Óscar Palomo, a driver from Madrid, had to leave the 57th Rally de Ourense after the Taboadela stage due to a road exit. He was driving in fourth place overall after setting the fourth best time in the Barbadás stage with the Hyundai i20N. The incident occurred during the first pass through Taboadela, a new addition to this year’s Ourense rally.
In addition to Óscar Palomo and his co-driver Sergio Fernández, other teams like Brais Garrido and Avelino González, as well as Jaime Sampi and Roberto Prol, also did not start the Barbadás stage. The latest to exit the competition were Marcos Calvo and Esteban Rodríguez, who had to abandon during the A Merca – Celanova stage due to a breakdown. Prior to that, Andrés Pérez and Noa Martínez had to leave in Taboadela for the same reason.
Rally driving is a sport that requires precision, skill, and focus. The demanding nature of the sport means that accidents and mechanical failures can happen, leading to unexpected exits from the competition. Despite the best efforts of drivers and their teams, unforeseen circumstances can sometimes cut short their participation in a rally.
The rally community is a close-knit group of individuals who share a passion for motorsport. When accidents like the one involving Óscar Palomo occur, it serves as a reminder of the risks involved in pushing the limits of both man and machine. Safety is always a top priority in rallying, with strict regulations and safety measures in place to protect drivers, co-drivers, and spectators.
As fans of the sport, we hope for Óscar Palomo’s quick recovery from the crash and look forward to seeing him back on the rally stages soon. The rallying world is full of ups and downs, but it is the resilience and determination of the drivers that truly define their spirit. We salute all the participants of the Rally de Ourense for their courage and commitment to the sport they love.