Saba and Duarte Take the Lead in Muddy Rally of Cordillera

Gustavo Saba and Gabriel Duarte emerged as the leaders of the Rally of Cordillera after the first stage, navigating challenging conditions that included mud and high drama. Saba secured the top spot in the all-wheel-drive category, while Duarte took the lead in the F2 (two-wheel drive) class.

The Petrobras Rally of Cordillera, a significant event in both the FIA/Codasur South American Rally Championship and the National Rally Championship, began with Migue Zaldívar in the lead. However, Zaldívar's challenge ended prematurely when his car went off track after a jump, crashing into a tree and forcing his withdrawal from the race.

Following Zaldívar's accident, Saba seized the lead in the second loop of the rally, maintaining his position until the end of the day. Alejandro Galanti also showed strong performance, winning subsequent special stages in an attempt to close the gap. Despite these efforts, Saba finished the first stage with a substantial lead.

In the F2 category, local driver Gabriel Duarte made a notable debut with the Peugeot 208 Rally4, setting the fastest times in four of the six stages to claim the lead. The rally continues with Saba holding an 18.8-second advantage over his closest competitor, Argentine Miguel Baldoni.