Neil Salance won his second victory at the European Rally Championship of the season at the Ailas-Canary Rally, taking advantage of the terrible resignation of local legend Luis Monson.
After 15 years of close misses, Monson finally looked like he was in boxing to win his home rally. Winning time on Neil Salance and Joan Banat on Moya-Valeska showed that the 56-year-old can well restrain young chargers.
But then trouble happened. The nail went into the front right tire of his Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo. Monson himself did not even notice – instead it was Efren Liaren, who clocked him and warned the two-time Spanish champion.
That word of warning sounded at the last minute. Monson could either change the wheel and register late for the next stage, which could potentially cost him the lead, or take into account that it will last another stage.
The moment just that the costaba el rally in Luis Monzón. What foam… pic.twitter.com/MMclzF5z0G
– Solo Rally (@RallySolo) May 14, 2022
Monzón took on the game. It didn’t pay off. The tire let go when braking for a slow left-hander, sending it wide.
While he could stop to change the puncture and continue, Monson lacked the spirit. He wanted to win, and that battle had already been lost. He decided to go straight to work and retire instead.
This left the two main characters, Salance and Llaren, to fight asphalt offender Joan Banat for the win.
https://dirtfish.com/rally/erc/solans-wins-canarias-ahead-of-tie-for-second-place/
