Among the 117 registered competitors, 24 Portuguese crews will compete in the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal.
One of the standout entries is the duo João Ferreira / Filipe Palmeiro, who arrive in high spirits after winning the opening round of the Portuguese Cross-Country Championship and are expected to fight for overall victory.
In the Challenger category, Alexandre Pinto leads the national contingent, which also includes former Portuguese champion Ricardo Porém.
However, it is in the SSV class that Portuguese competitors shine brightest. João Monteiro is the best-placed championship contender competing in the event. He is joined by multiple Portuguese champion Miguel Barbosa and the rapid duo Luís Cidade and Luís Portela Morais.
In the motorcycle category, Martim Ventura leads the Portuguese delegation, with several riders from the national championship also on the starting line, including Bruno Santos (Husqvarna) and Micael Simão (KTM).
“Since its first edition, the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal has established itself as the reference event for the discipline in Europe, giving it strong international prominence. The routes are very particular and completely different from most rallies in the World Championship, something teams — especially the drivers — have recognised, highlighting the technical character of the course.”
“Combined with a highly experienced organisation and outstanding work in areas such as sustainability, this results in an extremely competitive entry list with several potential winners. For the Automóvel Club de Portugal, this is the ultimate guarantee that fans will enjoy a spectacular event as they follow competitors along the tracks and trails of Portugal and Spain’s Extremadura region.” — Carlos Barbosa, President of the Organising Committee of the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal
Fans will have a unique opportunity to see the world’s best rally-raid cars, motorcycles and riders up close during the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal.
In addition to the action on the stages across Portugal and Extremadura, visitors will be able to access the service park, a genuine centre of excellence for global off-road competition, which will be established in Grândola, Badajoz and Loulé.
16–18 March
18:00–22:00 (Portugal time)
Badajoz
19–20 March
18:00–23:00 (Spanish time)
Loulé
21 March
18:00–22:00 (Portugal time)
Visitors will be able to see the cars and motorcycles up close as teams prepare for the demanding stages of the rally.
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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.
