Gustavo Saba wins muddy Rally de Cordillera

Gustavo Saba, with co-driver Pablo Olmos, has claimed victory in the Rally de Cordillera, the fourth round of the FIA/Codasur and fifth of the National Rally Championship (CNR) in Paraguay. Piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Saba showcased a dominant performance, securing the overall win as well as the top spot in the CO and RC2A classes.

The demanding rally, held in the third department of Paraguay, was significantly impacted by heavy mud throughout the weekend. This challenging weather tested the skills of all competitors navigating the difficult roads. Saba, who started the second stage with a lead of 18.8 seconds over Argentina's Miguel Baldoni, focused on maintaining his pace and managing his advantage.

Saba's strategy proved successful, and he crossed the finish line in the Jaula Cué stage in first place, marking his return to victory after a significant break since the TCR50 event last October. He achieved the "scratch" time in two of the twelve special stages.

Alejandro Galanti, co-driven by Marcelo Toyotoshi in another Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, finished a close second, just 9.4 seconds behind Saba. Despite winning nine special stages, Galanti's chances were hampered by a spin on the previous day that cost him 50.6 seconds. Bolivian drivers Sebastián Franco and Lucas Hurtado completed the podium, with Franco moving up to third after Baldoni incurred a 10-second penalty on the final stage.