Rain, mud, and plenty of driving… that’s how the first day of the 2026 Rally Raid Portugal unfolded, with Luis Cidade and his co-driver, Valter Cardoso, standing out as the top team by winning the competitive SSV class—a victory underscored by the four-second margin separating them from the runner-up.
Competing in his second event eligible for the world championship, the Can -Am South Racing driver overcame all the challenges of a very technical course without any issues. With fast and safe driving, he once again confirmed his full potential behind the wheel of the reliable official Maverick, gaining three seconds on his main rival in the final three kilometers of the day’s last special stage after finishing the main selective sector with just a one-second gap.
'It went well; it was just the first of five days of competition, with a lot of mud, and we had to manage our pace very carefully. The car was flawless, Valter was on another level, and being in the fight for the win is undoubtedly very positive. But it was just the opening day, and tomorrow we’ll have to stay focused and maintain a good pace,' said the Milfa driver upon returning to Grândola.
The second day of competition will take the young driver from Matosinhos to Badajoz, where the second stage of the competition will end, and the goal is to maintain the pace and cross the border with first place firmly in his grasp.
Official Press Release
Photo: todoterreno.pt/Imagens Desportivas
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