Gorka Eizmendi returns to the asphalt! The Basque driver will compete in the next edition of the Guriezo Rally with Diego Sanjuan and his Ford Fiesta R5. Without a doubt, it will be one of the great attractions of the first round of the Cantabrian Rally Championship, to be held on Saturday 22 May.
Tramalón has spoken with Eizmendi to find out the reason and the details of the expected return to the asphalt. “The relationship with Fernando Viadero, from MRF Tires, is very good, both personally and professionally. Seeing the interests of both parts, we decided to sign up for the Guriezo Rally, of the Cantabrian Championship. We have your support and we really want to start“, declares the Orio driver.
Eizmendi has been racing in the Spanish Gravel Championship since 2016: “I am excited to return to the asphalt after so many years. I didn`t care where to run, if in the Basque Country or Cantabria, and given the interests of the team we have signed up for Guriezo’s first race”, he admits. In addition, with the option of more rallies, as he affirms: “We will try to put out a mini program in that community during the year, but the races are in the air for the moment”.
Eizmendi and Sanjuan will get back into the Ford Fiesta R5, the car that gave them their first joys at the CERT since mid-2017. “We will compete with the Fiesta if there is no last minute mishap. It is a car that gave us a lot of joy since its purchase and we want to see how it works on asphalt. The car is running, ready and we will see how we evolve in the race”, admits Eizmendi.
The objective of the race, in the first instance, will be to test the M-Sport car for the first time on asphalt: “I want to see the sensations in the first kilometers. Of course, if everything goes well and nothing fails, our objective will be to fight for the final victory. I haven`t touched asphalt since 2015, I have never done it with an R5, so you have to be cautious“.
In the Basque Country, for its part, efforts will focus on providing service to Iban Altuna: “To this day, we don`t intend to race in the Basque Country. We will do so by assisting Iban Altuna, which already premiered at Lea Artibai with our Skoda Fabia R5″.
The feelings with Altuna last weekend were positive for the team: “We finished happy after the rally. Altuna hadn`t run on asphalt. The first stage was very long and very wet. The touch of SS1 took away some confidence but In the afternoon, with the floor drier, the sections began to come out, he got loose and enjoyed more. We know where we lost time and we are already counting the days for the next one”.
Regarding Lorca, finally, Eizmendi is very satisfied with his team: “We showed speed and were at our level. I am proud of my people. Diego went to the rally and I was in the car, my parents and a single mechanic. The situation was not It is far from easy and we are doing things very well with our means. Few people will be able to say it”.
