The seventh edition of the Jarama Classic reaffirmed its position as one of the most significant classic motorsport events in southern Europe. The two races of Carrera Los 80 were marked by impressive comebacks, fierce battles, and plenty of excitement for the large crowd that gathered at the circuit near Madrid.
On Saturday afternoon, the first race of the Iberian competition at the historic Circuito de Madrid Jarama – RACE had an unusual start, with eight cars failing to leave the pits in time for the formation of the starting grid. This unexpected shuffle of starting positions had a direct impact on the race dynamics.
The race began with Jorge Lopez leading the action in his Porsche 968 CS prepared by Garagem João Gomes, having started from second on the grid. Close behind were Teo Pérez in his BMW 325i and Gonzalo Alonso in his Honda Civic, completing the front trio. This start promised a balanced contest among the different makes and models that bring vibrancy to the Carrera Los 80 races.
However, the race took a different turn when the BMW E30 M3, driven by Bruno Lima and José Paradela, which started from the pit lane, began an impressive comeback. Lap after lap, the BMW of the Portuguese duo showcased skill and speed, eventually taking the lead and maintaining it ahead of their rivals until the end of the race.
The brothers Victor and Javier Rodriguez-Rey, winners of the two races at Jerez Classic in their Renault Clio, secured second place at the checkered flag, triumphing in the T2000 class. Ricardo Pereira, driving his Ford Escort RS2000, finished third in the 40-minute race, claiming victory among the Gr1/N cars. Following them in the standings were Lucas Gonzalez/Jorge Lopez and Teo Pérez, the top two in the GT COPA class.
The second race of the weekend, which kicked off Sunday's activities, had a less eventful storyline at the front. Starting from pole position, the formidable M3 of Bruno Lima and José Paradela dominated from the outset, securing what seemed to be a comfortable victory. However, in the latter part of the race, the well-prepared Renault Clio began to close the gap, ultimately crossing the finish line just 1.6 seconds behind the second-place finisher.
With Ricardo Pereira dropping out of the race two laps before the end, the Renault Clio of the Rodriguez-Rey brothers once again crossed the finish line in second place, this time ahead of Teo Pérez, after withstanding intense pressure from the debutant BMW E36 M3 of Diogo Cavaco and Bernardo Almeida. The two BMWs engaged in an exciting battle with several position changes, keeping the audience fully engaged in the race. Initially, the category was led by Lucas Gonzalez and Jorge Lopez, who unfortunately retired from the race with 5 laps to go.
Another highlight was the battle between the two Datsun 1200s. The drivers exchanged positions several times, providing a spectacle in itself. After the driver changes, Alberto Gomez's car managed to gain a decisive advantage over Guillermo Velasco's identical car.
Following two events in Spain, on the weekend of October 25-27, the Carrera Los 80 will make its debut in Portugal for the 2024 season, featuring two races as part of the Algarve Classic Festival program.