SARRC 2023: Fast and demanding Parys 400 double-header takes its toll on special vehicle category

The last round for the crown! 💥 It all comes down to this in Morocco!

 

 

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All rights belong to A.S.O. / W2RC Publiched on RRN in cooperation with W2RC

• His first competitive outing with the Ford Raptor T1+ will take place at Rally du Maroc and later at the Dakar Rally
• The driver line-up includes Mitch Guthrie Jr, Nani Roma, and Carlos Sainz Sr

Ford Performance welcomes world-renowned rally and off-road driver Mattias Ekström, who will be joining its team for the 2025 Dakar Rally and thus completing the driver lineup. Ekström, a two-time DTM champion, World Rallycross champion, and experienced rally raid competitor, will join Mitch Guthrie Jr, Nani Roma, and Carlos Sainz Sr in piloting the Ford Raptor T1+ in one of the world’s most demanding motorsport events.

Ekström’s diverse background, which spans success in rally, circuit racing, and off-road competition, makes him a perfect addition to the Ford Performance Dakar team. He has proven his capability in rally raid events, including multiple Dakar Rally appearances, and now looks forward to leading the charge alongside his teammates in the T1 Category.

Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance: “Bringing Mattias Ekström into the Ford Performance family is a big step forward for our Dakar program. Mattias brings a wealth of experience in rally and off-road racing, and his skills add to a formidable team in the Ford Raptor T1+. The Dakar Rally is a test like no other, but we’re confident in our lineup.”

Matthew Wilson, M-Sport: "We have followed Mattias’ career for a long time, from his DTM days to the FIA World Rallycross, and now the Dakar Rally. He has shown fantastic speed and ability in all forms of motorsport and his performances in off-road racing have been no different. We are really looking forward to working with him and his co-driver Emil, who both will bring with them a vast array of experience."

Mattias Ekström: "Joining the Ford Dakar program is really exciting for me. Ford and M-Sport have built a vehicle that looks, sounds, and drives awesome and we all have a common ambition to win the Dakar Rally. I have had four tries at Dakar so far and now I can say that I have some experience to be able to aim for the top. There is also a lot of knowledge and experience in the team to back up the ambition – starting with the long motorsport heritage of Ford, proven track record of M-Sport, very impressive driver line-up, smart engineers, technicians, and the rest of the team. I look forward to the first competitive outing with the Ford Raptor T1+ at Rally du Maroc and later at the Dakar Rally. I am in it to win it and I hope we will have very successful and great years ahead of us. I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

WHY: Ford Performance is committed to showcasing its off-road capabilities in rally raid racing and global competition efforts via entries and victories in the Baja 1000, Tatts-Finke Desert Race, and more. The addition of Mattias Ekström finalizes a strong driver lineup for the biggest challenge yet in Dakar, positioning Ford for a competitive push in the 2025 race with the Raptor T1+.a

 

Source: Ford

The stakes are higher than ever in the 2024 W2RC finale. From the drivers and co-drivers to the manufacturers, all the FIA titles are still up for grabs as the engines rev up in Marrakesh! The verdict will be pronounced at the end of the 2,468 kilometres of the Rallye du Maroc.

