The bp Ultimate Adventure Team got off to a great start in the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, securing two podium finishes in the SSV category during the opening stage of the event organized by the Automóvel Clube de Portugal, which counts toward the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.
The stage was marked by the demanding nature of the course, exacerbated by the rain that fell and made the terrain particularly difficult, with plenty of mud and severely degraded trails.
At the wheel of a Polaris RZR, Luís Portela Morais, navigated by teammate David Megre, secured second place among the SSVs, just four seconds behind the leader, and also finished in 12th place in the overall car standings.
“First stage done. We lost a little time up to the 50 km mark, but then we pushed hard without taking risks. We’re four seconds behind first place, which is very good. There’s still a lot to do in this race, but what we want is to avoid problems. We’re in a good position to tackle the coming days and ensure everything goes smoothly,” the driver noted.
Also at the wheel of a Polaris RZR, Miguel Barbosa, navigated by Joel Lutas, finished the stage in third place among the SSVs, and 13th overall in the car category.
“It was a first day that went very well and without any problems. The stage was difficult because the surface was badly damaged by the cars that passed in front of us. We got through the first day and now we’re going to focus on tomorrow. Another difficult stage lies ahead, with a lot of water and mud, so we’re going to prepare the car well so that tomorrow we can have another positive stage,” said Miguel Barbosa.
Among the motorcycles, Martim Ventura, a rider sponsored by bp Ultimate, finished the stage in 7th place in the Rally2 category and holds 15th place in the motorcycle standings after the first day of racing: “It was a bit of a rough day. I didn’t feel well; I’m still in some pain due to an issue I had, and it was a day without much to report. I couldn’t get into my rhythm, but I think tomorrow will be a better day. I have everything I need to put in a good performance. The bike is in perfect condition and I’m feeling fine, so tomorrow will be better,” said the young rider.
Tomorrow marks the second stage of the Rally Raid Portugal, which will connect Grândola to Badajoz. The special stage will feature 377 timed kilometers, making it the longest and most demanding day of the entire race.
Official Press Release
Photo: todoterreno.pt/Imagens Desportivas
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.
