Fans waited eagerly for a dramatic finale to reveal the champions across the race categories. The Villa del Juguete Trophy 2023, part of the Les Revoltes d’Ibi contest, unfolded this weekend with a showy culmination. The event was organized by the Alicante Automobile Club in collaboration with the Ibi town hall and the Alicante County Council, delivering a global stage for the Autohebdo Sport Mountain Rally Championship for Spain and the Valencian Community.
In Category 1, Jordi Gaig, Jacobo You, and Javier Villa emerged as the national race victors, while Carlos Archiles in the single-seater and Mario Bermúdez in touring took top spots in the autonomous race.
Sunday opened under clear skies for the final day of the Climb to Villa del Juguete Trophy 2023, a contrast to Saturday’s heavy rain. The morning sessions served as the ultimate practice rounds for both the Autohebdo Sport Spain Mountaineering Championship and the Valencia Community Mountaineering Championship, setting the stage for gripping climactic battles.
Les Revoltes d’Ibi: Villa del Juguete Trophy 2023 promises a spectacular finish
JA Galvanized
In Category 1, a tightly fought contest pitted Andoran Jordi Gaig, Gerard de la Casa, and Lolo Avilés against one another. The tension broke in a sensational few seconds as Gaig and his rivals crossed the line in a razor-thin window, sealing Gaig’s hold on the championship with two wins. The outcome moved Gerard de la Casa and Avilés into second and third respectively, reshaping the overall standings.
Category 2 presented a more one-sided narrative. Jacobo dominated from start to finish, building a comfortable lead over Andorra’s closest challenger, with Joan Gil securing second place and Carlos Archiles focusing on clinching the Autonomous Championship rather than chasing a podium in this category.
If Category 1 offered a close duel, Category 3 delivered the most drama. Benthoperesis initially moved ahead by a narrow one-second margin over Javier Villa. In the second run, the balance shifted as Villa clawed back ground and then surged ahead, clocking a finish nearly two seconds faster than the first round. The final tally crowned Javier Villa with an eight-tenths advantage over Benito Pérez, while Toni Arrufat claimed third after a misstep by Javier Rodríguez of the Canary Islands at a corner, which opened the door for several podium changes.
In the Valencia Community Championship, the solo-category saw Carlos Archiles win comfortably, translating his early pace into a commanding performance. The battle for second place intensified as Javier Salvo and Juan David Mercado matched times at 2’41”976, before Salvo pulled ahead on the final run by seven seconds to secure the runner-up position.
In the Touring Car division, Mario Bermúdez built an early lead and held it to the finish, beating Ferran Cabrear and Antonio Arenas for the victory.
The absence of rain on Sunday amplified the festival atmosphere, with fans flocking along the roads and in viewing parks to witness this well-established event that forms a key part of the Spanish Mountain Championship as covered by AutohebdoSport. The Ibi mayor, Rafael Serralta, who backed the event from its inception, did not miss a moment of the eight stage runs over the weekend.
The event drew widespread admiration for its organization and the vibrant racing environment, attracting many first-time spectators who left impressed by the scale and passion on display. The weekend solidified Ibi as a premier venue for mountain rally racing in the region, reinforcing the bond between the local community and the sport documented by local organizers and participants .