Make or break
The 2023 champion, Nasser Al Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders), and his runner-up, Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing), were looking forward to a rematch in 2024. Fast-forward to the end of the season and the two drivers are fighting for the FIA title again. It has become a classic duel. Six W2RC races have seen both of them on the final podium, including the last edition of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia, where the Saudi ace got the better of his Qatari rival. The two-time reigning champion holds a margin of 25 points going into the grand finale, but Al Rajhi can still snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Indeed, he scored 27 points more than Al Attiyah when he triumphed in Morocco last year. The leader has no room for error in a country where he has already savoured the sweet taste of victory (2014 through 2018 and 2021) and the bitter sting of defeat (DNF in 2019 and fifteenth place in 2023). Shaking up this scenario even more is the fact that this will be his first official race in a Dacia Sandrider. Getting it right the first time is easier said than done, as the Qatari himself experienced first-hand when he had to bail out of his new Hunter before the finish of the Dakar last January. Sure, he bounced back with two consecutive victories at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, but if he messes up this time, the crown will go to his arch-rival in Morocco.
Another driver remains mathematically in contention… On paper, at least. Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) trails the leader by 53 points with 55 points on the table (see box below), so he needs something just short of a miracle. However, the Brazilian has two missions to keep him busy. First, to defend the W2RC bronze medal that he claimed last season, knowing that X-raid Mini JCW's Guerlain Chicherit and Guillaume de Mevius are 34 and 38 points behind, respectively. Second, to do his bit to propel Toyota Gazoo Racing to the manufacturers' championship! Just like Al Attiyah, TGR are eyeing their third title on the bounce, but now with him on the other side. The Qatari's marque, Nasser Racing by Prodrive, is 30 points adrift.

Historic first on the cards
Rokas Baciuška (Can-Am Factory) remains undefeated in the W2RC. The Lithuanian clinched the SSV titles in 2022 and 2023. He joined the Challenger field this season in a bid to become the first driver to emerge victorious in two different classes. He has never finished lower than first (Portugal and Ruta 40) or second (Dakar and ADDC). With a healthy lead of 44 points over Nicolás Cavigliasso, there is no reason for him to stress in the final round. The Argentinian has won almost as many stages as his rival (seven, i.e. one fewer), but he is paying the price for his anaemic early-season performances at the Dakar (sixth) and in the Emirates (fifth). Finishing sixth in Mengoub/Bouârfa would do the trick for Baciuška, although you should never count your chicks before they hatch in rally raids.
Marcelo Gastaldi (BBR) faces a scenario not entirely unlike that of his compatriot Moraes in Ultimate. He is also third in his class, Challenger, and he also needs to seal the deal on a podium finish. His closest rival, Austin Jones (Can-Am Factory), is not coming to Morocco. Instead, his BBR teammate Dania Akeel is the closest threat at 32 points.

Buckle up
A season is a long time in rally raids. By the time they cross the finish line of the Rallye du Maroc, the competitors will have covered over 17,000 kilometres. Consistency is key over such mammoth distances. Sebastián Guayasamín (BE Racing), ensconced in the SSV lead despite not having won a single race, is living proof of that! Keeping mistakes to the bare minimum and protecting his machine has allowed him to finish in the top 4 in every single round so far, in stark contrast with Yasir Seaidan (MMP), who has won two rounds but bowed out of the rallies in Portugal and Argentina. He now stands 6 points behind Guayasamín.
What looked like a two-man duel between the Can-Am drivers has morphed into a three-way standoff. Ricardo Ramilo (Escuderia Ramilo-Rodamoto) has surged back into contention for the title after snapping up the last two rounds. The Spaniard is 20 points from taking the crown from under his rivals' noses. Rebecca Busi (OnlyFans) has a bigger mountain to climb at 41 points. For the first time in W2RC history, four competitors are in the mix for the championship heading into the finale!

Points on offer
A maximum of 55 points are at stake in the Rallye du Maroc, with two different hauls up for grabs:

Finishing in the top 15 overall, according to the following scale: 30 (1st), 25 (2nd), 20 (3rd), 17 (4th), 15 (5th), 13 (6th), 10 (7th), 9 (8th), 8 (9th), 7 (10th), 6 (11th), 5 (12th), 4 (13th), 3 (14th) and 2 (15th).
Finishing in the top 5 of a stage, according to the following scale: 5 (1st), 4 (2nd), 3 (3rd), 2 (4th) and 1 (5th).
Each manufacturer can field a maximum of three crews in each event. Only the top two from each team will score points, which will be awarded following the above scale.

