Reigning ERC champion Hayden Paddon has moved into second overall in the 2024 European Rally Championship (ERC) after finishing sixth at Rally Islas Canarias. Having started leg two in third place, Paddon and co-driver John Kennard (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) were hampered by an understeer issue during the tarmac event. Yoann Bonato made it back-to-back victories with a flawless display in the second ERC round.
“A hard-fought day to finish P6,” said Paddon. “Not the result we wanted but not from a lack of trying, did the best with what we have, just missing some pace to the very fast local drivers.
“The ERC is so close this year, last year we finished this event 2nd, 36sec from the lead, this year 6th 40sec from the lead. We do however move up to 2nd in the championship and back to gravel for the next two rounds.”
Co-driven by fellow Frenchman Benjamin Boulloud, Bonato started the deciding six-stage leg with a slender margin of 0.3sec over his compatriot Mathieu Franceschi. But he held on after a thrilling battle in the heat of the Gran Canaria sunshine by 2.8sec having begun the day with a brace of fastest stage times.
For Franceschi, two runner-up finishes in a row means he climbs to the top of the Drivers’ championship summit ahead of next month’s BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia.
Alejandro Cachón won a thrilling all-Spanish battle for the final podium spot in his Pirelli-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, defeating Diego Ruiloba by 2.7sec with Jose Antonio Suarezfinishing fifth. Cachón led after SS4 but dropped back with a damaged tyre before he launched his stunning comeback.
The FIA European Rally Championship is back on gravel next when the Swedish city of Karlstad hosts the second running of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, round three of the season, from 13 – 15 June.
2024 ERC Drivers Championship (Top 6)
1/ Mathieu Franceschi 56
2/ Hayden Paddon 35
3/ Simone Tempestini 33
4/ Yoann Bonato 32
5/ Alejandro Cachón 26
6/ Miklós Csomós 25
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