Baja de Loulé: Everything ready for Baja de Loulé 2023

• The race organizers have designed a new 400-kilometer route along the most unique roads of Castilla La Mancha.
• Successful registration, 125 teams will take the start of the X Rally TT of Cuenca.

The TT Rallye of Cuenca, the last event of the National Off-Road Championship has registered a great success of registration with 125 teams that will take the start in the categories of Cars, Motorcycles and ParaBaja.

Due to the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the sporting event, it will be the most powerful race of all those organized so far by the Cuenca Motor Club. For this reason, the Organization has designed an unprecedented route of about 400 kilometers through the most singular roads of Castilla La Mancha, which will pass through 20 localities with a more than interesting environment of nature, heritage and gastronomy.

The route will be very fast, with big changes of terrain and with important and very complicated mountain areas. The Prologue stage will start on Friday, October 4 at 4.30 p.m., and in the late afternoon the multitudinous Podium Ceremony will be held. And on Saturday 5, it will be a hard day of more than 400 kilometers that will end at the end of the day with the Trophy Ceremony.

Teams, fans and visitors will be able to enjoy Huete, the historical city full of monasteries, convents, palace houses, churches and Roman mines. Also Villanueva de los Escuderos in the Altos de Cabrejas and on the banks of the Egidillo River, or Pineda de Gigüela with its hermitages of Santa Ana and San Bartolomé.

They will also be able to visit Castillejo del Romeral, located in the center of the valley of the Mayor River and obligatory step of the old royal road from Huete to Cuenca; Villar de Olalla, with its lagoon complex; and the ancient Chillarón located in the region of the Serranía Media, among other destinations such as Valdecolmenas de Arriba, Valdecolmenas de Abajo, Caracenilla, Cólliga, Culebras, La Ventosa, Villa Ester, Villar de Domingo García, Villarejo de la Peñuela, Sotorribas, Torralba, Bascuñana De San Pedro, Abia de la Obispalía and Valdecañas.

And of course Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage City, with the best gastronomy, and one of the most extraordinary natural landscapes of the Spanish geography. And in Cuenca the most adventurous can challenge vertigo with the longest urban zip line in Europe, with a distance of 445 meters, 120 meters high, and at 75 km per hour.

Automatic translation of the Spanish version
Source: Rally TT Cuenca official press release

Entries are now open for the tricolor race also valid for the 21st Rally dei Nuraghi e del Vermentino, the 6th Rally Vermentino Historicu and the 5th Baja Vermentino Terre di Gallura on Oct. 25-26. Base in Berchidda

With the opening of registration begins today, one month before the start, the road to the 21st Rally dei Nuraghi e del Vermentino. The event organized in Berchidda by Rassinaby Racing will once again boast a triple tricolor title this year. Alongside the modern rally, valid as the fifth and penultimate round of the Italian Rally Terra Championship and for the Regional, the 6th Rally Vermentino Historicu - the fourth round of the Italian Rally Terra Storico - and the 5th Baja Vermentino Terre di Gallura, the fifth round of the Italian Cross Country Side by Side, will also be held on October 25-26.

To finalize registration for the modern rally, there will be time until midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 16, while there will be a few more days available to competitors in the historic rally and cross country, who will have a chance to complete registration procedures until 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21.

The program

The route of the 2024 edition includes just over 75 timed kilometers, divided into three special stages to be repeated twice. It will begin on Friday 25 with double passes on the Erula-Tula, a new test more than 11 kilometers long, and will continue on Saturday 26 with the specials Pattada-Oschiri, more than 20 kilometers encompassing the old opening special “Filigosu,” and Alà dei Sardi-Buddusò, a 7-kilometer timed section in the very famous Monte Lerno.

Berchidda will host shakedown and qualifying stage, scheduled on Friday morning, and the starting ceremony, scheduled at 1:30 p.m. in Piazza del Popolo, the same one that, at 3 p.m. on Saturday 26 will host arrival and prize-giving. Also in Berchidda are scrutineering, service park, race direction and press room.

