Enrique Cruz Emerges as Title Contender After Rally Norte Victory Over Lukyanuk

Enrique Cruz’s recent win at the Rally Norte marks a major turning point in the Canary Islands regional championship, establishing the La Laguna driver as the primary challenger to Alexey Lukyanuk. According to MotorADiario, the nine-time regional champion’s victory not only shakes up the standings but highlights his resilience after overcoming a 25-second deficit against the two-time European champion.

Cruz’s success came down to superior tactics during Saturday’s stages. Despite tricky weather and changing road conditions, his team chose the right tire compounds. Their decision to use a softer configuration proved decisive, helping them neutralize the lead Lukyanuk had built during Friday’s night stages. This allowed Cruz to take the lead early Saturday—a result he says was a vital morale boost for the team following their performance in Lanzarote.

This result highlights the growing professionalism of the regional series, often called the "Canarian Little World Championship." The high level of competition, bolstered by international talent, forces local teams to refine every technical detail. Since they are not currently competing in the Spanish Championship, Cruz plans to bridge that gap through more rigorous preparation and deeper analysis of telemetry data.

Looking ahead, Cruz feels confident about the upcoming event in Adeje. He remains pragmatic, focusing less on personal records and more on maintaining the pace needed to fight Lukyanuk for the title. His long-term plan includes competing in World Rally Championship events to sharpen his skills and provide more value to his sponsors, ensuring his team remains a serious contender for the championship.