Liceras/Ayarra Lead Clásica Tenerife Ahead of Grand Prix Revival Final
David Liceras and Ainhoa Ayarra maintain their lead in the Tenerife Clásica historic car rally, with a final urban circuit today poised to decide the winner against close contender José Carlos Rendón.
On Saturday, a spectacular stage ran from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. The route took participants from Santa Cruz to Las Cañadas del Teide, passing through the south of the island, ascending via Vilaflor, and returning via La Esperanza. This stage further cemented the lead for Madrid natives David Liceras and Ainhoa Ayarra, driving their 1955 Volvo 1.800. However, the Rendóns, both father and son, are not giving up. They are looking forward to today's 'revival' of the 1965 Tenerife Grand Prix, which will be held on Benito Pérez Armas Avenue and Reyes Católicos Avenue.
Under a scorching sun, the 78 competing vehicles faced several challenges. They not only had to follow their roadbook and maintain precise average speeds – as this event is about consistency, not outright racing – but also had to navigate around motorcyclists and cyclists, who are regular users of the southern main road (TF-28). In Las Cañadas del Teide, tourist buses added to the traffic, causing more than one participant to lose their position.
Therefore, today's midday stage will decide who wins this year's Clásica. Starting at 12 PM, it will take place on an L-shaped urban circuit comprising Benito Pérez Armas, Avenida Madrid, and Rambla Asuncionistas. The two strongest contenders are recent winners David Liceras (2023) and José Carlos Rendón (2024), who are currently separated by 18 minutes (282.7 to 300). In the Touring class, Tracy Martínez and Carmelo Trujillo are the favorites.
Please note that the entire area of the city's main avenues, from the swimming pool to the República Dominicana roundabout, will be closed from 10 AM to 3 PM.
The trophy ceremony is expected to take place at 2:30 PM in García Sanabria Park, which served as both the start and finish point for this historic Tenerife Clásica. This year's event included a visit to La Palma and a spectacular tribute to the grand prix races held on the island in the 1960s. Some car brands and models from that era are still present in this Clásica, which, thanks to the Royal Automobile Club of Tenerife (RACT), transforms into a 'rolling museum' of our automotive heritage each year.