Source: ACI Sport / Baja Vermentino

Today’s thrilling stage covered 229 km to Igoumenitsa and back, featuring two demanding 100 km special stages that wound through enchanting yet eerie old ghost towns.

Leading the pack was #1 Roberto Barbieri, who finished first with an impressive performance that showcased his navigation skills and speed. Close behind him was #34 Anton Tyll, who secured second place through careful strategy and strong execution. Rounding out the podium was #61 Vasilis Boudros, whose steady riding earned him third place.

As we prepare for Day 6, the competition is set to intensify, with tougher terrain and unpredictable weather conditions on the horizon.

Source: Greece Rally

The Greece Rally 2024 kicked off in the beautiful municipality of Ioannina, Greece, with participants from all over the world coming together for this epic event. Competitors first took on the demanding Prologue Stage, navigating the stunning landscapes around Lake Pamvotida and Mount Mitsikeli, passing through scenic areas like Kryovrysi, Anthrakitis, Karya, and Logades.

After the Prologue, the excitement intensified with a packed ceremonial start, where fans cheered on the international field of competitors as they geared up for the stages ahead.

First to finsh the stage was #1 Roberto Barbieri (ITA), second was #34 Anton Tyll (GER) and third was #302 Michael Gangl (GER)

This year saw a notable increase in Side-by-Side Vehicles (SSV), adding more excitement as these vehicles tackled the rugged terrain with skill and precision.

It was an incredible start to a truly global motorsport adventure in Ioannina!

Source: Greece Rally

Tight fight between the Romagnolo on Toyota Hilux Overdrive and Andrea Schiumarini, who climbs the second step of the podium ahead of Bordonaro-Lovisa, running on Suzuki Grand Vitara. Among SSVs, the crew on Can Am Maverick in Group T3 took their third win of the season. Silver square for Manocchi-Bellotto on Yamaha, third Buttò-Marcon on BRP Can Am.

Rivignano Teor (UD), Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 - A decidedly hard-fought first edition of the Baja dello Stella saw a gripping battle between Manuele Mengozzi and Andrea Schiumarini. A completely new course within the Cross Country and SSV Calendar, valid as the fourth round of the tricolor, which saw the Romagna driver triumph at the wheel of the Toyota Hilux Overdrive, shared with Mirko Brun from Pordenone. The two set the best time in the second and third timed pass of “Anaxum” and, in the final, managed to overtake the Mitsubishi L200 of the Forlì driver, navigated by Daniele Fontana Sacchetti, who finished the race in second place with a 21” gap, after having put his own signature on the first special of the day by immediately moving into the lead. A result that allows Mengozzi to shorten the distance from Schiumarini in the tricolor ranking, with the latter nevertheless retaining the leadership. Third step of the podium for Alfio Bordonaro, paired with Stefano Lovisa on a T1-type Suzuki Grand Vitara, who also brings home his fourth consecutive victory in the Suzuki Challenge. Behind the Catanian reigning Italian champion is Andrea Luchini, author of a fine performance together with navigator Piero Bosco on Grand Vitara Pentastar, ahead of Elvis Borsoi, fifth overall on Mini John Cooper of Group T1 and with Paolo Manfredini in the right seat. They were followed by the two T2-type Suzuki Grand Vitara of Gianluca Morra and Alessandro Trivini Bellini, navigated by Stefano Tironi and Marco Trivini Bellini, who took sixth and seventh place respectively, preceding in turn Stefano Moro, assisted by Luciano Macrini on a Mitsubishi Pajero, first among vehicles belonging to the TH category. Finishing eighth was Filippo Andreetto in a twin car shared with Francesco Maria Proietti, ahead of the other Suzuki Grand Vitara in Group T2 of Alberto Spinetti, accompanied on notes by Lara Giusti, who completed the top ten crews.

