Baja Escuderia de Castelo Branco was the second race of the Portuguese Championship CPTT for cars and FIA Compliant SSV
Under normal conditions, the Baja Escuderia de Castelo Branco would be a race that would favor the smaller and more agile T3 (Challenger) and T4 (SSV), leaving the T1 and T1+ (Ultimate) in a somewhat complicated situation due mainly to the winding terrain, narrow tracks, and tight corners. To tip the balance even further in favor of the “little guys”, Portugal has been under the effects of a particularly rainy end of winter, completely soaking the terrain, creating countless areas full of water, and turning what would have been small streams into veritable torrents of water. The organizers tried to take precautions, avoiding points that they knew might be more difficult due to the effects of the weather, managing to keep to the planned route almost in its entirety, but what they couldn't change was the mud and water that turned the track into a skating rink, which caused difficulties for everyone, but was a real torture session and lesson in the art of survival for T1 and T1+.
So, knowing the difficult conditions of this second race of the year in Portugal, the drivers were generally aware of the task ahead of them, whether it was to fight for class victories or, above all, to try to “get to the end first” and then see if they had “come first”.
The prologue held on Saturday morning quickly demonstrated what we said earlier: The T3 and T4 drivers dominated; in the first 20 classified, only 3 were not T3 or T4: João Ferreira in fourth with the X-Raid Mini, João Ramos in a Toyota T1+ from Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal in sixth place, and then, in only 18th place, César Sequeira with a Mercedes Pick Up entered in the T1 category.
On Saturday, SS1 was also contested, which was particularly complicated and caused havoc among the caravan in an indiscriminate manner. At the front, João Dias' Polaris RZR Pro stood out, and he reached the end of the special with the best time. João Ferreira's performance was impressive, as he seemed to have managed to “shrink” the Mini and go almost as fast as the winner while keeping himself safe from a veritable “horde of SSVs” that were chasing him. Gonçalo Guerreiro, also on a Polaris RZR Pro, finished the day in third. Helder Oliveira, in a Can-Am Maverick X3, finished the day at the top of his class and fourth overall.
Sunday 23rd saw the final sector of the race, with a change of terrain and a new, winding route to cover. The race was now heading for an area with more hills and valleys, but it would use a track that had already been used by the bikes, quads, and non-FIA SSVs the previous day. This day proved to be a little less complicated than the first, mainly because it hardly rained, and the track in some places even allowed the teams to drive a little faster. But the “damage” had been done, and the main objective for most of the drivers was to make it to the finish in one piece and to be able to score the points corresponding to their classification, whether overall or in their class. The podium of the special was once again dominated by SSVs, with Tiago Reis' Taurus being the fastest, but running in Super Rally. The second fastest, but the real winner of the day, was Gonçalo Guerreiro with his Polaris, while João Dias finished third.
In the overall standings, João Dias took first place with a 3m48s lead over Gonçalo Guerreiro, while João Ferreira took his Mini to third after a day of “survival”. Hélder Oliveira won the T3 category, Cesar Sequeira won the “normal” T1 category, Johannes Senders won the T8 category, and Eduardo Rodrigues won the T2 category
But the story isn't over yet, as the final classification is currently suspended due to a protest against the winning car. We await the results of the checks carried out, whether or not the alleged irregularities are confirmed, and what repercussions this will have on the classification.
One thing is certain, however: this race was very difficult for the T1+ and other more traditional vehicles. The SSVs, whether T3 or T4, had their power-to-weight ratio in their favor, but above all, their overall dimensions and characteristics that, in a very slippery, muddy race on narrow tracks, would prove to be very precious.
Rally-Raid Network
Photo: Escuderia de Castelo Branco
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