History in the making
The three world co-driver championships are also on the line. In the FIA class, Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) is in the pole position to succeed fellow Frenchman Mathieu Baumel (X-raid Mini JCW). Al Attiyah's new partner is 20 points ahead of Al Rajhi's lieutenant, Timo Gottschalk (Overdrive Racing).
There is history in the making in the Challenger class, where Valentina Pertegarini seems poised to become the first female W2RC champion! Riding shotgun with Cavigliasso, the Argentinian will not have to contend with Oriol Vidal (Can-Am Factory), who is still on the mend. The final obstacle standing in her way is Gastaldi's co-driver, the Brazilian Carlos Sachs (BBR), 35 points adrift. In the SSV class, Fernando Acosta (BE Racing) has a golden opportunity to erase his 11-point deficit to the leader Fausto Mota, who is no longer racing with Ramilo. If Sergio Lafuente (OnlyFans), who navigates for Busi, manages to keep his third place, he will net Uruguay its first ever W2RC title.

 

Source: W2RC / A.S.O.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) is set to tackle the final round of the 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) at the Rally of Morocco from 6 to 11 October. With two highly skilled crews competing in race-proven machines, the team is ready to take on the demanding terrains and fierce competition in the Moroccan desert. The Rally of Morocco, renowned for its challenging stages and tough conditions, will also mark a milestone in W2RC history, as it celebrates the 100th timed stage of the championship.

TGR’s lineup for the Rally of Morocco will feature Lucas Moraes and co-driver Armand Monleon in the Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+, as well as Seth Quintero and co-driver Dennis Zenz in the same race-proven machine. Moraes, one of the rising stars in the world of rally-raid, will be making his debut in the Moroccan race. Quintero, known for his speed and determination, will be looking to deliver strong results as he continues to gain experience in the W2RC

W2RC Standings: Aiming for Maximum Points

With the final round of the W2RC approaching, TGR heads to Morocco looking to close the season on a high note. Currently sitting in 3rd place in the W2RC standings, Lucas Moraes trails the championship leader by 53 points. While the title is out of reach, a strong performance in Morocco could see Lucas move up to 2nd in the final standings. His consistency and ability to tackle the toughest stages have been key to his success this season, and he will be aiming for maximum points to end the year on a high.

Meanwhile, Seth Quintero sits in 8th place in the standings, 103 points behind the leader. Like Lucas, Seth will be focusing on achieving the best possible result in Morocco. The young American driver has shown his enormous potential throughout the season and will be keen to deliver another solid performance in the challenging Moroccan terrain.

Rally of Morocco: The Ultimate Test of Skill and Endurance

The Rally of Morocco is widely regarded as one of the toughest events on the W2RC calendar. This year, the race will cover a total of 2,468 km, of which 1,512 km will be timed special stages. The event will take place over five gruelling stages, plus a short prologue. The terrain will challenge competitors with a combination of vast desert landscapes, sharp mountain passes, expansive dunes, and rocky tracks that test both the drivers’ skill and the durability of their vehicles.

The race kicks off on 6 October with a prologue in Marrakesh, setting the scene for the upcoming five days of intense rally-raid action. From 7 October, the real competition begins with Stage 1, a loop around Zagora, covering 268 km of timed racing. This region is famous for its Erg Chegaga dunes, where competitors will be tested by the deep sands and tough navigation challenges. The second stage, also based in Zagora, will be a longer special, adding another 317 km of racing through similarly punishing terrain.

Stage 3 will take the competitors on a point-to-point route, travelling from Zagora to Mengoub-Bouârfa. The stage will include 318 km of timed special, with the route featuring separate tracks for FIA and FIM classes to add variety and increase the complexity of the challenge for the car drivers. This stage will push competitors into the dunes of Merzouga, where the soft sands and challenging dunes will require utmost precision and control.

The final two stages, held around Mengoub-Bouârfa, will serve as a prelude to the grand finale. Stages 4 and 5 will take competitors into some of the most sparsely populated areas of the Oriental region, an area known for its rocky, barren landscapes and Dakar-style tracks. Navigational challenges will come to the forefront as the terrain offers little in the way of visible markers. The 272 km timed special of the final stage on 11 October promises to be just as unpredictable as the rest of the race, making it an exciting and nerve-wracking end to the 2024 W2RC season.

