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Rally Raid de Portugal 2024: Chicherit sets the pace
The prologue and stage 1 of the inaugural edition of the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal took place between Grândola and Santiago do Cacém today.
Guerlain Chicherit (Overdrive Racing) led the pack in the car race, inching out his teammate Yazeed Al Rajhi and Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing). A Toyota hat-trick.
Over in the Challenger category, the W2RC front-runner, Rokas Baciuška (Can-Am Factory) secured the top spot among those vying for the championship. The Lithuanian took over the reins of the rally ahead of Mario Franco (Franco Sport) and Marcelo Gastaldi (BBR).
In the SSV competition, Ricardo Ramilo outgunned Yasir Seaidan (MMP) and Sebastián Guayasamín (FN Speed) to open his W2RC account.
CHICHERIT SETS THE PACE
Nasser Al Attiyah kicked off the day with a blistering run in the prologue, claiming the top spot. However, when the special rolled around, it was the short-lived partnership of Guerlain Chicherit and Mathieu Baumel that stole the limelight, clocking the quickest times throughout. As they crossed the line, the French duo left their teammate Yazeed Al Rajhi trailing by 28 seconds, with Lucas Moraes in his factory Hilux following at 48 seconds back. Carlos Sainz and his JCW Rally Plus Mini romped home after the Toyota hat-trick. The W2RC leader sits just 1′17″ behind the winner of the day. Nasser Al Attiyah came in fifth among the W2RC entrants. The Qatari trails the overall leader by just 1′19″, but took only one stage point, letting Carlos Sainz gain an additional point and bring his lead in the championship from 9 to 10. It is neck and neck between these two stars vying for the top spot in the W2RC standings. It was a good day at the office for Chicherit, who pocketed 5 points for the stage win and bumped Al Attiyah from second place in the ranking by a single point
No-one was faster than the championship leader, Rokas Baciuška, among the W2RC entrants in the Challenger class. He beat Mario Franco by 1’11 seconds and Marcelo Gastaldi by 1′54″. His counterpart in the SSV competition, Yasir Seaidan, was not as lucky. The Saudi bent the knee to the Spaniard Ricardo Ramilo, who picked up his maiden stage win in the W2RC and built up a 2′04″ overall lead. Sebastián Guayasamín is 5′17″ from the top spot.
Source: W2RC / A.S.O.
Photo: ImagensDesportivas.com
Helder