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• João Dias was the strongest over the two-day race in the cars
• João Ferreira becomes champion at Baja Oeste de Portugal
• Bruno Santos won everything there was to win in the motorcycles
• Luís Fernandes triumphs in the quads and becomes champion
• Beto Borrego triumphs in SSV and Santinho Mendes secures the title

A day of consecration for some, resignation for others, the Baja Oeste de Portugal closed the national TT championships in cars, motorcycles, quads and SSVs. João Dias was the strongest in the cars, but it was João Ferreira who took the title. In the motorcycles, the champion was already known and Bruno Santos took the opportunity to show that “playing at home” he is practically unbeatable. In the quads, Luís Fernandes triumphed and recovered the points deficit to João Vale. He can thus lift the champion's trophy. Finally, in the SSVs, Beto Borrego won the Baja Oeste de Portugal, but Pedro Santinho Mendes once again inscribed his name as national champion.

To close the championship, Escuderia Castelo Branco has prepared another intense day for any of the categories. In the cars, Tiago Reis stood out. Outside the top five the day before, he set a very strong pace, which allowed him to win the final selective sector and thus climb to the last place on the podium. João Dias took second place, which allowed him to secure his victory in the Baja Oeste de Portugal. Even so, it wasn't enough to become champion. The title went to João Ferreira after he finished the season in second place.

“Fighting for the overall title is great. It wasn't part of our objectives. This was all extra. João Ferreira is to be congratulated. I think he's a fair winner for the season he's had. The balance of our season is super positive and we have to congratulate the team for the work they've done all year,” said João Dias.

In the motorcycles, Bruno Santos was once again the fastest in the last selective sector. In 2024, at the Baja Oeste de Portugal, nobody could stand up to him. Tomás Dias was the closest, but 5m31.6s behind the winner. Christophe Lajouanie was third, more than 12 minutes behind Santos.

In the image: Bruno Santos

“This was a very good weekend. Winning is good. Winning three special stages is very good. I'm very happy,” exclaimed Bruno Santos.

Among the quads, João Vale was unable to confirm the advantage he had going into the race. Luís Fernandes won the race and benefited from his opponent's seventh place to revalidate his title as national champion. The podium was completed by Hélder Sá in second place and Bruno Pereira in third.

“I enjoyed today's course much more, even though it was more dangerous and more technical. Everything went well, I won and I know João had problems when he was in front. I ended up gaining a lot of time on him and the rest of my opponents,” said Luís Fernandes

With his second place in the SSV race, Pedro Santinho Mendes was crowned national champion. Even so, the first place on the podium in the Baja Oeste de Portugal went to Beto Borrego, who won the second selective sector and benefited from the problems of some opponents, namely Pedro Antunes, the driver who had won the prologue and the first sector of the competition.

“I knew I had to push hard today. We managed to do it and won the stage with a huge advantage and we also managed to win the European Baja championship. Let's start preparing for next year,” said Beto Borrego.

Automatic translation of the Portuguese version available at www.todoterreno.pt
Info: This text refers only to the Portuguese championships.
Source: Escuderia de Castelo Branco
Photos: ImagensDesportivas.com / Rally-Raid Network