The engines are roaring once again with the start of the ERC, this time in Córdoba, as the Rally Sierra Morena kicked off with a thrilling first day full of action, speed, and emotion. The day began with the much-anticipated shakedown and qualifying sessions, where drivers got their first feel for the fast, winding roads.
Nikolay Gryazin made a bold statement early on, setting the fastest time in the qualifying stage. His precision and control on the slippery tarmac showed why he’s considered one of the big favourites this year. Just behind him, strong performances from Jon Armstrong and Mikolaj Marcyk kept the pressure on, proving that the fight for the top is going to be fierce.
Later in the evening, all eyes turned to the heart of Córdoba, where the rally’s first official stage took place: a stunning night-time run through the Paseo de La Victoria. The urban stage, short – 1.50 km – but technical, offered a dramatic setting with the city’s lights reflecting off the rally cars.
Again, it was Gryazin who stole the spotlight, flying through the tight corners and narrow straights to win the first stage and end the day as the overall leader. Just 1.8 seconds behind him was Stéphane Lefebvre, who showed impressive pace to take second place. Mads Østberg followed closely, finishing 2.8 seconds back with a time of 1:42.2 — a time matched exactly by Jos Verstaappen, who shares third place.
Stay tuned for Day 2, where the drivers head into the mountains for longer, more demanding stages that could shake up the leaderboard.