Heat and High Stakes Define Opening Day at Los Loros Hill Climb

The first day of the 21st Los Loros – Tenerife Island Hill Climb was defined by sweltering temperatures, which tested both the drivers and their machines. Nearly every registered participant took to the track for these opening sessions, setting the stage for Saturday’s final showdown.

In the Spanish Hill Climb Championship, Ángel Bello (Skoda Fabia Rally2) currently leads Category 1, holding a three-second advantage over Sergio Fuentes (Citroën C3 N5). Jorge Pérez (Porsche 911 GT3 Cup) follows in third, trailing the leader by seven seconds. José Manuel González and Armando Díaz round out the top five. In Category 3, for single-seaters, Javier Afonso holds a narrow lead of less than two seconds over Carlos A. Pérez, with Héctor Mederos sitting in third.

The regional championship tells a different story. Juan Carlos Brito leads Category 1 despite technical issues that forced him to miss the final heat. The competition here is fierce, with Bello and Fuentes separated by less than a second. The battle in the regional Category 3 is equally tight, with only 1.5 seconds separating the top three drivers, ensuring a suspenseful finish on Saturday.

With the event serving as a key fixture on the national calendar, success will depend on how well teams manage their cars in the heat and how efficiently the race schedule is maintained. On Saturday, security measures begin at 7:00 AM, followed by official practice at 9:00 AM. The day concludes with the final two race heats and an awards ceremony at the Plaza San Juan Degollado in Arafo, where the official winners—including those in the regularity categories—will be crowned.