WRC 2
Rossel wins WRC2 as Léo hits late heartbreak
Yohan Rossel claimed back-to-back WRC2 victories at Rally Islas Canarias after a composed drive on Gran Canaria’s demanding asphalt roads.
The Frenchman and co-driver Arnaud Dunand led the category from Friday and reached the finish 25.1sec clear of Alejandro Cachón, with Eric Camilli completing the podium after late drama for Léo Rossel.
Rossel had controlled the rally throughout in his Lancia, building a useful advantage on Friday before managing changing conditions across Saturday and Sunday. Greasy roads, fog and mixed tyre choices made the final morning especially difficult, but Rossel avoided mistakes to secure another important victory.
“It’s a nice feeling, to be honest,” said Rossel. “Thanks to all my team, they did a great job. No mistake about the setting, about the tyre choice, every time on the good way. Now it’s time to go on gravel and win again also.”
© WRC
Cachón finished second on home soil alongside Borja Rozada after a strong and consistent weekend. The Spaniard had been locked in a close fight with Léo Rossel for much of the rally and moved clear on the final stage when his rival was slowed by a transmission issue.
“I feel good,” said Cachón. “It’s been a really big battle on the rally with Léo, but this time the luck was on our side. Second place. I’m really, really happy because the team works really, really hard.”
Léo Rossel had climbed into second on Sunday morning and looked set to give the family name a one-two finish before losing time on the Wolf Power Stage. The Frenchman eventually slipped to fifth in WRC2, behind Camilli and Roberto Daprà.
© WRC
“Honestly, my pace all the week is just fantastic,” said Léo. “And this is the rally, this is the mechanical.”
Camilli inherited third to secure a strong podium finish, while Daprà finished fourth after an improved final day on his 25th birthday weekend. Nikolay Gryazin completed the top six in the second Lancia, ahead of Jan Solans and Emil Lindholm.
Rossel’s victory follows his Croatia Rally success and provisionally moves him level on points with brother Léo at the top of the WRC2 championship standings.
