Have a look at our image gallery here: https://www.imagensdesportivas.com/gallery-collection/BAJA-EXTREMADURA-2025/C0000ihXm6FOwDmo
And if you wish to give us a hand, buy some photos:
The Small but Mighty Machines Stage a Coup in Extremadura
The SSVs stormed the 2025 edition of Baja TT Dehesa de Extremadura, leaving the powerful T1 and T1+ machines spinning—literally—in an event dominated by mud, rain, and a clear upper hand for T3 and T4 teams.
The city of Badajoz, capital of Spain’s Extremadura province, once again hosted this renowned event, part of both the Spanish Cross-Country Championship and the FIA European Cup for Cross Country Bajas. A strong international presence added flavor to the weekend, with the Portuguese delegation standing out thanks to the quality and quantity of its entrants.
A Spanish Event with a Portuguese Accent
The event’s international flair was further enhanced by a Friday stage that started in Portugal, linking the historic city of Elvas with Badajoz. In total, the rally covered 703 km, with 467.6 km of competitive distance. The program included a Friday morning prologue, an international stage in the afternoon, and two special stages on Saturday—one north and one south of Badajoz.
But as in any great motorsport saga, the gods had other plans—and this time, they weren’t in a good mood. Heavy rain turned the route into a natural minefield. Rivers swelled, mud zones expanded, and the once-fast tracks became a slippery skating rink, forcing organizers to shorten Saturday’s stages after a particularly challenging Friday afternoon. The result? A significantly trimmed-down course.
David vs. Goliath – Off-Road Edition
In the FIA Cup entry list, 8 T1+ and 3 T1 machines looked poised for top honors. But then came the small, fearless warriors: a huge armada of T3 and T4 SSVs, light, agile, fast—and hungry to take down the “big boys.”
With the weather on their side, these nimble machines sliced through the terrain with ease, dancing through obstacles while the heavier 4x4s struggled and bogged down in the mud.
João Ferreira: Mini X-Raid 3.0i - Overall winner / First T1+
Portuguese on Fire—SSVs Even More So!
By the end of Friday, in the FIA Cup standings, João Ferreira, making his debut behind the wheel of a gasoline-powered Mini T1+, was leading the rally! But right behind him, a Portuguese-led SSV army lined up, ready to attack.
By Saturday morning, the T1+ machines were already showing signs of fatigue, while the T3/T4 squads were energized and eager to "take no prisoners" in their fight for the top places. And in that context, Gonçalo Guerreiro (Polaris RZR PRO R) and Tiago Reis (Taurus T3 Max) rose to the occasion, finishing first and second for the day and proving that when the terrain gets tough, the small get going.
In the CERTT national event, reserved for Spanish Championship contenders, the SSV dominance was even more striking: in the final stage (SS3 on Saturday afternoon), the top eight places went to SSVs! The best-performing 4x4, the Mini Paceman driven by another Portuguese, João Franco, appeared only in ninth.
Final Results: Agility (Almost) Won the Race
Despite losing a bit of ground on Saturday, João Ferreira held on to win the FIA event, thanks to his strong performance on Friday.
In the CERTT standings, the highest-placed T1 vehicle—João Franco’s Mini—finished sixth, over 28 minutes behind the winner.
José Gonzalez - CERTT overall winner
The Future Has Arrived—And It’s Riding on Smaller Wheels
The rise of SSVs is no longer just a trend—it’s the new reality. In Portugal, SSVs first made waves in FMP events, then moved into FPAK-sanctioned car competitions, where they now reign supreme. Now, in Spain, the same shift is happening. The sheer number of T3/T4 entrants—and their growing presence at the top of the results tables—makes it impossible to ignore.
Even more telling, SSVs are now conquering the FIA Cup standings, shaking the very foundation of traditional 4x4 dominance. One can’t help but wonder: at the legendary Baja Aragón, a course much more favorable to T1+ machines, will the T3/T4s dare to steal the spotlight?
With lower costs, greater reliability, and remarkable performance, T3 and T4 vehicles are winning over drivers, teams, and fans alike. No matter how skilled the driver, the T1+/T1 machines simply can't escape the cold, hard reality: the SSVs are challenging them race after race and stealing their place.
In desert rallies, the 4x4s may still hold an edge. But in European Bajas, the battle seems lost—unless the category itself is reimagined. Imposing limits on SSVs doesn’t feel like the right answer. Innovating the T1+ class? Perhaps.
But one thing’s for certain: SSVs came, they saw… And now they’re conquering.
Maybe it’s time we started preparing a farewell speech for the T1+ class—just like we did in the golden era of the Citroën ZX Rally Raid. Remember that?
Note: When we refer to SSV, we refer to both the Challenger T3 and SSV T4 classes
Hélder Custódio / Rally-Raid Network
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.
