping in 2min 56.4sec, Suárez and co-driver Alberto Iglesias received the inaugural Qualifying Stage trophy for their flat-out performance in a Michelin-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Iglesias and Suárez celebrate their Qualifying Stage win
© ERC
“We are here for this, it was a nice one, the stage is new for everyone,” said Suárez. “It is really nice to be here and to be fastest in qualifying. I prefer to start at the front.”
It is really nice to be here and to be fastest in qualifying. I prefer to start at the front
European champions Miko Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk had waited in the Qualifying Stage Hot Zone after they went fastest first before they were eliminated by their Spanish rivals seven cars later with all the action broadcast live and for free on the ERC’s official YouTube channel.
European champion Marczyk was second fastest
© ERC
“It is good to be here one more time,” said Marczyk, whose time of 2min 56.6sec was good enough for second place. “I would like to use my confidence from last year and improve in some places.”
Reigning Polish champion Jakub Matulka impressed with the third fastest time followed by Toyota GR Yaris Rally2-driving Philip Allen and Andrea Mabellini, the fastest Pirelli-shod runner at the wheel of a Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale.
Mabellini was fifth fastest for Lancia on its ERC return
© ERC
Multiple WRC podium finisher Teemu Suninen was sixth quickest as Giandomenico Basso, William Creighton, Jorge Cagiao and Hankook-supplied Isak Reiersen completed the top 10.
Iván Ares, Dominik Štríteský, Calle Carlberg, Tristan Charpentier and Fabrizio Zaldivar rounded out the top 15 with Erik Cais leading the charge for Team MRF Tyres.
Next up on the 43rd Andalusia Rally - Sierra Morena - Córdoba World Heritage Site is the Córdoba super special stage from 20:05 local time with live coverage getting under way on Rally.TV at 19:30.
