Polish driver Aron Domżala and Spaniard Gerard Farrés gave the Monster Energy Can-Am Team a stunning 1-2 finish in the new T4 category at the inaugural Andalucia Rally in southern Spain on Saturday.
The latest specification Can-Ams were the class of the field from the outset and won three of the four demanding selective sections, held through the remote countryside and included in a challenging off-road route between Malaga, Jerez and Seville.
A solid run through the final stage enabled Domżala to confirm victory and he and fellow countryman Maciej Marton duly sealed the win by the margin of 12min 57sec from Farrés and his co-driver Armand Monleón.
American off-road racer Austin Jones set one fastest time, but technical issues on day three cost him and Brazilian navigator Gustavo Gugelmin the chance to challenge for the final place on the podium and give the Monster Energy team a clean sweep. Jones reached the finish in ninth place.
Monster Energy South Racing Can-Am team’s Scott Abraham said: « This has been a great weekend in Andalucia for Monster Energy Can-Am. The team put on a commanding performance, once again, and showed that the Maverick is the car to beat in the SSV category. Aron and Maciej were strong throughout the event and Gerard and Austin were consistent, with Austin winning a stage.
« I am really happy with the overall position and also with the speed of the drivers. We now look forward to the next events in the calendar – Baja Portalegre at the start of November before we go on to the Middle East for Baja Dubai and the Ha’il rallies. Then we head to the big one, the Dakar, at the start of 2021. »
The opening selective section was reduced to 168km because of time constraints, but it failed to prevent Domżala and Farrés claiming the top two spots in the T4 category and 10th and 11th in the overall rankings. Jones slotted into fourth place behind Rui Carneiro.
After the stage, the leading Pole said: « Because of the cancellation of the Super Special, we had to overtake at least 10 other cars and ate a lot of dust. But we had no problems and no punctures. »
Action continued with the longer second selective section of 243km that looped through the remote plains and rural tracks near Villamartin.
Jones claimed the stage win by the margin of 69 seconds over his Polish team-mate, although the overnight leader retained an outright T4 advantage of 3min 21sec over Farrés. The stage win enabled Jones to climb above Carneiro and give the Monster Energy Can-Am Team a 1-2-3 at the night halt. He was ninth fastest of all the FIA vehicles in the rally.
The American said: « We had a really clean day. Yesterday we made a mistake 20km from the end and that cost us the win. »
The third stage ran across flatter and faster terrain and was shortened from its original 233km on safety grounds. Domżala was the only T4 runner to break the two-hour barrier for the timed test and the fastest time enabled the Pole to carry an outright lead of 10min 15sec over Monster Energy team-mate Farrés into the final day. The Spaniard dropped 6min 54sec on the day’s stage but Jones faired worse still and a time loss of over an hour pushed the third of the Monster Can-Ams down to ninth in the rankings.
« Went really good again, » said Domżala. « This was a tricky stage where you had to choose the right line, but I like those conditions. The navigation was difficult but we got it right and again no punctures. »
Domżala sealed the win on the final stage with a time of 2hr 27min 27sec, Farres consolidated the runner-up spot and the second fastest time enabled Jones to seal ninth in T4 after his issues earlier in the rally.
2020 Andalucia Rally – final results (T4 category)
1. Aron Domzala (POL)/Maciej Marton (POL) Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick X3, 9hrs 53min 17sec
2. Gerard Farrés (ESP)/Armand Monleón (ESP) Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick X3, 10hrs 06min 14sec
3. Rui Carneiro (PRT)/Nelson Ramos (PRT) MMP Can-Am, 10hr 17min 59sec
4. Stéphane Consani (FRA)/Thibault De La Haye (FRA) MMP Can-Am, 10hr 27min 11sec
5. Matthieu Margaillan (FRA)/Axelle Roux-Decima (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3, 10hr 27min 52sec
6. Jose Antonio Lopez (ESP)/Diego Ortega Gil (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3, 10hrs 33min 58sec
9. Austin Jones (USA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) Monster Energy Can-Am Maverick X3, 10hrs 58min 09sec…