An accomplished driver and a familiar name in WRC circles, he is taking part in this weekend’s La Nucía Rally and will don the blue-and-white colours of the Hércules club this Friday. Father of three-time world champion Max Verstappen, he will appear in the official Hércules t-shirt to show support for the team. Jos Verstappen, now retired from top-level competition, enjoys occasional driving at a smaller scale and participates in symbolic events, with Alicante marking one of his engaging stops.
A Dutch pilot competing in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 was welcomed by Paco Peña, the sports coordinator who handed another jacket to Miguel Fuster of Benidorm, who was testing behind the wheel of a Porsche 911. Both posed in blue-and-white colours before the race began. The event started with 85 teams registered, setting a new participation record for this edition.
‘Cohete’ Suárez arrives as the leader with numerous options to clinch the super championship. The opening stage runs this afternoon, while the second stage unfolds tomorrow, Saturday, where the champion will be decided. The rally consists of twelve segments, spanning 151 kilometers against the clock to determine the winner of the 29th edition.
The field features notable contenders. At the start, Cohete Suárez (Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2) holds the lead and is the favorite, followed by Iván Ares (Hyundai i20 Rally2) and Jan Solans, who occupy second and third in the provisional overall standings. A win is essential for them to keep their title hopes alive. Suárez’s top-10 finish could seal his status as the Spanish Super Champion.
Applicants
The La Nucía challenge attracts more rivals. A Madrid-based driver joins the fray in a Hyundai i20 Rallye2, Pepe López, who won last year’s event and most recently the RACC in Catalonia. He arrives in Marina Baixa with strong enthusiasm. Past winners of this Alicante test include Alberto Monarri (2016), Iván Ares (2017), Miguel Fuster (2018), Pepe López (2019 and 2022), and Cohete Suárez (2020).
Nearly twenty high-end cars are registered, with some entries traveling from abroad. Freddy Loix, the experienced Belgian, will race a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and has drawn attention for his performance at the International Iberian Rally Cup. Jos Verstappen also stands out for his presence, remaining a keen admirer of the Hércules Club de Fútbol since Friday.
Episodes and times
The La Nucía Rally crosses thirty municipalities within the interior. The day began at 14:30 from the Camilo Cano Sports City, with the first timed section at 7.39 kilometers between Raúl Albí and Tarbena-Rates starting at 15:06. The second stage, the 10.3-kilometer Vall d’Ebo-Pego, followed, and the third stretched 16.1 kilometers from Xaló to Bernia. After TC-2, a checkpoint and signings were planned in Pego at 15:47. A second pass through the same three sections occurred from 19:22 to conclude the day just after 22:00.
The 29th edition of the La Nucía-Mediterranean Rally Costa Blanca Trophy 2023 introduces new features and spectacle
JA Galván
The second day, Saturday, started with a fixed schedule leaving La Nucía at 8:30 a.m. The opening timed section, Torremanzanas-Benifallim, covered 11.7 kilometers and began at 9:45 a.m. The subsequent TC-8 featured the 13.6-kilometer Lluís Brotons-Rebolcat, followed by the 15.8-kilometer Tudons-Relleu. After a regrouping and relief in Benidorm, the remaining cars continued into the final segments. The 14:40 regrouping and the concluding stages, Torremanzanas-Benifallim, Lluís Brotons-Rebolcat, and Tudons-Relleu, would be repeated. A regrouping was planned in Alcoy before returning to La Nucía for the trophy presentation scheduled around 19:10, with the finale winding down the day. This edition promises high drama and a ceremonial close dedicated to the sport’s supporters and participants alike. [citation: event organizers]