A brief curtain-raising nine-kilometre special signalled the start of the Andalucia Rally, which got underway today from Villamartín. The Monster Energy Honda Team riders opted for a cautious start over the short, dust-filled Super Special.
After successfully making it through the mandatory verifications, Monster Energy Honda Team this afternoon began the Andalucia Rally with a short nine-kilometre Super Special.
Ricky Brabec set off from first place, without references ahead, to tackle the opening kilometres of the Andalucia Rally prologue, eventually going on to post eleventh place, just twelve seconds adrift of the day’s fastest time. Very narrow gaps separated the frontrunners with several riders finishing within the same second. Joan Barreda finished just one second behind his American team-mate.
Argentine Kevin Benavides rode at a pace similar to his Monster Energy Honda Team squad-mates and took fourteenth position, one second off Barreda. José Ignacio Cornejo conceded some 35 seconds to the leader of the general standings, finishing in 21st position.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, sees the first full stage of the Andalucia Rally which will feature a total of 240 kilometres of timed special (two specials made up of 130 and 110 kilometres respectively) and a liaison of about 70 kilometres connecting the start and finish in Villamartín.
Ricky Brabec – SUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 11th +0’12 : « The prologue went well. I started first and after today’s finish, I’ll be starting from eleventh position tomorrow. So, I think that this sets us up quite well for stage one and we are going to see how it pans out after tomorrow. »
José Ignacio Cornejo – SUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 21st +0’35 : « We finished the prologue with a pretty convincing result so now we can start picking up race pace. We are very motivated and looking forward to the long days of navigation at last. We are going to enjoy these next four days. »
Kevin Benavides – SUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 14th +0’14 : « It was a good prologue, I felt good and had some good feelings. I finished in a good position to head out and attack tomorrow in the first stage. We are satisfied and we will try to finish the race every day in the best possible position. »
Joan Barreda – SUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 12th +0’13 : « A short but technical prologue. Shortly after the start I hit a branch that made me go off-track and it disorientated me a bit. I dropped a few seconds, but in the end, I finished in a position that I think is good for tomorrow’s stage, if we can make it through the dust. The rally has only just begun. »
Results Super Special Stage
1. Price Toby (AUS) – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team, 6’29
2. Sanders Daniel (AUS) – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team, +0’0
3. Evan Branch Ross (BWA) – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, +0’03
4. Walkner Matthias (AUT) – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team, +0’04
5. Short Andrew (USA) – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, +0’06
6. Benavides Luciano (ARG) – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, +0’06
7. Mccanney Jamie (GBR) – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, +0’06
8. Caimi Franco (ARG) – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, +0’09
9. Van Beveren Adrien (FRA) – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, +0’10
10. Buehler Sebastian (POR) – Hero Motorsports Team Rally, +0’11
11. Brabec Ricky (USA) – Monster Energy Honda Team, +0’12
12. Barreda Joan (SPA) – Monster Energy Honda Team, +0’13
13. Santolino Lorenzo (SPA) – Sherco TVS Rally Factory, +0’13
14. Benavides Kevin (ARG) – Monster Energy Honda Team, +0’14
15. de Soultrait Xavier (FRA) – HT Husqvarna Rally Team, +0’14…
21. Cornejo José Ignacio (CHI) – Monster Energy Honda Team, +0’35…