The town of Santa Brígida will once again host the shakedown for the Rally Islas Canarias – Rally of Spain for the second consecutive year. The municipality, located in the midlands of Gran Canaria, will be the center of attention on the morning of Thursday, April 23, the opening day of the 50th anniversary weekend of the island event, which returns to the WRC (World Rally Championship) calendar.
Fans of the premier championship will have several hours of track time on the ‘Santa Brígida’ stage, which retains the 6.26 kilometers used in last year’s edition. The characteristics of this special stage, which features a new layer of asphalt and combines fast and twisty sections, will give teams the opportunity to fine-tune their setups before the real competition begins.
The shakedown, despite not counting towards the overall classification, is a crucial session in each and every event of the World Rally Championship, as it presents a unique opportunity for participants: that of testing various setups and find the best suited, in this case, to the Canary Islands’ tarmac. This will clearly place the town of Santa Brígida once again at a key point to boost its profile.
José Armando Armengol (Mayor of Santa Brígida): “The tradition surrounding motorsport in Santa Brígida is evident, and above all, the great passion for it in our municipality. The experience we had last year, in the first edition of the Rally Islas Canarias – Rally of Spain within the WRC (World Rally Championship), was a resounding success. This 50th anniversary also represents a challenge and an opportunity, both for the municipality of Santa Brígida and for motorsport in Gran Canaria”.
Carlos Carrión (Sports Councillor of Santa Brígida): “We are very pleased to welcome the Rally Islas Canarias – Rally of Spain back for another year. The motorsport scene in Santa Brígida is incredibly strong. We know that, according to the latest data, we are one of the municipalities with the highest number of registered motorsport drivers per capita in Spain. Motorsport is a deeply rooted tradition in our municipality and one of our defining characteristics. Last year, the fans’ behavior was exemplary, and we hope it will continue that way. We look forward to enjoying this event for another year”.
Germán Morales (President of the Organising Committee for the Rally Islas Canarias – Rally of Spain): “We are extremely pleased with the renewal of our agreement with the town of Santa Brígida. This municipality has always been closely linked to motorsport, and, naturally, it should have a prominent presence during the 50th anniversary of the Rally Islas Canarias – Rally of Spain. The shakedown will be the main focus on Thursday morning, as it will be the first opportunity to see the teams in action at speed on our roads”.
