European Baja Cup kicks off with attrition-heavy Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura

After narrowly lacking out on the BP Final Rally-Raid win in April, João Ferreira started the 2024 FIA European Baja Cup sturdy as he survived a brutal Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura that eradicated a lot of the sphere.

Solely twenty-seven of the forty-one FIA automobiles completed the race, together with simply half of the fourteen in Final alongside Ferreira, as the remaining have been eradicated by mechanical failures introduced upon by the punishing Spanish terrain. This was significantly evident in the course of the Prologue, the place the ultimate thirty kilometres ran by a coaching vary on Base Basic Menacho de Bótoa that’s utilized by the Spanish Military for tanks. Elevated rainfall in latest days added to the situations, making a bumpy course riddled with holes that caked everybody in mud and mainly doubled as a suspension take a look at. Benediktas Vanagas, a member of the Lithuanian Nationwide Defence Volunteer Forces, quipped it was the “most fascinating pace part” he had ever raced and that whereas “Abrams and Leopards really feel good (driving this), off-road autos have a tough time although this isn’t the case for the Toyota GR DKR Hilux.”

Vanagas could have had excessive reward for the tank polygon, however his Hilux didn’t make it by unscathed both as his right-front wheel rim broke after hitting a rock three kilometres from the end; he ended up as one of many seven Final retirements when his engine expired within the ultimate stage. João Ramos, one other favorite within the class, bowed out after going astray and dropping an excessive amount of time within the general, whereas Edgar Canet was the highest bike within the Prologue however a mechanical failure knocked him out. Eduard Pons didn’t begin the race attributable to well being causes.

Ramos’ retirement propelled Ferreira into the general lead forward of Francisco Barreto, and the 2022 European Baja champion saved Barreto at bay for the victory. Maria Luís Gameiro completed third to safe two podium spots for Mini.

“The primary stage was actually demanding for ourselves and for the automotive. The terrain was very exhausting,” mentioned Ferreira. “This final stage was quick and really pleasurable to drive, some tough in some elements, very slim and twisty.”

With their general win, Ferreira and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro are the primary ever European Cup Final factors leaders. The FIA added trophies for Final throughout the three Baja Cups, in addition to category-specific co-driver trophies for all 4 divisions, forward of Extremadura. Previous to this, Final drivers may solely go for the all-class Baja title.

Rui Carneiro edged out Alexandre Pinto for the Challenger win by simply 9 seconds, whereas Armindo Araújo rounded out the rostrum in Santag Racing‘s début race in an OT3 from GRallyTeam. Araújo beat Pau Navarro for third within the European Cup in addition to the T3 win within the Spanish Cross-Nation Rally Championship (CERTT). Navarro, racing a Demon Automotive DT3, notched the maiden rally podium for GRS Workforce, a junior single-seater workforce and newcomer to off-road racing; workforce boss Josep Trinidad completed eighth in CERTT T4 (equal to the FIA’s SSV class) after receiving an early penalty.

After having to name off their 2024 Dakar Rally plans attributable to a non-compliant Polaris RZR Professional R, Kamena Rally Workforce obtained the automotive licensed in time for Extremadura to take the SSV victory with Tomasz Białkowski. It was their second win in a global Baja after claiming the category within the 2022 Extremadura occasion.

Carlos Vento was disqualified after exiting the second Selective Part to restore his automotive at a close-by home earlier than rejoining. Vento had been searching for a flat location to work on the automobile, however doing so was in blatant violation of Article 49.1.7 of FIA rules (“Servicing in a closed and/or personal place is just not authorised. If a automobile is serviced inside a closed tent, the Clerk of the Course have to be knowledgeable and any official of the occasion have to be allowed to enter the tent at any time.”).

Bruno Santos, contemporary off dominating the BP Final Rally-Raid within the Rally2 class, continued his profitable methods by topping the FIM Bajas World Cup aspect. He beat David Megre by seven minutes and Pedro Bianchi Prata, the latter third in Rally3 in Portugal, by half an hour.

FIM factors chief Mohammed Al-Balooshi, who received the season-opening Saudi Baja in February, struggled with navigation troubles that included a roadbook error. His bike finally gave up within the ultimate run, prompting fellow rider Pedro Pinheiro to tow him to the end in twelfth.

Just like the BP Final Rally-Raid, Extremadura takes place on the Iberian Peninsula and crosses between Spain and Ferreira’s native Portugal; each races additionally crossed by the Spanish metropolis of Badajoz. In any other case, the previous is organised by the Automóvel Membership de Portugal whereas Spain’s Actual Federación Española de Automovilismo oversees the Baja.

General outcomes

FIA

Final

Challenger

SSV

Inventory

FIM

Bike

Quad

CERTT winners