Sergi Francolí and Xavier Moreno Win the Rallye Recalvi Rías Baixas in the Third Round of the GR Yaris Cup Spain

The Rallye Recalvi Rías Baixas was the third scoring round of the 2025 GR Yaris Cup Spain season and marked the halfway point of the calendar, following the Rallye Tierras Altas de Lorca (on gravel) and the Rallye Sierra Morena (on tarmac).
This round, also held entirely on tarmac, featured two legs and 130 timed kilometers and was influenced by high temperatures. Pace management, tire care, and mechanical reliability were decisive factors in a rally that once again highlighted the close competition in the one-make cup organized by Toyota Spain and the Motor & Sport Institute.

The event kicked off on Thursday with a ceremonial start in the center of Vigo, which attracted a large crowd for the rally’s opening. Friday saw the first leg, during which José Lamela (Breogán Motor) set the early pace with authority, clocking the fastest time on the first two stages and taking the provisional lead. However, a puncture on SS4 cost him 1 minute and 11 seconds, handing the lead to Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció), who ended the day on top of the GR Yaris Cup standings thanks to a solid, mistake-free performance.

Adrián Díaz (Breogán Motor) finished the day in second place, very close to the leader and showing consistent pace on every stage. Joan Socias (Toyota Asturias) rounded out the provisional podium with a steady drive, followed by Daniel Remuiñán (Breogán Motor), who also had a clean run. Laia Sanz (CSM Automoció) continued her learning curve in rallying, facing the challenges of tarmac, a surface where she still lacks experience. A broken hose prevented her from finishing the first leg, but she was able to rejoin on Saturday to gain more mileage.

The second leg began with a stage win by José Lamela (Breogán Motor), aiming to earn extra points and recover ground after Friday’s setback. However, Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció) struck back with authority in SS6 by setting the fastest time, and a new puncture for Lamela in SS7 took him out of contention, eventually forcing him to retire. The day also saw the retirement of Adrián Díaz (Breogán Motor), who had been second overall and had to withdraw in SS9 due to a puncture. This situation benefited his teammate, Daniel Remuiñán (Breogán Motor), who inherited second place on the podium thanks to a consistent and error-free performance, while Joan Socias (Toyota Asturias) secured third, once again demonstrating his reliability throughout the rally.

Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció) was the standout performer of the weekend, claiming a total of seven stage wins — including the GR Plus stage — and reinforcing his title bid with a strong showing. Despite his troubles, José Lamela (Breogán Motor) managed to set three fastest times during the event. Joan Socias (Toyota Asturias) also recorded his first stage win of the season in Vigo, confirming his progress at the wheel of the Toyota GR Yaris RZ Cup.

The final standings of the Rallye Recalvi Rías Baixas crowned Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció) as the winner, marking his second victory of the year and making him the only driver so far this season to win on both gravel and tarmac. Daniel Remuiñán (Breogán Motor) finished second after a very consistent performance, while Joan Socias (Toyota Asturias) completed the podium in third, further demonstrating his development. Iker Etxeberria (CSM Automoció) was fourth, and Samuel Vera (Toyota Kobe Motor) rounded out the top five in the third round of the one-make series by Toyota Spain and MSI.

It’s worth noting that this season introduced a new element: the GR Plus stage, where additional points are awarded to the three fastest GR Yaris RZ Cup drivers (3 points for first, 2 for second, 1 for third), adding strategic depth to the title race. On this occasion, Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció) set the best time on this stage. Daniel Remuiñán (Breogán Motor) and Joan Socias (Toyota Asturias) completed the top three, securing valuable points for the overall GR Yaris Cup Spain standings.

After the Rallye Recalvi Rías Baixas, the GR Yaris Cup Spain 2025 enters its second half with Daniel Remuiñán (Breogán Motor) leading the standings with 57 points, thanks to his consistent results and second place in Galicia. Just four points behind is Sergi Francolí (CSM Automoció), who, with 53 points and a win in Vigo, solidifies his status as a top title contender. José Lamela (Breogán Motor), despite retiring from this round, holds third with 46 points. He is followed by Joan Socias (Toyota Asturias) with 41, and Iker Etxeberria (CSM Automoció), who has 34 points after a strong performance in Rías Baixas.

Adrián Díaz (Breogán Motor) sits sixth with 31 points, while Josep Bassas (IPPON Motor Vallès), absent from this round, remains seventh with 24. Laia Sanz (CSM Automoció), in her first full season in a one-make rally cup, has already accumulated 21 points and continues progressing event by event. Samuel Vera (Toyota Kobe Motor) rounds out the standings with 19 points. It’s a tightly contested championship that promises an exciting end to the season.

The next round of the GR Yaris Cup Spain 2025 will be the Rallye Princesa de Asturias, scheduled from September 11 to 13, marking a return to gravel after two consecutive tarmac events. This iconic Asturian rally will be run entirely on gravel this year, posing a new challenge for competitors at a crucial stage of the championship.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Alejandro Cachón and Borja Rozada also took part in the Rallye Recalvi Rías Baixas, aiming to gain more mileage on tarmac with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Spain and Teo Martín Motorsport, as part of their preparation for their next WRC appearance. In the first leg, they maintained a steady pace among the front-runners, and in the second leg they set two fastest times — on SS5 and SS7 — showcasing their speed on this surface. However, in SS8 they suffered a crash that broke the suspension of their GR Yaris, forcing them to retire. Despite the setback, the experience proved valuable for their development on tarmac