Lemes tipped for IRC 2WD Cup glory

Yeray Lemes will start Rally Islas Canarias as one of the favourites to win the IRC 2WD Cup.

The 22-year-old from Lanzarote, the fourth smallest of the Canary Islands, will drive a Ford Fiesta R2 for the Nupel Global Rally Team.

With experience at World Rally Championship level and a full programme in this year’s Junior world championship ahead of him, Lemes has been tipped as one of Spain’s most promising drivers of the future.

He said: “This year the rally is very attractive for the drivers and fans because of the IRC. For our part we will try to achieve a good pace, but most importantly gain experience for the future.”

Lemes, who will be co-driven by Rogelio Peñate, has previous IRC experience to call upon. He took part on Rali Vinho Madeira in 2008 and entered Rally Principe de Asturias last season.

The IRC 2WD Cup is jointly led by Kris Princen, Marcos Tokarski and Rafael Tulio, although none of them have entered the Gran Canaria-based event.