Twists and turns also among the Side by Side Vehicles, with Andrea Castagnera scoring his third win of the season alongside Elisa Tassile in the Group T3 Can Am Maverick. Thanks to his victory in Friuli, the driver from Veneto stretches considerably in the championship standings reserved for SSVs over Federico Buttò. Unlucky the Pordenone driver, in the lead until the last stage, when a mechanical failure just 5 kilometers from the finish line forced him to slow down, causing him to slip into third position. Michele Manocchi and Nicola Bellotto, on Yamaha YXZ1000R of Group T4N, took advantage of this, thus claiming second place, with a gap of 2'55” from Castagnera. Finishing fourth was Cristian D'Agnolo, along with Simone Crosilla on a TM-type Maverick X3, while Kevin and Giada Manocchi on another Yamaha T4N were fifth.

Also in evidence was Roberto Camporese at the wheel of the N5-type Volkswagen Polo, with Diego Zanotti at the notes, who closed the Friulian appointment with an overall time of 1:31'30.

Filed the 1st Baja dello Stella, the Italian Cross Country and SSV 2024 Championship will fly to Sardinia next October for the 5th Baja Vermentino - Terre di Gallura, valid as the penultimate round of the tricolor.

CLASSIFICA FINALE BAJA DELLO STELLA CCB: 1. MENGOZZI-BRUN (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) in 1:30'48; 2. SCHIUMARINI-FONTANA SACCHETTI (Mitsubishi l200) a 21; 3. BORDONARO-LOVISA (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 3'04; 4. LUCHINI-BOSCO (Suzuki Gran Vitara Pentastar) a 4'54; 5. BORSOI-MANFREDINI (Mini Jhon Cooper) a 6'19; 6. MORRA-TIRONI (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 9'39; 7. TRIVINI BELLINI-TRIVINI BELLINI (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 9'40; 8. MORO-MACRINI (Mitsubishi Pajero) a 12'07; 9. ANDREETTO-PROIETTI (Mitsubishi Pajero) a 12'25; 10. SPINETTI-GIUSTI (Suzuki Gran Vitara) a 12'25

CLASSIFICA FINALE BAJA DELLO STELLA SSV: 1. CASTAGNERA-TASSILE (Can Am Maverick x3) in 1:31'45; 2. MANOCCHI-BELLOTTO (Yamaha XYZ1000R) a 2'55; 3. BUTTO'-MARCON (BRP Can Am) a 5'15; 4. D'AGNOLO-CROSILLA (Maverick X3) a 16'32; 5. MANOCCHI-MANOCCHI (YAMAHA XYZ1000R) a 5:40'11

Automatic translation of the Italian Version
Source: ACI Sport

 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    

Martim Ventura, on a Husqvarna, in the Motorcycles and João Vale on a Can-Am in the Quad were the big winners of the 36th edition of the Baja TT Sharish Gin after being the fastest in the 111 km of selective sector contested on the second day and lead the competition.

The final selective sector of this event, held on the tracks of Reguengos de Monsaraz and Mourão, saw Martim Ventura, on a Husqvarna, complete the course in 1h44m45s, finishing 1m29s ahead of António Maio, who was second fastest on a Yamaha. It was Tomás Dias, however, who finished the race in 2nd position. There was a 50s gap between the young Honda rider and the national champion. Martim Ventura also triumphed in the TT3 Class and among the Juniors, while António Maio won the TT2 Class. The next positions were taken by Micael Simão on a Gas Gas and Bruno Santos on a Husqvarna. Bernardo Megre on a Kawasaki finished in 6th place and won the TT1 Class.

Among the Quad riders, the selective sector saw young Rodrigo Alves, on a Yamaha, record the best time with a mark of 1h49m32s. Rodrigo Alves won the section with a 14-second lead over national champion Luis Fernandes, who was riding a Yamaha, allowing him to rise to second place by the narrow margin of 6.4s. 4th place for Tiago Teixeira on his debut in a Can-Am Renegade.

