Nani Roma tops Hungarian Baja in Ford Raptor T1+ debut

It didn’t take lengthy for the Ford Raptor T1+ to be a race winner. Nani Roma set the quickest time to attain the general win on the Hungarian Baja in its competitors début, even when it’s not mirrored within the FIA outcomes.

Developed by Ford Efficiency and M-Sport, the Raptor was revealed in mid-July earlier than being dropped at Hungary for its first race forward of the 2025 Dakar Rally. Because it has not been homologated by the FIA for Final regulation, which received’t be accomplished till the beginning of subsequent season, the automobile was restricted to the Experimental class (equal to Open at different races). Consequently, whereas Roma set the quickest time and is formally thought of the 2024 Hungarian Baja winner by organisers, João Ferreira is the victor amongst these competing within the FIA European Baja Cup.

Roma’s time of 4:02:58.1 beat Ferreira by a minute and thirty-six seconds, notching him his third crown within the occasion after beforehand successful in 2013 and 2018. He had set the third quickest time within the Prologue behind Ferreira and Francisco Barreta, then was thirty seconds off Ferreira within the first Selective Part earlier than topping the ultimate two legs by thirty-five seconds and 1:31.

“It’s an amazing occasion for us. First time racing the Ford Raptor, it’s nice to be right here,” stated Roma. “We had been nicely to the group and had plenty of issues to do earlier than Dakar. After we’re racing, we see many issues. We examined so much however are all the time racing, and racing which means that we’re glad. We realized so much from these final two days. There’s extra issues to do and we hope we’re we’re prepared for the subsequent Dakar.

“It was difficult. All race, it was actually difficult. Lots of bumps, plenty of issues, which means that we actually loved. We should actually, actually focus each kilometre. Lots of proper, left, slim tracks, quick tracks, bumpy areas. It’s nice. It’s an amazing place, and we actually take pleasure in it.”

Ferreira cleared Włodzimierz Grajek by over twenty-one seconds. It’s Ferreira’s first victory of the 2024 European Baja Cup and provides the factors chief one other leg up on the competitors within the standings.

Fidel Castillo Ruiz, second within the general EBC factors coming into Hungary, rolled his Can-Am Maverick in the course of the third Selective Part and suffered a damaged collarbone and pulmonary contusion. Josef Radina, the navigator for František Brutovský, fractured his vertebra in a separate accident that very same leg. Each had been airlifted to an area hospital and are in secure situation, although Castillo must be pushed again to Spain by ambulance attributable to his lung damage.

Castillo had already been in a gap after ending SS1 fifth in SSV attributable to three tyre punctures, whereas Tomasz Białkowski cruised to the category win. Within the adjoining Challenger class, Otávio Sousa Leite and João Dias had been the one survivors.

Factors implications additionally shook up the FIM Bajas World Cup facet as championship chief Bruno Santos was knocked out by a damaged rear suspension. David Megre and Mohammed Al-Booshi capitalised to cross Santos for the highest spot within the standings, ending second and third to depart Hungary tied with forty-seven factors apiece. Santos falls to fifth behind them, Pedro Bianchi Prata, and winner Martim Ventura.

Pedro Pinheiro was the one different FIM retirement. Seven kilometres into the Prologue, he hit a gap that launched him head- and chest-first into his navigation tower, fracturing his ribs.

Regardless of his third within the Prologue, Barreto was disqualified for repairing his Toyota Hilux between SS2 and SS3 whereas inside a management zone, which is forbidden as management zones are deemed parc fermé areas. Barreto had suffered a damaged brake disc and flat tyre, and the corresponding fixes resulted in him beginning SS3 eighteen minutes after his slotted time.

Apart from Roma’s Raptor, the race additionally noticed the primary race for Balázs Molnár‘s extremely anticipated Can-Am Maverick R on the Hungarian Cross-Nation Rally Championship facet. The automobile had undergone an entire rebuild to satisfy FIA regulation, main Molnár to dub it the “Maverick EVO R”, although it additionally has but to bear homologation by the sanctioning physique. In contrast to the Raptor, it was allowed to be categorised alongside different classmates, although Molnár was additionally not included within the last outcome; unofficially, he completed second.

A lot of the race passed off on the Hungarian Defence Forces Bakony Fight Coaching Centre’s military apply fields, which proved to be twisty and difficult for the sector. In step with the rally’s pseudo-military theme, Roma acquired a sword, medieval helmet, and protect from Thury Fortress, which served because the Hungarian Baja headquarters. The citadel is positioned on the centre of Várpalota and utilized by Hungarian armies between the 14th to 18th centuries, and the prize protect appropriately includes a coat of arms depicting Hungarian heraldic symbols: Árpád stripes on the highest dexter, the coat of arms of Dalmatia beneath it, a double cross over inexperienced hills on the highest sinister like what’s on Hungary’s nationwide coat of arms, a Bohemian lion beneath that, and a turul on the centre.

The Hungarian Baja was the third spherical of the 2024 FIA European Baja Cup, fourth on the FIM Bajas World Cup, and fifth for the Hungarian Cross-Nation Rally Championship.

Total outcomes

FIA

Final

Challenger

SSV

Inventory

FIM

Bike

Quad

TROB

UP

MAMS