Yaiza's new 500-meter urban circuit, featuring two straights, two chicanes, a ramp, and a challenging curve, hosted the inaugural edition of this race. Eleven handcrafted vehicles, designed with great ingenuity, took the start line before an expectant crowd, who enjoyed the clever designs and the speed achieved on the main straight, the fastest section of the track, between La Alameda and Los Remedios squares.
The initiative, incorporated by the Yaiza Festival Commission into the patron saint festivities of Los Remedios, has generated very positive feedback regarding both driver participation and car originality. The Soapbox Derby is expected to become a recurring event in future town festivities.
This competition is notable for its sustainability, using motorless, gravity-powered, handcrafted vehicles with groundbreaking designs. The level of creativity was so high that one spectator joked that F1 guru Adrian Newey could take inspiration from the designs seen in Yaiza.
The organization, led by artisan and municipal worker Pancho Ortiz, determined the podium based on the times from two timed runs per vehicle and the design's score.
The fun started immediately, with one spectator joking that F1 guru Adrian Newey should take inspiration from the designs seen in Yaiza to enhance his successes.
The top three finishers were Omar Perdomo, driving the car (truck) ‘Eso es lo demás’; David Rodríguez and Iván Medina with ‘Novios enredadores’; and Gustavo Torres, a driver from Femés, with his car ‘Laya’, designed to resemble a palm tree.
The reliability and speed of the winning car, along with Omar Perdomo's skillful driving, were impressive, but the exhibition of all eleven vehicles ensured a thoroughly enjoyable experience for the audience.
The mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, and the Councilor for Festivals, Daniel Medina, presided over the awards ceremony and thanked the Festival Commission and all participants for their enthusiasm and efforts in delivering a day full of ingenuity and fun. Daniel Medina also participated by driving the zero car.
The festivities continued in the square with a performance by the band Defecto Venturi, while attendees recharged at the 'ventorrillos' (food stalls) styled as pit boxes.
