Barbosa/Fiúza safe victory at Baja Portalegre, Ferreira/Palmeiro bag most World Baja Cup factors

2024 FIA World Baja Cup – thirty eighth Baja Portalegre 500 (spherical 5/8)

The Portuguese crew of Miguel Barbosa and Paulo Fiúza secured a commanding victory within the thirty eighth Baja Portalegre 500 (October 17-19) however weren’t registered for factors within the eight-round FIA World Baja Cup.

The ultimate stage ran for 166.20km in deteriorating stage and climate situations and there have been quite a few modifications throughout the chief board with Barbosa claiming the quickest time in his Taurus T3 Max to safe victory by 5min 14sec from Gonçalo Guerreiro and José Sá Pires of their SSV category-winning Polaris RXR Professional R. 

Barbosa stated: “This was a really troublesome occasion as all the time. It is a very particular and distinctive occasion. We did a great Prologue after which had technical issues on the afternoon stage. We completed with two good phases. The automobile was good. There have been a whole lot of issues for our rivals. I had already gained this race thrice and to get again to successful methods was very particular.”

Paulo Rodrigues and his Spanish co-driver José Sebastian Cesana rounded off the rostrum finishers however not one of the prime three crews have been registered for the FIA World Baja Cup. 

A damaged belt on stage two value the Portuguese pairing of João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro round six minutes however they recovered strongly of their X-Raid Mini JCW Rally Plus to complete fifth behind Edgar Reis and Fábio Ribeiro. They continue to be firmly in competition for the general title and success within the Final class with most FIA World Baja Cup factors being earned in each classes.

Co-driver Palmeiro stated: “We’ve got not had the very best final day. The primary stage, we had a belt damaged on the engine and we stopped to vary. Within the final stage, we had some troubles with a puncture and the kill change was gone. However we made it.”

Santag Racing’s Rui Serpa and Rui Pita completed third within the SSV part of their Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR behind South Racing’s João Monteiro and Filipe Alves, however the Italian duo of Amerigo Ventura and Erika Mingozzi earned most SSV factors for guiding their Quaddy Racing Yamaha YXZ  1000R to being the primary of the registered crews within the SSV part in fifteenth place. 

Ventura stated: “We pushed so exhausting. We loved this wonderful panorama. I now know why Portuguese drivers are so quick. Driving right here is so troublesome. With the final modification to the suspension, we have been capable of push from the primary to the final kilometre. We have been the one Yamaha crew right here. We’re very proud of this end result.”

Eduardo Pons and Oriol Mena completed seventeenth within the normal classification however picked up factors for being third within the FIA World Baja Cup and most factors within the Challenger class to steer the latter collection with three rounds remaining. Rival Khalid Al-Jafla completed second of the registered Challenger drivers in his Taurus T3 Max.

Pons stated: “All of it went nicely. Rivers, moist and chilly and issues with the automobile. It was not performing correctly. Lastly, third within the World Cup. That was good. My rivals had issues and so they didn’t end.“

Fernando Alvarez started the occasion with the outright lead within the Drivers’ Championship and a cushty cushion within the SSV part. He and French co-driver Xavier Panseri have been labeled twenty first general however fourth of the registered FIA contenders and second in SSV. Alvarez misplaced floor to Ferreira within the championship tussle however stays nicely forward within the SSV part. 

João Dias and João Miranda had completed third on the opening stage and second on the subsequent one on Saturday morning earlier than struggling issues on the ultimate stage that value them potential outright victory and success within the Challenger class. Marco Pereira retired on the final stage after Alejandro Martins had suffered engine points on stage three. 

South Racing Can-Am’s Diego Martinez and Sergio Lafuente started the occasion with slender leads within the Challenger Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championship however suffered a setback to their title challenges once they have been compelled to retire on the second stage. Rival Belgian Ghislain de Mévius (G Rally Staff OT3) retired on the final stage. 

João Ramos sustained terminal engine harm on his Toyota Hilux on the Prologue stage and main Portuguese Championship contenders Tiago Reis and Armindo Araújo additionally retired prematurely, as did Cristiano Batista and Otávio Leite.

The South Racing Can-Am Staff retained its lead over Overdrive Racing and Escuderia JMP Racing within the Groups’ Championship.

Sixty-six automobiles have been granted a begin after official administration and scrutineering checks with 19 competing within the Final class, 33 in Challenger and 14 in SSV. 

The FIA World Baja Cup continues in Qatar on October Thirtieth-November 2nd.