A Dakar-style Challenge

The 2024 Rally of Morocco, designed by race director David Castera, is often referred to as a miniature version of the Dakar Rally. With its blend of rocky trails, dunes, and fast sections, the event will provide teams with a demanding rehearsal for the next W2RC season, which kicks off with the 2025 Dakar. As always, the Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+ will be expected to showcase its reliability, durability, and performance across these varied stages, as Lucas Moraes and Seth Quintero aim to end their season on a high.

 

Source: Toyota

The Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing drivers will face a big desert test at the Rallye du Maroc, taking place from 6 to 11 October. This demanding rally serves as an important test before the Dakar Rally in January. As for the Baja Poland, the team will start with two race trucks: a Tatra Buggyra EVO3 with Martin Šoltys, Tomáš Šikola, and Vlastimil Miksch, and a Tatra Phoenix driven by Karel Poslední, Filip Škrobánek, and Jaroslav Kolář.

"Traditionally, the Rallye du Maroc is a big test for all teams heading to the Dakar. We will use the harsh desert conditions to test all the improvements made in our trucks, and the guys are looking forward to the challenge," says Buggyra's Head of Communications, Jan Kalivoda.

Although Buggyra has carried out thorough tests, , some things are simply impossible to replicate in Europe. "The conditions at the Dakar are very specific and cannot be simulated in the Czech Republic. That's why we are trying to fine-tune our equipment in Morocco to be 100% ready for January," Martin Šoltys explains.

Cooperation within the crews is very important for demanding rallies. "In the cockpit, we are getting along perfectly. Tomáš Šikola, the engineer, knows every detail of the car which is a great asset when it comes to repairs. And Vlastimil Miksch is a great teammate, so the atmosphere is excellent," Martin Šoltys adds.

Karel Poslední, who will be heading to his first long-distance rally raid outside of Europe after his debut in Poland, feels the same way. "The Rallye du Maroc will be a big challenge for me. I have a lot of respect for sand dunes, so I'm glad that we'll be doing some testing before the race. Gathering experience is key for me because I'm a rookie," he explains.

Before the start of the Rallye du Maroc, both crews will carry out some tests in the desert dunes near the Algerian border, as another important part of the Dakar preparations. This area is known for its extreme conditions, similar to those encountered by competitors during the Dakar. "The dunes are a crucial part of the Dakar, so it's important to get used to them and improve our sand driving technique," Karel Poslední adds.

The Rallye du Maroc, which takes place from 6 to 11 October, is the biggest test for the competitors and their machines before the Dakar in January. The program includes a prologue and five stages, with a total length of 2,468 kilometers, of which 1,512 kilometers are special stages.

 

Source Buggyra Racing

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• Just 8 days to go until the fifth and final round of the championship, the Rallye du Maroc, which will take place from 5 to 11 October. 60 of the 270 vehicles on the start list of the 25th edition of the Moroccan race are W2RC entrants. A 2,468 km trek, including 1,512 km of specials, awaits the field on the route from Marrakesh to Mengoub/Bouârfa via Zagora.
• 27 FIM competitors are set to go head to head in the W2RC, with 7 of them in the Rally GP class. The overall leader, Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports), is feeling the heat from the Monster Energy Honda riders Ricky Brabec and Adrien Van Beveren.
• In Rally 2, the title fight is on between Romain Dumontier (Honda), Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) and Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Rally). 9 riders will line up in the category, and 8 in Rally 3. Meanwhile, 3 quads will be scrapping for the championship podium spots.
• 33 FIA W2RC crews are heading for Marrakesh. Among the 16 in the Ultimate class are the three title contenders: Nasser Al Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders), in his first outing in his new car, and the Hilux drivers Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) and Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing).
• In the Challenger class, with 11 entries in the championship, Rokas Baciuška (Can-Am Factory) needs to keep Nicolás Cavigliasso at bay to claim the title. The tension is high in SSV, where 4 of the 6 contenders are still in the running for the crown.

