Triumphal walk of ‘Rocket’ Suárez before his countrymen in the Rally Princesa de Asturias. The local idol has not given his rivals a choice and, after winning the five stages contested in the first stage, he heads into the second with a comfortable advantage on the second classified, Surhayen Pernía.
The test began on Thursday afternoon with the departure ceremony from the Cathedral of Oviedo, where the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, announced that the test becomes a Festival of National Tourist Interest. And the party is being given by ‘Rocket’ in front of his countrymen, since one after another he has been setting all the best times in the specials, and distancing himself 40 seconds from Pernía.
The Cantabrian driver, who returns to the Spanish Championship after a long absence from the Rally Villa de Adeje, once he has seen Suárez escape, is concentrating on controlling the local driver, Óscar Palacio, who is making a tight marking. The second day will have 6 stages and 86 timed kilometers, so there is still cloth to cut in Asturias.
Classification
1. Suárez-Iglesias (Skoda), 44m 43.9s
2. Pernía-Sánchez (Hyundai), at 40.0
3. Palacio-Velasco (Ford), at 1: 01.5