In the SSV competition, Brazilian driver José Hélio — six-time winner of the Rally dos Sertões — alongside Pedro Velosa, set the fastest time in the prologue at the wheel of a Can-Am. Just 0.3s behind came former national champion João Dias in a Polaris, co-driven by Rui Pita. Tomás Neves, driving solo in a Can-Am, was third, 1.5s off the leader, followed by Pedro Grancha and co-driver Inês Grancha.
After the first selective sector, the top two swapped positions, with João Dias ending the day 26 seconds ahead of José Hélio, who was leading among the Veterans. Third place went to Pedro Antunes / Nuno Batalha in a Polaris, 30.9s behind the leader. The next five Can-Am crews were covered by just over a minute: Vasco Martins / Luís Falé in fourth, Sérgio Palminha (solo) in fifth, Tomás Neves in sixth, Gonçalo Guerra / Luís Engeitado in seventh (the leading Juniors), and Marco Pereira / Eurico Adão in eighth. Sérgio Silva, driving solo in a Polaris, led the Stock Class, while Rui Abreu / Gonçalo Guedes, also in a Polaris, topped SSV TT2.
On the second and final day, José Hélio and João Dias traded the lead for most of the stage, until João Dias was forced to retire after more than 200 competitive kilometres. José Hélio, who had been fastest in the prologue, crossed the finish line with the best time overall, but a penalty for not respecting the minimum neutralisation time cost him the victory.
That opened the door for Roberto Borrego, co-driven by Daniel Jordão, to claim another memorable win — his ninth in Portalegre, making him the record-holder for victories at the Baja Portalegre 500 (eight in Quads and now one in SSV).
Behind Hélio, who still won among the Veterans, finished another veteran, Nelson Caxias with André Lopes, in third place — a result that secured them the national title ahead of schedule. Sérgio Palminha, driving solo, achieved an excellent fourth place, while Marco Pereira rounded out the Top 5.
This year’s Top 10 was entirely filled with Can-Am drivers: Ricardo Lourenço / Manuel Santos took sixth, followed by André Carita / Nuno Abrantes, Vasco Martins / Luís Falé, and Gonçalo Guerra, who also won among the Juniors.
In the Stock Category, victory went to Arnaldo Monteiro / Farinha Duarte in a Polaris, ahead of Rafael Caseiro / Manuel Brardo in a Can-Am. Luís Lourenço / Ana Lopes, competing in a Segway, won the SSV TT2 class, while the debuting duo Teresa Serrano / Filipa Realinho took home the Ladies’ Trophy with their Can-Am.
Photo: Imagens Desportivas
Official Press Release
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