The 41st Northern Rally of Tenerife will be remembered as one of the most intense and perilous editions ever experienced. The persistent rainfall and dense fog transformed the northern roads of the island into lethal traps for the drivers. The event turned into a genuine battlefield where mere skill was insufficient to prevent a series of chilling collisions.
One of the most harrowing moments occurred when the vehicle driven by Yeray Lemes veered off the road and crashed violently into an old house, resulting in partial structural collapse. Just minutes earlier, in the same section, Alexey Lukyanuk, the temporary leader of the rally, suffered a comparable accident, crashing into a brutal pool against a building. Both were rendered out of the competition.
Amidst the tension, the only competitors who managed to navigate the situation calmly were Sergio Fuentes and Theocrice Hernández. Piloting their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, they not only avoided the various hazards of the course but also capitalised on their rivals’ blunders to secure victory in a race marked by casualties. Their win propelled them directly into first place in the CCRR 2025, rekindling hope in a championship that is beginning to take form.
Fallen Favourites In an Unpredictable Race
The sporting calamity commenced on Friday during the inaugural night section, where punctures became the main focus. Yeray Lemes lost ground from the very start, while Enrique Cruz dropped to 59 after replacing a tyre, alongside Ayze Almeida and Camilo González.
On Saturday, the Czech driver Jan Cerny, one of the top favourites, also bid farewell to the race after losing control of his vehicle and veering off the track. The rally witnessed the elimination of candidates as the kilometres passed.
An Unexpected Podium Restructures the Championship
The second position was claimed by Raúl Hernández and José Murado, who, despite battling with a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 that was not quite up to par, held on to finish just 13.8 seconds behind the leaders.
The third spot was taken by Fernando Cruz and Juan Bautista, who, without drawing attention, delivered a solid performance in their Hyundai i20n Rally and have now moved into second place in the overall standings of the Asphalt Rally Canary Islands Championship, seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos to climb significant positions.
