Laia Sanz and Maurizio Gerini successfully began the second stage of the Portugal Rally-Raid, held this Thursday between Grândola (Portugal) and Badajoz (Spain). The Spanish‑Italian pair managed to return to the race thanks to the excellent work of the EBRO Audax Motorsport mechanics, who completed the repairs in time.
The team faced a challenging day yesterday, when they collided with a power pole, damaging the front of the EBRO s800 XRR and preventing them from completing the full route. At 5 a.m., the technicians finished the job, demonstrating their remarkable ability to handle unforeseen situations like this.
As Laia Sanz explained: *We have to thank the team for the excellent work they did overnight so we could start today. We knew it would be a survival stage and we had a few setbacks, but the important thing was reaching the finish line.”
The second stage proved to be a very demanding route, with plenty of mud and water, which made the challenge even greater for the Spanish team. After completing the day’s 547 kilometers — 377 of them timed — Sanz and Gerini crossed the finish line in 19th place in the Ultimate category (34th overall).
“When you’re competing, you always want to give your best, but under these conditions we couldn’t achieve any real result. Even so, accumulating kilometers is very valuable for the whole team to keep progressing. Today we were able to work calmly, and I hope tomorrow we can have a smooth day, push a bit more, and make the most of it,” commented the 20‑time world champion.
One of the highlights of the day was the final section of the special, which took place in Extremadura. Upon arriving at the bivouac, Laia Sanz was warmly welcomed by Spanish fans. *“It’s a pleasure to compete here. I had never taken part in this event before; it’s very technical and full of traps, but I’m enjoying it a lot, and the support from the fans makes the experience even more special.”*
Tomorrow, Friday, the Portugal Rally-Raid will hold its third stage, starting and finishing in Badajoz, with a timed route of 296 kilometers, plus another 204 kilometers of liaison.
Press: EBRO Audax Motorsport
Foto: todoterreno.pt/Imagens Desportivas
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