Pedro Carrapiço to step in as co-driver in Beja
Nuno Matos launches his 2026 campaign in the Portuguese Cross-Country Rally Championship (CPTT) this weekend at the Baja TT Montes Alentejanos in Beja, the event that marks the official start of the new season. Eager to hit the ground running, the driver heads into the opener focused on consistency and on laying the foundations for a solid year.
“We’re starting 2026 with our feet on the ground. We know the challenges we’ll face, but we want to begin well, deliver a balanced race, and take momentum into what we already expect to be a demanding season. A strong start in Beja is important for what we want to achieve in 2026,” said Matos.
For this first round, Matos will be partnered by Pedro Carrapiço as co-driver, stepping in for Ricardo Claro, who is currently recovering after surgery.
“Ricardo is recovering, and that’s the most important thing, because we know he’ll be back soon. Pedro has been with us for many years, he’s an experienced co-driver and knows the team and the project inside out, so it was the natural choice to have him alongside me for this race,” Matos added.
The 2026 season also carries special milestones for the driver, who celebrates 30 consecutive seasons in off-road racing, 20 years since winning his first national title, and 10 years since being crowned overall Portuguese National Off-Road Champion.
Organised by the Clube de Promoção de Karting e Automobilismo (CPKA), the Baja TT Montes Alentejanos features a 6-kilometre prologue on Friday, followed by three 117-kilometre selective sections, for a total of 351 kilometres against the clock over the weekend.
Source: Nuno Matos official press release
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