Toyota GR Iberia Cup champion Francoli Salbotadem returns

It’s been about a year and a half since then. Sergi Francoli world Maria Salvo They raced to the end. The tragic accident of his driver Laura Salvo, Maria’s sister, at the Vidreiro de Portugal Rally in October 2020, hit them hard and discouraged them from continuing to race.

“I had lost hope and faith in Larry,” says Francoli. Competitive New DawnAfter a tough time, their opportunity came this early in 2022. Toyota GR Iberia Cupthere is a single brand cup GR Yaris prepared by Theo Martin as a great hero.

new opportunities

“It has become very difficult. After my sister’s accident two years ago, we were pretty disappointed with Larry.We had already decided not to race anymore, but received an offer that was impossible to refuse and a perfect opportunity. We considered having fun with it and said, “Let’s take advantage of it.” It doesn’t matter if you don’t win the championship. We’re going to have fun, that’s all,” Salvo commented to MD. “We knew a little bit that adversity could be overcome, and that despite everything that had happened,[Larry]was something we enjoyed and it couldn’t end like this. You must have taken that little thorn out of the team.”

the experience you gave CSM Automotive Better than expected. A complete success indeed. Francoli-Salvo His tandem has demonstrated its speed, winning his four of the eight tests and placing him second in his rally Viana do Castelo, held on the last weekend of November. , won the title. But beyond the results, The Real Victory Happened on an Emotional LevelCatharsis culminated in early October, returning to the place where it all began: the Vidoreiro Rally.

“I had to get there (Vidreiro), I had to do it well and dedicate it to my sister.”

Maria Salvo

“It was the most important rally to win. was. I had to get there, do it right, and give to my sister.We’ve shown what we can do. These things happen in life and there are holes, but you have to move on and there’s no better way to face them,” says Salvo after a few other iconic victories.

Both Francolí and Salvo point out: The key to that achievement is the team formed by CSM Automoció.“They were so excited about this project that they passed it on to us. The people on this team are basic. Going with them and noticing their support gives us all the motivation.”

“I never entered team so closeAll rallies have grandstands and are shown. So it runs differently. There was no pressure at any time to achieve results. We had fun and that’s it. Ultimately, winning is everyone’s job,” adds Salvo.

family over team

on his part, Carlos Solano, CSM Automoció Team Owner, stay with that good song And he puts it before the achievements of this first season of the Iberian Cup. The cars, the drivers, the people on the team, our morale, our illusions, our desires, the integration of everything…even women have their say. I had no experience, but it was great. For me, it was this energy, this way of appreciating that was worth it. I am proud of all this. “

Solano revealed that he was initially greatly influenced by Francolí and Salvo’s story when he was offered the chance to set up the composition for this contest. “When Toyota approached us with the opportunity to start a team, we immediately started looking at what and how we needed to do. Then we found Sergi and Maria. Their story inspired me. (both have relatives who competed in rallies) and promised to help themI am very proud of them and they deserve this title,” he claimed.

In particular, Solano said, “I’m proud to have joined Vidlieiro, which I didn’t include on my calendar at first, but I did, I raced, I won. I did,” he emphasizes.

In the absence of an exhibition at the Madrid Rally Show that definitively concludes the season, Francoli already has his sights set on the next courseHis priority is to continue working with CSM Automoció, but he would like to own a higher category car.

“If we are going to do anything for next season, we need the support of CSM Grup. They are working with Toyota and Toyota’s R2 project has not arrived yet, so my goal is iberian cup“If they are encouraged, so am I,” he clarifies.

Improvements of the GR Yaris

This first course highlighted US competitiveness and resistance. GR Yarisaccording to all drivers, is a “fun” and “easy” car to drive, but Teo Martín is already working on product improvementsFor next year they are announcing new hood cooling openings and new gear box According to Francoli, this would give the car “an even more racing feel”.