Sergi Francolí and his co-driver Xavi Moreno (CSM Automoció) were the winners of the Rally Princesa de Asturias, the fifth scoring round of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Iberian Cup. This year, the legendary Asturian event celebrated its 60th anniversary; To celebrate it, the organizers included a new stage on gravel, in addition to its classic tarmac sections. Thus, the Rally Princesa de Asturias was the only mixed-surface race in the calendar of the single-brand cup organized by Toyota Spain, Toyota Caetano Portugal and MSI.

Added to the challenge of driving on two types of surface was the changeable conditions throughout the weekend, which made it difficult for the drivers to select the right tires.

The rally began on Thursday afternoon, with the ceremonial start in downtown Oviedo, and on Friday morning the first timed stages were held on gravel.

The first two sections were neutralized and it was not until the third when the Toyota GR Yaris RZ showed its full potential on the track, with the seventh best absolute time of Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció), ahead of higher category models. The CSM Automoció driver was also the fastest among the Cup drivers, a performance he also repeated in the fourth special stage of the day.

However, when it seemed that Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció) would dominate the race, Bruno Bulacia (CSM Automoció), who had lost a lot of time in one of the morning sections when his car stalled, changed the pace and won all the scratches in the afternoon, to stay just 5 seconds behind Francolí, the leader at the end of the first day of the event

Just behind were Dani Berdomás (Breogán Group), Javi Villa (Asturhíbrido) and Emmanuel Gascou (CHL Sportauto), the latter just over a minute behind the leader. Albert Llovera (Grupo La Grajera) and Ricardo Costa (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing) had to abandon the rally due to off-track, although the Portuguese driver was able to repair his GR Yaris and rejoin the rally for the tarmac stage.

In the presence of rain, the final day of the rally began. The first retirement of the day took place in the difficult morning section, when Alberto Monarri went off the track. Meanwhile, Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció) set the pace from the first kilometers and added four consecutive best times, establishing an insurmountable difference for his immediate rivals. Behind, Bruno Bulacia (CSM Automoció), following the experience he gained in the Lisbon Rally, was more consistent on the tarmac of the Principality of Asturias and managed to keep the second step of the podium throughout the day on Saturday.

Javi Villa (Asturhíbrido), who was racing at home, made the most of his knowledge of the terrain and all the accumulated experience on tarmac, a surface on which he has been proclaimed nine times Spanish Hillclimb Champion and which has helped him to climb for the first time to the podium of the TGR Iberian Cup. Dani Berdomás (Breogán Group), who finished the gravel stage 23 seconds ahead of Villa, was fourth after losing considerable time due to a problem and suffering a penalty (1 minute and 50 seconds).

Miguel Campos (Macedo & Macedo GTW Racing) was more competitive this time and maintained until his retirement a nice fight for fifth place with Pierre Lafay (CHL Sportauto).

Pedro Lago (Toyota Caetano Auto) finished sixth, followed by Emmanuel Gascou, José Mulero (Labasa), Joan Sabater (CSM Automoció) and Antonio Sainz (KOBE Motor), who achieved his goal of adding as many kilometers as possible with the GR Yaris.

On this occasion, the Toyota GR Yaris once again demonstrated their potential on both gravel and tarmac, as three of the registered drivers were among the top ten overall at the end of the rally, in a rally that belongs to the Spanish Rally Superchampionship (SCER).

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