Final showdown between Branch and Honda

As in 2023, the FIM Rally GP champion will be crowned in Morocco. Ross Branch is leading the standings thanks to his consistency (with top 5 finishes in every round), but he is under serious pressure from the Honda camp. Now only 9 points behind, Ricky Brabec has one goal: to win and hope that other riders wedge themselves between him and his rival. The same goes for Adrien Van Beveren, still mathematically in contention at 16 points from the Botswanan. Both the American and the Frenchman can count on their teammate Tosha Schareina, who has become a W2RC podium regular. However, the team boss, Ruben Faria, has already warned that there will be no team orders unless the title "is on the line"! Rounding out the Honda squad is Pablo Quintanilla. Over at Hero, Sebastian Bühler and Nacho Cornejo are reporting for duty to support Branch and help in the manufacturers' standings, where 22 points separate the two brands, with the Japanese manufacturer holding the advantage.

The Rally 2 championship is also wide open. Romain Dumontier is the favourite to defend his title after winning the Dakar and taking the spoils in Argentina… but Bradley Cox, the reigning champion in Morocco, is just 8 points behind! BAS World KTM Racing is coming in full force, with Michael Docherty, a potential race winner, racing alongside Mathieu Dovèze, who has been on the rise since winning stages at the Dakar, Tobias Ebster, victorious in Original by Motul, and the Czech rider Jiří Brož. His countryman Jan Brabec will also be on a KTM, but in Stojrent Racing colours. Over at Duust, Konrad Dąbrowski still has a shot at the title, trailing Dumontier by 23 points. Meanwhile, Jean-Loup Lepan is eyeing his third podium of the season.

John Medina (Xraids Experience) already has the Rally 3 title in the bag and wants to celebrate in style. He will need to overcome his teammate Alan Eduardo and the local hero Amine Echiguer, who came out on top in 2022! Last year's podium finishers, Richard Hodola and Souleymane Addahri (Africa Rallye Team), are out for revenge after missing out on the top step. The Moroccan Addahri is one of two ART selections, along with the Senegalese rider Fodé Traoré. The grid is rounded out by the Frenchman Emmanuel Beucher and the Ecuadorian Mauricio Cueva (Pedrega Team). In the quad category, all W2RC entrants are gunning for a spot on the overall podium. The champion, Manuel Andújar (7240), went out of the category with a bang, but the runner-up's spot is still up for grabs. Kamil Wiśniewski (Orlen Team) has been the best of the rest so far, but Hani Alnoumesi and Antanas Kanopkinas (CFMOTO Thunder Racing) are just 1 and 8 points behind him.

Al Attiyah faces off against Toyota in Dacia debut

The reigning two-time FIA W2RC champion, Nasser Al Attiyah, is going into the race as the overall leader and on familiar ground, holding the record for the most wins in Morocco (2014 through 2018 and 2021). Securing a third crown would be the perfect way to mark his debut with the Dacia Sandrider, which is making its first W2RC appearance. However, he will need to fend off the Toyota crews chasing him —Yazeed Al Rajhi is just 25 points behind, while Lucas Moraes trails by 53. The Saudi, who won here in 2023, is banking on the consistency of his set-up to tip the scales. The dark horses Seth Quintero (Toyota Gazoo Racing) and Juan Cruz Yacopini (Overdrive Racing) have also remained true to the Hilux. TGR are the favourites for the manufacturers' title thanks to their 30-point lead over Nasser Racing by Prodrive.

Al Attiyah is not the only one who will be sporting new colours in Morocco. Guerlain Chicherit, the winner of the 2022 edition, has swapped his Toyota for a Mini JCW Rally Plus from X-raid! The same goes for Guillaume de Mevius, who came in second in the Dakar earlier this season. The Quandt family's squad is rounded out by João Ferreira, who dominated the SSV class here a year ago. There will be two Fords on the grid, with the Czech Martin Prokop (Orlen Jipocar) and the rising Catalan star Pau Navarro (Past Racing). The Moroccan caravan will also feature Marcos Baumgart in the Prodrive Hunter (X Rally), Mathieu Serradori in his Century (SRT), Aliyyah Koloc in her Red-Lined (Buggyra ZM Racing) and the MD Optimus entries of Eugenio Amos and Jean-Luc Ceccaldi (MD Rallye Sport).

