The desert roared today in Teruel, Spain, as Portuguese ace Alexandre Pinto and co-driver Bernardo Oliveira fired up the brand-new Polaris RZR Pro for its first competitive outing—and what a debut it was! The Old Friends Rally Team duo, current leaders of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship in the SSV category, stormed to an impressive 3rd place in the prologue of the legendary Baja España Aragón, a pivotal round of the FIA Bajas World Cup.
More than just a race, this event marked the beginning of a critical new chapter in their bid for the world title. The Baja Aragón is not just any rally—it’s a gladiator-style test of speed, nerve, and precision across the scorching plains and winding trails of Spain’s Teruel province. For Pinto and Oliveira, it’s also their first time lining up for this iconic event, and they made their presence felt right away.
"This was a debut on the right foot!" said Alexandre Pinto, visibly energized after the prologue. "I’m still getting to know this beast of a machine, so coming out with a 3rd place is really encouraging. It’s also great to be back at a Baja. I’ve been focused on the longer World Rally-Raid events lately, and I missed the pure adrenaline of these high-octane sprints. The main goal here is to dial in the Polaris, and so far, it’s feeling like a perfect match. Tomorrow the real race begins—and we’re pumped!"
Tomorrow, the battle intensifies with Stage 1, which includes two fierce Selective Sections: one 132 km long and another with 200 km of timed racing. The route carves through the dramatic terrain of the Sierra de Albarracín, Jiloca, and Cuencas Mineras, offering a brutal and beautiful backdrop for what’s shaping up to be a showdown for the ages.
This isn’t just racing. It’s war on wheels. And the Portuguese flag is flying high.
Stay tuned as Alexandre Pinto and the Old Friends Rally Team continue their charge toward global glory!
Rally-Raid Network
Source of data and photo: Old Friends Rally Team
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
