Portugal will host the third race of the World Cross-Country Rally Championship, the first race to take place on national territory from April 2 to 7, announced this Wednesday the Automóvel Club de Portugal, responsible for organizing the event.
The Portuguese race, the only one in the World Cross-Country Rally Championship held in Europe, will bring to Portugal some of the most famous and experienced drivers in world motorsport and motorsport, who competed in this year’s Dakar in Saudi Arabia.
After the Dakar Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the World Cross-Country Rally Championship (W2RC), created in 2022 by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and the Fédération Internationale de la Motorcyclist, will continue with the Rally Raid of Portugal, which will take place over five stages with a total length of 1,758 kilometers of the route.
“We couldn’t stay away from this World Championship, this is the only race that takes place in Europe. We already had Baja de Portalegre for the World Cup and this rally raid was a real dream. Organizing this race is very difficult. , because it will be five different regions, including Spain, and all of them are difficult for the Automóvel Club de Portugal. [ACP] It will be a challenge, we will have the best riders in the world here, but we will certainly be up to the task of doing justice to everyone and delivering an extremely competitive race,” commented Carlos Barbosa, ACP President.
The Portugal Rally Raid, which will take place between Alentejo, Ribatejo and Extremadura, will include five stages, very technical and competitive on different types of terrain, and will be headquartered in Grandola, where the second stage will take place in its entirety.
Among the main car and SSV drivers, the highlight is the presence of two-time World Rally Champion and five-time Dakar winner Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, Brazilian Lucas Moraes and North American Seth Quintero, both represented by the official Toyota team, as well as Overdrive Racing drivers Guerlain Chicheri , Guillaume de Mevius and Yazeed Al Rajhi, also driving a Toyota Hilux T1+.
Cristina Gutiérrez, Dakar winner in the Challenger category (ex-T3), and Portuguese João Ferreira, official Can-Am racer in the SSV category (ex-T4), are among the strongest contenders for top positions, as they also Americans Sarah Price (SSV) and Austin Jones and Lithuanian Rokas Batsiuska, competing in the Challenger T3 category.
“We had several victories and many podiums in Dakar, but one racing day ruined everything for us. Fifth place, however, was very positive. We will look at this race in Portugal as more favorable conditions to try to extend the race. advantage and who knows how to win,” said young João Ferreira, 24, asserting that “this competition is a source of pride and a huge opportunity for Portugal to enjoy a World Cup event.”
On motorcycles, North American Ricky Brabec (Honda), two-time Dakar champion, Ross Branch (Hero), leader of the World Rally Raid, Pablo Quintanilla (Honda), Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda), Adrien Van Bevereb (Honda), Skyler Hawes (Honda), Lorenzo Santonilo (Sherco) and Harith Noah (Sherco) are the main figures in the poster.
In addition to the Dakar Rally, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Rally-Raid Portugal, W2RC will also host two more events: the Ruta 40 Challenge in June in Argentina and the Morocco Rally in October.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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