Zurgena roars again: Francisco Javier del Buey wins 2nd urban slalom before a crowd that filled the streets

Zurgena turned its streets into a circuit once again last Saturday, and it did so in front of a crowd that filled them. The town held the second edition of the ‘Puerta del Almanzora’ (Gateway to the Almanzora) urban slalom, which counts towards the Andalusian Slalom Championship, the Almería Provincial Council Motorsport Cup (Copa Diputación) and the Interclub Trophy, with a win for Francisco Javier del Buey Sánchez and no incidents, as reported by La Voz de Almería.

The event was organised by the Balcón del Almanzora club, with the support of the Provincial Council, the supervision of the Andalusian Motorsport Federation and the collaboration of the town council. The course, some 1,000 metres long according to the Federation, ran along Avenida 19 de Octubre and nearby streets, while the square next to the town hall hosted the scrutineering and the trophy presentation.

The championship leader was the fastest

Each driver completed three runs: one reconnaissance run and two that counted towards the result. Del Buey, who came into the event as leader of the Andalusian championship according to the Federation, did not let victory slip away. The trophies were shared out as follows:

• Overall: Francisco Javier del Buey, ahead of Ismael Páez Lara and Francisco José Jerez García.
• Class 1: Francisco Javier del Buey.
• Class 2: Ismael Páez.
• Copa Diputación and Copa X: Juan Manuel Ramírez Martínez.
• Interclub Trophy: Francisco José Jerez.
• Junior Cup: Gabriel Jesús Rueda Rubia.
• Best local driver: Luis Fernández Kavaliauskaite.
• Most spectacular driver: Javier Cantisano.

Around thirty drivers at the start

Around thirty drivers took the start; the Federation had published a list of 28 entrants for an event open to touring cars, Roadster vehicles and Car Cross. Present at the trophy presentation were the mayor of Zurgena, Domingo Trabalón; the president of the organising club, Salvador Segura; and Manuel Alonso, representing the Andalusian Motorsport Federation.

The event had already shown promise on its debut: the first edition, held last year, drew more than 40 participants and more than a thousand visitors, as the mayor recalled when the event was presented. At that presentation, the provincial councillor for Sport, Healthy Living and Youth, María Luisa Cruz, stated that “Zurgena has become one of the great motorsport venues in our province”.

From elValle Actualidad, congratulations to Francisco Javier del Buey and the rest of the prize-winners, and to Zurgena, which has once again filled its streets with motorsport.