Is this Spain’s Kalle Rovanperä? Has already made history in his country’s rally championship

Membrado, hailing from the village of Olost in Catalonia, claimed his first major rally victory over the weekend by securing first place in the opening round of Spain’s gravel series at the Rallye de Cáceres. In doing so, Membrado became the youngest driver in history to win a round of the Spanish rally championship.

Competing in a Ford Rally2 car, the Spanish driver’s victory was far from easy, as Mexican competitor Alejandro Mauro finished just 9.6 seconds behind him. Although Spain’s top drivers were absent from the Rallye de Cáceres, Membrado’s performance remains undeniably impressive.

“It was a huge challenge, but I am incredibly proud that we won the rally with our PAST team and my co-driver (Alejandro) ‘Jandrin’ López. First and foremost, a big thank you to my family and sponsors, because without them, I wouldn’t have come this far – from my early days in Latvia at the age of 13,” Membrado enthused.

“I’m really excited about this victory.”

Spain hosts three major rally championships each year. In addition to the gravel series, there is an tarmac-only championship and the Superchampionship, which combines both surfaces. Membrado’s success has made headlines in all of Spain’s biggest sports newspapers, as the 17-year-old rising star does not yet have a driving licence, meaning co-driver López handles the road sections between stages.

Like two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, Gil Membrado also began his career in Latvia, where underage drivers are allowed to compete. In 2021, Membrado started racing in the Baltics behind the wheel of a Peugeot 208 R2 before moving to a Ford Fiesta Rally4 the following season. In 2023, at the age of 15, he was granted a special exemption to compete in his home country’s rally championships.

Last season, at just 16 years old, Membrado was already securing podium finishes in all of Spain’s rally series and even setting fastest stage times. Marca’s rally journalist Nacho Villarin points out that Dani Sordo, who built an impressive career at WRC level, was 20 years old when he claimed his first victory in the Spanish rally championship. While times have changed, Membrado’s high-profile supporters speak volumes about his talent.

Last year, Daniel Alonso – who previously helped propel F1 star Fernando Alonso to the top and supported Spanish rally drivers Alejandro Cachón and Jose Antonio “Cohete” Suárez – became one of Membrado’s key backers. Additionally, Spanish rally legend Carlos Sainz is now among those supporting the young driver.

Sainz has called Membrado the most talented Spanish driver of all time. He also introduced the youngster to energy drink giant Red Bull, which has since become one of Membrado’s sponsors. The duo recently completed a test session together in Madrid, further solidifying the strong backing behind the Spanish prodigy.

Rallye de Cáceres results: