Joao Ferreira survives, UTVs reign in Baja Portalegre 500

João Ferreira would have certainly preferred for the FIA World Baja Cup‘s return to his native Portugal at the Baja Portalegre 500 to go a little cleaner, but at least he made it home with points and a class win even if not entirely in one piece.

After clearing Francisco Barreto by over two and a half minutes to be the fastest Ultimate car (second overall) on Friday, a myriad of mechanical issues plagued his Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus the following day. He had to stop to change a broken engine belt during the first Selective Section of Saturday, which cost him five minutes, then SS3 saw a flat tyre and malfunctioning killswitch that lost him even more time. By the time he arrived at the finish, his Mini was missing much of its front panelling and bonnet.

Despite the chaos, Ferreira managed to finish third, 3:36 behind winner Alexandre Franco and José Luis García. While he still cleared Franco by four minutes for the overall Ultimate victory, he was fifth among FIA entrants behind three Challenger cars and an SSV.

Although certainly not the outing he would have liked, Ferreira could at least be happy to make some headway in the World Baja Cup’s all-class standings. The four who finished ahead of him are not competing for the WBC, thereby earning Ferreira maximum points in the overall trophy. Fernando Álvarez, who entered the race leading him by twenty-eight points, missed the WBC with a fourth (twenty-first among all drivers) and second for in SSV. Unofficially, their contrasting outings have allowed Ferreira to slice the gap down to nineteen points with three races to go.

“Not the race that we expected but racing is like this,” said Ferreira. “We had a lot of problems today: we had the killswitch problem, the bonnet, in the morning we had the belt. It’s part of racing. We scored good points for the championship.”

The race also counted for the Portuguese Cross-Country Championship (CPTT), where Ferreira was able to gain some breathing room. João Dias, who trailed Ferreira by just nine points for the overall, was leading in Challenger until mechanical issues dropped him to the bottom of the order on the last leg. Dias still clinched the CPTT’s T3 championship, though the margin to Ferreira in the general standings has ballooned with one race to go.

The course took a heavy toll on competitors as early as the Prologue, where heavy rainfall earlier in the week caused mud and water crossings that they had not anticipated. While the rest of the race was in dry conditions, this meant dust was heavier and reduced visibility.

The elements played a heavy role in why Ultimate only saw nine of nineteen cars running at the end. Barreto was forced to retire when the radiator sprung a leak in SS2, while water got into João Ramos‘ engine and knocked him out of the race. Nuno Madeira had a myriad of issues that included breaking both the front and rear transmissions in one leg. Dave Klaassen‘s Nissan Red-Lined exited when a bolt on the tensioner snapped off while heading to the start of SS3.

While the top category struggled, the UTVs of Challenger and SSV had more luck as they swept the podium. The Taurus T3 Max, on the heels of a wildly successful outing at the Rallye du Maroc where they swept the top five positions in Challenger, became the first UTV to win the Baja Portalegre overall as Miguel Barbosa set the only sub-five hour time. Gonçalo Guerreiro and Paulo Rodrigues followed in their Polaris RZR Pro R and Can-Am Maverick X3, respectively, with the latter narrowly holding off Edgar Reis by eighteen seconds for third.

The win was Barbosa’s fourth at Portalegre.

“It was here that I became national champion for the first time, and it was a very difficult race,” recalled Barbosa in his post-race conference. “So it’s fantastic to be back here and win again. This is a truly historic victory because it’s the first time a Challenger, or any car like it, won an overall in the CPTT.”

While Barbosa credited the weather with helping the Challengers and SSVs thrive, he was certainly not going to write off the Ultimates in their uncharacteristically poor outing.

“I think what really made a difference (this year) was the mud and a lot of water,” he continued. “It was also a race with some incidents, as was the case with João Ferreira, who is always a candidate for the victory. Everything came together to make this possible, and we know these cars can jump a bit further in these conditions.

“However, I still think the real stars of the race are the T1+. Every category has its own winner, and that’s how it should be seen. We’re talking about cars with completely different characteristics: weight, power, everything. Nowadays I race with a Challenger, so I look at the Challenger classification.

“Of course, am I happy to win the overall? Absolutely.”

While UTVs occupied the top three for FIA, Pierer Mobility AG enjoyed a podium sweep of their own in the motorcycle class: Martim Ventura and Bruno Santos completed a 1–2 finish for the Husqvarna FE 501 followed by Micael Simão on a GasGas MC 450F. Simão beat António Maio‘s Yamaha WR450F Rally for third by just 1.3 seconds, marking just the second time in the race’s 38-year history that no Japanese manufacturers appeared on the bike podium; the only other instance was in 2020 with Sebastian Bühler on a Hero followed by Joaquim Rodrigues and Santos on a Husqvarna.

Overall results

FIA

Ultimate

Finish	Overall Finish	Number	Driver	Co-Driver	Team	Vehicle	Class	Time	Margin
1	5	200	João Ferreira	Filipe Palmeiro	X-raid Mini JCW Team	Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus	T1+	5:08:30.2	Leader
2	7	208	Alexandre Franco*	Rui Franco	Alexandre Franco	Mercedes-Benz C 230	T1.1	5:12:37.0	+ 4:06.8
3	11	204	João Lourenço*	Jorge Monteiro	João Lourenço	Mitsubishi Racing Lancer	T1.1	5:15:24.9	+ 6:54.7
4	13	218	José Luis García*	Samanta Montel	Escudería Villa de Llanes	Mini John Cooper Works	T1.1	5:17:00.7	+ 8:30.5
5	16	202	Edgar Condenso*	Nuno Silva	Edgar Condenso	Ford MO EXR05 Proto	T1.1	5:18:26.2	+ 9:56.0
6	18	212	Marco Cardoso*	André Barras	Marco Cardoso	Mercedes-Benz A 140 Proto	T1.1	5:21:08.7	+ 12:38.5
7	33	209	Luis Recuenco*	Sergio Peinado	GPR Sport	Toyota Hilux	T1+	6:35:16.4	+ 1:26:46.2
8	34	215	Evangelos Bersis*	Konstantinos Exarchos	Evangelos Bersis	Mitsubishi L200	T1.1	10:26:22.6	+ 5:17:52.4
9	37	216	Alberto Morganti*	Cesare Rickler	Alberto Morganti	Mitsubishi Pajero WRC+	T1.1	14:35:23.4	+ 9:26:53.2
DNF	DNF	201	João Ramos*	Jorge Carvalho	João Ramos	Toyota Hilux EVO	T1+	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	203	Lino Carapeta*	Fábio Carapeta	Lino Carapeta	Ford Ranger	T1.1	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	205	Francisco Barreto*	Carlos Silva	Barata Racing Team	Toyota Hilux	T1+	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	206	Alejandro Martins*	David Monteiro	Alejandro Martins	Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus	T1+	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	210	César Sequeira*	Tânia Sequeira	César Sequeira	Mercedes-Benz 350 SLC	T1.1	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	211	Paulo Casaca*	NelsonRamos	Paulo Casaca	Volkswagen Amarok	T1.1	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	213	Jose Rogeira*	Paulo Marques	Jose Rogeira	Ford Ranger	T1.1	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	214	Nuno Madeira*	André Lopes	Nuno Madeira	Ford Ranger	T1.1	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	217	Dave Klaassen*	Tessa Klaassen	DaklaPack Rallysport	Red-Lined Nissan Navara VK56	T1.1	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	219	Ronald Schoolderman*	Mark Salamons	4×4 Centrum Ermelo	Mitsubishi ASX	T1.1	DNF	N/A

* – Not competing for FIA World Baja Cup points

Challenger

Finish	Overall Finish	Number	Driver	Co-Driver	Team	Vehicle	Time	Margin
1	1	311	Miguel Barbosa*	Paulo Fiúza	Miguel Barbosa	Taurus T3 Max	4:57:23.9	Leader
2	3	308	Paulo Rodrigues*	Sebastian Cesana	Paulo Rodrigues	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:09:56.7	+ 9:32.8
3	4	313	Edgar Reis*	Fábio Ribeiro	Edgar Reis	Taurus T3 Max	5:07:14.6	+ 9:50.7
4	9	310	Ricardo Sousa*	Jorge Henriques	Ricardo Sousa	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:15:11.8	+ 17:47.9
5	10	306	Alexandre Pinto*	Bernardo Oliveira	Alexandre Pinto	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:15:16.7	+ 17:52.8
6	14	318	Filipe Cameirinha*	Jérémy Dubois	Filipe Cameirinha	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:17:33.3	+ 20:09.4
7	17	302	Eduard Pons	Oriol Mena	Pons Rallysport	Taurus T3 Max	5:19:05.7	+ 21:41.8
8	20	330	Rui Silva*	Francisco Albuquerque	Rui Silva	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:25:16.3	+ 27:52.4
9	23	334	Mark Mustermann*	Michael Zajc	Mark Mustermann	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:33:29.6	+ 36:05.7
10	25	304	Khalid Aljafla	Andrei Rudnitski	Khalid Aljafla	Taurus T3 Max	5:36:39.9	+ 39:16.0
11	26	326	Jose Monroy*	João Serôdio	Jose Monroy	PH Sport Zephyr	5:46:24.3	+ 49:00.4
12	28	317	Nuno Faria*	João Martins	Nuno Faria	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:47:05.9	+ 49:42.0
13	29	320	Pedro Ruivo*	Filipe Rasteiro	Pedro Ruivo	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:55:03.2	+ 57:39.3
14	30	329	Pim Klaassen*	Mark Laan	DaklaPack Rallysport	Taurus T3 Max	5:59:29.7	+ 1:02:05.8
15	31	333	Flip Vic*	Gerhard Schmiedberger	Flip Vic	Can-Am Maverick X3	6:13:49.2	+ 1:16:25.3
16	35	305	João Dias	João Miranda	Santag Racing	Can-Am Maverick X3	13:42:14.8	+ 8:44:50.9
DNF	DNF	300	Diego Martinez	Sergio Lafuente	South Racing Can-Am	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	301	Ghislain de Mévius	Johan Jalet	G Rally Team	G Rally OT3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	303	Tiago Reis*	Candido Carrera	Tiago Reis	Taurus T3 Max	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	307	Armindo Araújo*	Luis Ramalho	Santag Racing	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	309	Marco Pereira*	Eurico Adão	Santag Racing	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	315	Nuno Matos*	Ricardo Claro	Nuno Matos	Volkswagen Amarok PROTO	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	321	Otávio Leite*	Jorge Brandão	Santag Racing	G Rally OT3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	322	Mário Ferreira*	Gonçalo Ferreira	Santag Racing	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	323	Miguel Barbas*	Nuno Guilherme	Santag Racing	G Rally OT3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	324	Daniel Oliveira e Silva*	Gonçalo Magalhães	Daniel Oliveira e Silva	Taurus T3 Max	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	325	Pedro Carvalho*	Romeu Martins	Pedro Carvalho	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	327	Gerald Blanco*	Frederic Rubio	Gerald Blanco	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	331	Roberto Rodríguez Gamboa*	Herman Rodríguez Gamboa	Herrador Factory Team	Herrator Inzane 901	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	335	John Knight*	André Leyh	G Rally Team	G Rally OT3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	336	Gerben Heisterkamp*	Wesley Aaldering	South Racing Can-Am	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	337	Thomas Bell*	Dmytro Tsyro	Thomas Bell	Taurus T3 Max	DNF	N/A
DNF	DNF	338	Lasne Romuald*	Delphine Delfino	Lasne Romuald	Can-Am Maverick X3	DNF	N/A

SSV

Finish	Overall Finish	Number	Driver	Co-Driver	Team	Vehicle	Time	Margin
1	2	409	Gonçalo Gurreiro*	José Sá Pires	JB Racing	Polaris RZR Pro R	5:02:037.9	Leader
2	6	405	João Monteiro*	Filipe Alves	South Racing Can-Am	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:10:30.5	+ 7:52.6
3	8	408	Rui Serpa*	Rui Pitas	Santag Racing	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:13:31.5	+ 10:53.6
4	12	407	José Óscar Nogueira*	Arcélio Couto	José Óscar Nogueira	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:16:18.7	+ 13:40.8
5	15	403	Amerigo Ventura	Erika Mingozzi	Quaddy Racing	Yamaha YXZ1000R	5:18:20.5	+ 15:42.6
6	19	410	Filipe Lopes*	Fábio Santos	Filipe Lopes	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:23:02.5	+ 20:24.6
7	21	400	Fernando Álvarez	Xavier Panseri	South Racing Can-Am	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:29:34.0	+ 26:56.1
8	22	406	Rúben Rodrigues*	Rui Paulo	Rúben Rodrigues	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:30:53.7	+ 28:15.8
9	24	401	Miguel Toril	Jan Rosa Viñas	Escudería JMP Racing	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:35:52.9	+ 33:15.0
10	27	412	Afonso Oliveira*	Pedro Cação	Afonso Oliveira	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	5:46:43.7	+ 44:05.8
11	32	404	Claude Fournier	Max Delfino	MMP Compétition	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	6:22:25.8	+ 1:19:47.9
12	36	402	Alexander Toril	Pedro López Chaves	Escudería JMP Racing	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	13:55:05.9	+ 8:53:28.0
DNF	DNF	411	Cristiano Batista*	Fausto Mota	Santag Racing	Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR	DNF	N/A

Moto class winners

Moto

Class	Overall Finish	Number	Rider	Team	Vehicle	Total Time
MTT1	6	34	Pedro Oliveira	Old Friends Rally Team	KTM 250 EXC-F	4:53:38.3
MTT2	3	8	Micael Simão	Micael Simão	GasGas MC 450F	4:41:40.4
MTT3	1	84	Martin Ventura	Old Friends Rally Team	Husqvarna FE 501	4:36:59.8
MTT4	45	111	Gregorio Hernandez Vazquez	Gregorio Hernandez Vazquez	Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally	5:45:57.1
Moto Junior	1	84	Martin Ventura	Old Friends Rally Team	Husqvarna FE 501	4:36:59.8
Moto Veteran	6	34	Pedro Oliveira	Old Friends Rally Team	KTM 250 EXC-F	4:53:38.3
Moto Promo	14	54	Pedro Carrilho	Pedro Carrilho	Yamaha WR450F	5:02:07.0
Moto Women	28	55	Bruna Antunes	Bruna Antunes	GasGas EC 250F	5:27:03.1
Moto Trail	45	111	Gregorio Hernandez Vazquez	Gregorio Hernandez Vazquez	Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally	5:45:57.1

Quad

Class	Overall Finish	Number	Rider	Team	Vehicle	Total Time
Quad	1	151	Luis Fernandes	Bitracing	Yamaha YFZ450R	5:01:11.4
Quad Junior	3	154	Rodrigo Alves	Moto Gardunha	Yamaha YFZ450R	5:08:39.9
Quad Veteran	7	171	Carlos Reguinga	Bitracing	Can-Am Renegade XXC 1000R	5:26:15.2
Quad Pro	4	183	Tiago Gomes	OFT Racing	KTM XC 450	5:14:58.7

SSV

Class	Overall Finish	Number	Driver	Co-Driver	Team	Vehicle	Total Time
SSV	1	804	Hélder Rodrigues		Old Friends Rally Team	Can-Am Maverick X3	4:51:17.6
Polaris	2	819	Tiago Gurreiro	Carlos Paulino	JB Racing	Polaris RZR Pro R	4:52:05.6
Segway	36	855	Nuno Mendes Silva	Pedro Valentim	Yesauto Racing Team	Segway Villain SX10	5:27:34.6
Yamaha YXZ1000R Cup	29	869	Teofilo Viñaras Gallart	Roberto Viñaras Gallart	Teofilo Viñaras Gallart	Yamaha YXZ1000R	5:18:17.8
Stock	5	844	Arnaldo Monteiro	José Duarte	Mundimat Racing Team	Polaris RZR Pro R	4:54:59.6
TT2	29	869	Teofilo Viñaras Gallart	Roberto Viñaras Gallart	Teofilo Viñaras Gallart	Yamaha YXZ1000R	5:18:17.8
Junior	8	883	Gonçalo Guerra	Maria Carvalho	Benimoto Racing	Can-Am Maverick X3	4:57:30.1
Veteran	4	809	Nélson Caxias	João Rodrigues	SGS Car Racing	Can-Am Maverick X3	4:54:51.5
Promotion	18	853	Rogrido Melancia	João Diogo	Rogrido Melancia	Can-Am Maverick X3	5:09:06.3
Women	43	824	Dorothée Ferreira	Ricardo Pereira	JB Racing	Can-Am Maverick R	5:35:44.4