Just six specials stand between Rokas Baciuška and a historic first in the Challenger class. The Lithuanian winner of the last SSV championship is targeting an unprecedented double, and Nicolás Cavigliasso, 44 points back, is the last remaining obstacle. Marcelo Gastaldi and Dania Akeel will be hunting for the first win of the season for Team BBR. Mitch Guthrie (Red Bull Off-Road Junior) is taking his final bow in a Taurus before trading it for a Ford in the Ultimate class. This will be his first W2RC appearance since the Dakar, as for the entire Goczał clan —Eryk, Marek and Michał—, racing for Energylandia Rally Team! The cousins Mario and Rui Franco (Franco Sport) and the father-daughter duo consisting of Lionel and Lucie Baud (G Rally Team) are also ready for a family outing. Ricardo Porém (MMP) rounds out the list.

Nowhere is the suspense greater than in the SSV class, where 4 of the 6 W2RC crews in the race have still got a shot at the title! A run of bad luck in Portugal and Argentina forced Yasir Seaidan (MMP) to relinquish the overall lead to Sebastián Guayasamín (BE Racing). 6 points separate the two Can-Am drivers, with Ricardo Ramilo (Escuderia Ramilo-Rodamoto) 20 points behind the Ecuadorian. Rebecca Busi (OnlyFans Racing) is also in the mix at 41 points. Claude Fournier (MMP) and Enrico Gaspari in his Polaris (TH-Trucks) are no longer in contention, but they are still spoiling for a fight.

 

Source: W2RC / A.S.O.

• Chicherit, De Mévius and Ferreira in the MINI
• Debut of the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i

The Rallye du Maroc marks the end of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Championship and is one of the most popular events on the calendar for this reason, among others. This year, the X-raid team is travelling to the starting city of Marrakesh with a total of four vehicles: the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i will be making its debut there. It will be accompanied by two X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus and an X-raid 1000R Turbo side-by-side. In addition, X-raid can rely on an interesting and powerful line-up of drivers.

Two new crews will be sitting in a MINI in Morocco: the two Frenchmen Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq will be driving the new X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i. The Belgian Guillaume De Mévius will be competing in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus together with the Frenchman Mathieu Baumel. João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro are also in the line-up, and they will be looking to continue their winning streak from previous races in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus. Hungary's Pál Lónyai will be competing in the X-raid side-by-side with Alexey Kuzmich.

For Ferreira and Palmeiro, it will be their first longer rally in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus in about half a year. So far, the two Portuguese have mainly competed in Bajas – and with great success: they secured a total of seven podium places, with five of them at the top of the podium.

Chicherit has accompanied the X-raid team at several stages of its history. He started in the BMW X3 CC and drove the first MINI ALL4 Racing. Later, he competed in the CBRA Buggy, with which the X-raid team wanted to gain experience in the category of rear-wheel drive vehicles. Now the Frenchman and X-raid are starting together on another adventure. Chicherit will drive the first X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i in the Rallye du Maroc.

De Mévius has also already covered the first kilometres in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i. The Belgian is currently one of the great talents in the off-road rally scene. After finishing third in the 2023 Dakar in the Challenger classification, he sensationally secured second place in the car classification this year.

This year's Rallye du Maroc starts in Marrakech and leads via Zagora to Mengoub Bouarfa in eastern Morocco. A total of 2,492 kilometres are on the agenda, 1,517 km of which are against the clock.

All news regarding the X-raid Team's participation in the 2025 Dakar Rally will be announced at a later date.

