The Rally Sprint LATAM kicked off its 2025 season with the Desafío Verano event held at the Parque Temático de Villa Carlos Paz, which has been refurbished by local authorities to serve as the centerpiece of this exciting motorsport competition. The first stage completed featured a challenging 5.90-kilometer stretch, which participants tackled four times.
The spotlight of the event rested on the fierce battle for the lead between Juan Carlos Alonso, the reigning champion of the event, and Bariloche-based Nicolás Madero. They took turns capturing the top position throughout the four stages, showcasing their driving prowess and strategic acumen. Madero finished the day on top of the overall standings, clocking an impressive time and securing a 1.2-second advantage over Alonso's Skoda.
Meanwhile, Juan Dechiara, piloting his Hyundai, secured the third spot, finishing 40.8 seconds behind the leader, effectively rounding out the podium for the RC2 category. Following closely were Nicolás Armesto, who topped the RC5 standings, and Ricardo Martinoglio leading the RC3 category with his Ford. José Fisogni represented VW with the A6 category lead, and both Julio César Suárez and Sergio Centorame dominated the Maxi Rally and RC2S classifications, respectively.
The race resumed for its second and final stage on Sunday, with expectations high as drivers prepared to tackle the same course and aim for improved times. The excitement continued to grow as fans filled the stands, eagerly awaiting the outcomes of another round of intense racing, kicking off at 8:13 AM.
Saturday's events were highlighted by Nicolás Madero's triumph, co-driven by Julián Quevedo. Together, they steered their Ford Fiesta to victory over six of the seven passes scheduled through the iconic segment—known for once hosting the World Rally Championship (WRC). Boasting scorching temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, with cockpit conditions reportedly nearing 60 degrees, the challenges were substantial. Consequently, officials decided to cancel the final pass for safety reasons.
Over the course of various categories, achievements were plentiful, with Madero claiming the RC2 victory with an impressive time of 20 minutes, 6 seconds, and 1/10. Nicolás Armesto followed suit, taking the checkered flag for the RC3 with his own remarkable time of 23 minutes, 29 seconds, and 6/10. José Fisogni triumphed again and secured the A/6 category win. The winners across different classes were rounded out by Julio Suárez and Sergio Centorame, both excelling with their Ford vehicles.
The stage was set for Sunday, featuring four additional rounds poised to begin at 8:58, 10:55, and two concluding rounds at 1:20 PM and 3:15 PM. The anticipation continued to build for the 5 PM awards ceremony, followed by the exciting raffle for a brand new vehicle, where attendance was mandatory for participants aged 18 and over to claim their prize.
Current standings reflect Nicolás Madero and Julián Quevedo leading with their Ford Fiesta, clocking 20 minutes, 6 seconds, and 1/10. Juan Carlos Alonso is close behind, completing his run with a time just 1.2 seconds off the lead aboard his Skoda Fabia. Juan Dechiara remains competitive, trailing by 40.8 seconds with his Hyundai. Further down the list, Nicolás Armesto, Héctor Porzio, and Ricardo Martinoglio all battled hard, finishing their courses within the 4-5 minute range, demonstrating the fierce competition present.