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    

Helder Oliveira in a Mini won the final stage

The João Ferreira/Filipe Palmeiro duo in Mini John Cooper Works Rally T1+ were the big winners of the 36th edition of the Baja TT Sharish Gin, the Portuguese leg of the FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, a result that allowed the driver and navigator to reinforce their lead in the competition. On the final day of the race, however, it was another Mini John Cooper Works, piloted by Hélder Oliveira and navigated by Fausto Mota, that set the best time on the 160 km section on the Mourão and Reguengos de Monsaraz tracks. João Dias in a G Rally OT3 triumphed in the Challenger Category.

Starting with a comfortable lead of 2m36s, João Ferreira didn't go any further than 6th on this final stage, but he finished the race 1m11s down on Helder Oliveira, who was always under a lot of pressure from the fastest drivers in the Challenger Group, but he held on to 2nd place, clearly the best of the traditional T1s. Navigated by João Filipe Miranda, João Dias took the G Rally OT3 to victory in the Challenger Group and also strengthened his position at the top of the FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. He finished with a lead of 51.8s over the Tiago Reis/Candido Carrera duo in Tauros and with the Alexandre Pinto/Can-Am Maverick pair at 1m10s.

The next positions went to three more Challenger Group drivers: Miguel Barbosa/Luis Ramalho in a Tauros, Pedro Carvalho/Romeu Martins in a Can-Am Maverick and Daniel Silva/Gonçalo Magalhães in a Tauros. The Top 10 ended with two Ultimate Group drivers: Alexandre Ré/Carlos Martins in a VW Amarok and Alejandro Martins/David Monteiro in a Mini T1+.

Tomasz Bialkowski in Can-Am and Fernando Barreiros in Isuzu were the winners of the SSV and Stock groups respectively.

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 oficial press release
Photos: ImagensDesportivas.pt / Rally-Raid Network
   Image Gallery available here: https://www.imagensdesportivas.com/gallery-collection/BAJA-TT-SHARISH-2024/C0000U0vhYwOr.pQ    

• Joao Ferreira wins in Portugal
• Two MINI on the podium, three in the top 10

The two Portuguese drivers Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro continue to ride the wave of success with the MINI JCW Rally Plus. They secured their next victory at the Baja TT Sharish Gin. The Baja was the fourth of five events in the FIA European Baja Cup and also the fifth of seven events in the Portuguese Off-road Championship. Second place sensationally went to the Portuguese duo Helder Oliveira and Fausto Mota in the MINI JCW Rally. Alejandro Martins and David Monteiro rounded off the successful weekend with tenth place. Oliveira and Martins compete for the X-raid partner team M Racing.

At the three-day event, there was no getting past the MINI developed and built by X-raid. Ferreira won the first two special stages in the MINI JCW Rally Plus. On Sunday, Oliveira was in front in the MINI JCW Rally. He had finished the previous stages in second place. He secured second place behind Ferreira. Martins had to struggle with the Baja TT Sharish Gin. But after finishing Friday's stage in 32nd place, he worked his way back up the field and made it into the top 10 on Sunday.

In a few weeks, X-raid will already be competing in the next rally. The Rallye du Maroc (5-11 October 2024) marks the end of the World Rally Raid Championship. X-raid will announce its line-up in the coming days.

Joao Ferreira (MINI JCW Rally Plus): "We can look back on another very good event. Unfortunately, we had a problem with the power steering in left-hand corners today. That made it a really tough day. Nevertheless, we managed to win the Baja, which is ultimately the most important thing."

Overall standings

1. J. Ferreira / F. Palmeiro – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 4h 45m 11s
2. H. Oliveira / F. Mota – MINI JCW Rally – 4h 46m 22s
3. J. Dias / J. Miranda – OT3 – 4h 47m 47s
4. T. Reis / C. Carrera – Taurus – 4h 48m 38s
5. A. Pinto / B. Oliveira – Can-Am – 4h 49m 07s
…
10. A. Martins / D. Monteiro – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 4h 54m 52s

Source: X-Raid
Photo: ImagensDesportivas.pt / Rally-Raid Network 
   Image Gallery available here: https://www.imagensdesportivas.com/gallery-collection/BAJA-TT-SHARISH-2024/C0000U0vhYwOr.pQ