In a dramatic showdown at the Rally RACC Catalunya / Costa Daurada, Unai de la Dehesa clinched both the rally victory and the 2024 Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica title. With eight grueling stages on dirt and asphalt, this event proved to be a fierce battleground for de la Dehesa, who had to overcome strong opposition from Portugal’s Hugo Lopes, the trophy leader heading into the final rally.
De la Dehesa’s win not only secures him the coveted Iberian title, but also opens the door to a 2025 season in Stellantis Motorsport’s Rally2 or Rally4 programs, with opportunities to compete in either the European Rally Championship or national rally series in Spain or Portugal.
Stars align for De la Dehesa as Lopes retires
The fight for the Iberian trophy reached its climax during the sixth stage of the rally. De la Dehesa, trailing Lopes—the provisional championship leader—began his rally campaign by finishing second in the Power Stage, just behind Lopes. This earned him two crucial points, keeping the pressure on his Portuguese rival.
However, the turning point came in SS6, when Lopes, who had built a 9.2-second lead, retired unexpectedly. His exit left the door wide open for de la Dehesa to take control of the rally and secure the points he needed for the championship.
While Giovanni Fariña showed pace by winning both Super Special Stages, the real battle for the title was between de la Dehesa and Lopes. Fariña’s efforts earned him second place on the rally podium, but it was de la Dehesa’s consistency and tactical driving that earned him the top spot in the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica 2024.
Stage-by-stage breakdown: How the battle unfolded
The rally opened with a 1.55 km asphalt Super Special Stage in Salou, where Fariña edged out his competitors by a narrow margin. The real action, however, began the next day on dirt stages, with de la Dehesa posting the fastest time on SS2, gaining 7.5 seconds on Lopes and putting himself firmly in contention for the title.
Lopes responded quickly, reclaiming the lead in the Power Stage with a 5-second advantage over his Spanish rival, adding two crucial points to his tally. As the day progressed, Lopes extended his lead to 3.7 seconds ahead of de la Dehesa. But disaster struck on SS6, where Lopes retired, crushing his hopes of winning both the Iberian and Portuguese trophies in the same season.
With Lopes out of the picture, de la Dehesa drove cautiously through the remaining stages, securing victory by managing his pace. He topped two of the final stages—one under nominal time due to an incident involving drivers ahead—while the final stage went to Fariña.
Final podium and championship outcome
The podium was completed by Aleix Arcarons, a rookie making his debut in the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica. The final standings for the Rally RACC Catalunya / Costa Daurada were:
01: Unai de la Dehesa / Daniel Sosa – 1h 12m 57.8s
02: Giovanni Fariña / David Rivero + 5m 12.2s
03: Aleix Arcarons / Christian Gómez + 9m 44.2s
Unai de la Dehesa joins the elite list of champions
With his triumph in Catalunya, Unai de la Dehesa becomes the seventh champion in the history of the **Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica, joining a prestigious list that includes:
- Sergi Pérez (2023)
- Diego Ruiloba (2022)
- Alejandro Cachón (2021)
- Pedro Antunes (2020)
- Daniel Berdomás (2019)
- Robert Blach (2018)
De la Dehesa’s season dominance is evident—he claimed four rally victories and four Power Stage wins. Now, only one task remains: participating in the final Rally Ciudad de Pozoblanco in mid-November to officially secure the Spanish DESAFÍO Peugeot title, as per regulations that require drivers to compete in every event on the calendar to be crowned champion.
A season of rivalries and emerging talent
The 2024 Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica brought together rising talents from Portugal and Spain, with a mix of new faces and experienced drivers, continuing the tradition of cross-border competition that defines this single-make series. The 99.88-kilometre route in Catalunya featured eight special stages, three of which were repeated twice on dirt, plus a Super Special on asphalt.
The rally’s exciting format ensured no clear favourite until the very end, delivering the drama and unpredictability that has made the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica a standout series for seven years. This season’s thrilling conclusion underlines the importance of both skill and strategy in the face of tough competition.
A bright future with Stellantis Motorsport
With the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica season now complete, de la Dehesa’s victory grants him access to Stellantis Motorsport’s 2025 programs. He will either compete in the European Rally Championship (ERC) with a Rally4 car or participate in national championships in Spain or Portugal with a Rally2 vehicle.
The series is organized by Peugeot Portugal and Peugeot Spain, with logistical support from Sports & You and sponsorship from Pirelli Motorsport.
Final Driver and Navigator Standings
Drivers:
01: Unai de la Dehesa – 78 points
02: Hugo Lopes – 73 points
03: Giovanni Fariña – 45 points
Navigators:
01: Daniel Sosa – 78 points
02: Valter Cardoso – 49 points
03: David Rivero – 45 points