Sven Quandt, X-raid Team Principal: "We are delighted to be competing in Morocco with such a great line-up. De Mevius and Chicherit finished the Dakar in a sensational second and fourth place. Joao has already clinched several victories this year. He is currently ranked second in the FIA World Baja and leads the Portuguese championship. I can't wait to see our new family member, the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i, in action in a rally and to gain more experience with it. We would have liked to have entered more vehicles, but due to delivery bottlenecks at some suppliers, we had to limit ourselves to one petrol-powered car.’

Guerlain Chicherit: "My career started with X-raid in the BMW X3 CC. We tested and developed many vehicles together. That was a great time. Later, I tried out various other projects. I have learnt a lot in recent years and X-raid has been extremely successful. But now I'm back again. I think that X-raid can offer me the opportunities to fight for victories.’

Guillaume De Mévius: ‘The start with the X-raid team is a new adventure for me. I am very excited and can hardly wait for the journey to begin. I can certainly still learn a lot from X-raid. Together, we want to achieve victories and top results.’

João Ferreira: ‘The Rallye du Maroc will be my first real rally in a T1+ car. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll do my best and I'm excited to see how I fare against the other top drivers. I'm also looking forward to working with my new team colleagues.’

Pál Lónyai: ‘I am looking forward to driving for X-raid again. The car has been further developed, and I am excited to see how it feels during the pre-race tests. It is always a pleasure for me to come to Morocco. I can't wait for the rally to start.’

Source: X-Raid

 Roberto Borrego and Daniel Jordão, who started off fastest in the prologue, were the big winners in the SSV competition at the 36th edition of the Baja TT Sharish Gin. They were the fastest over the 111 km of the final selective sector and finished the race with a lead of 37.6 over the Pedro Antunes/Nuno Batalha duo, who had moved to the front of the race yesterday.

The fight for the final podium place was also very intense, with the pairs Nelson Caxias/João Rodrigues and Pedro Santinho Mendes/Duarte Santos finishing 1.7s apart.

The next positions went to three more teams who competed on tracks in the municipalities of Reguengos de Monsaraz and Mourão in Can-Am SSVs. Francisco Guedes/Joel Lutas were fifth ahead of two drivers who competed alone: Sérgio Batista and David Rodrigues.

8th place for the Polaris driven by Arnaldo Monteiro, who also won the Stock Championship and the Polaris Trophy. In the Yamaha Cup, Jorge Lopes won the Open Class and Paulo Caseiro the Stock Class. Among the Segway riders, Luis Lourenço took 1st place.

More information about the Baja TT Sharish Gin: www.sar-motorismo.com

Automatic translation of the Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: SAR-Motorismo official press release
Photos: ImagensDesportivas.pt / Rally-Raid Network

   Image Gallery available here: https://www.imagensdesportivas.com/gallery-collection/BAJA-TT-SHARISH-2024/C0000U0vhYwOr.pQ    

24 Hours Offroad France 2024 - Overall Podium

1er (n°55) - Alexis Detienne, Stéphane Duplé, Kévin Fredenucci, Benjamin Bujon, Yves Tartarin - DS Racing - Buggy Corse'R
2eme (n°15) - Xavier De Soultrait, Teddy Legendre, Joël Labille - Dubois Polaris - Polaris Pro R
3eme (n°47) - Alexandre Beaujon, Stéphan et Killian Gilissen, Sébastien Guyette - Mercier Racing team - Can-Am X3

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1er T1B (n°60) - Daniel Masson, Jean-Pierre Laermans, Thierry Coquereau - Auto Retro Competition - Cox Bugster
1er SSV (n°16) - Pierre Noble, Nicolas Sardin, Geoffrey Moreau - Team PN16 - Quad Bike Evasion - Can-Am X3
1er T2 (n°38) - Nicolas Delencre, Julien Cornu, Michael Vandormael - Off Road Organisation, Range Rover P38
1er T2B (n°31) - Sandra Rivière, Corine Guegan, Antoine Caniac, Alexandre Scher - 4x4 Proto Racing - Lada Niva
1er T2B+ (n°93) - Lucas Beurois, Nicolas Falloux, Appoline Doffin - Etruscan Team - Toyota KDJ120

 

Source: 24 Heures TT