The new competition was created with a very clear objective: to give renewed space to the so-called “old glories” of Portuguese off-road racing. These are vehicles which, for decades, helped bring life to entry lists, paddocks and classifications, but which, for various reasons, gradually lost their place in official competitions. X-Offroad was created precisely to bring these machines back into competition, in a format designed to give them use, visibility and a proper competitive framework.
The inaugural event brought together 14 drivers from the various eligible classes, with vehicles entered in categories such as T0, T8 and TA, taking to Alto Alentejo a varied field that represented the spirit of this new project.
Due to its location close to the border, Elvas has for centuries been a city shaped by movement, territorial defence and the connection between Portugal and Spain. Its military heritage, walls, forts and the Amoreira Aqueduct are part of a very distinctive historical landscape, where the ideas of passage, resistance and border identity are always present.
Outside the urban centre, the municipality opens up into an extensive rural setting, made up of farmland, olive groves, dirt tracks and wide horizons. This connection between a fortified city, a border territory and the agricultural world gave a very particular setting to X-Offroad’s debut in Elvas, reinforcing the Alentejo identity of the event without taking the focus away from the competition.
The programme began at the Coliseu Comendador José Rondão Almeida, where administrative and technical checks took place, as well as the race briefing. Once this initial phase was completed, the participants travelled in convoy, escorted by the PSP police force, to the event venue, crossing the city before heading to the area where the course had been laid out.
The competition took place on a route designed between Elvas and the Spanish border, close to the new railway link, in an agricultural area marked by olive groves, orchards and open fields. For spectators, the organisation prepared a Spectator Zone at Nora Úveda, next to the new railway viaduct, allowing fans to follow the trophy’s debut from close range.
The track was fast and of moderate difficulty, allowing the vehicles to run without major complications. The heat ended up being the main obstacle for teams and machines, at a time of year when high temperatures are very much part of the challenge in Alto Alentejo.
Dust was also present in generous amounts, as expected on a dry course held in the middle of summer. Even so, the format of the event allows the starting intervals between competitors to be adjusted, increasing the distance on track and ensuring better visibility conditions in relation to the course and its obstacles.
From a sporting point of view, the first X-Offroad event highlighted teams from different classes. In T8 Classic, victory went to Luís Santos and Marco Bento, in a Nissan D21, while in T8 Pre-Classic the fastest crew was Rui Malha and Guiomar Malha, in a Mitsubishi Pajero DID.
In the T0 class, victory went to Tiago Santos and António Dias, at the wheel of a Land Rover Defender TD5. Among the TA entries, Rui Mendes and Mauro Gonçalves took the win in a Citroen C2.
At the end of the event, the organiser and promoter expressed their satisfaction with the way the competition unfolded, with no relevant incidents and with the results decided on the track. Naturally, as this was the first-ever round of the trophy, some points were identified for correction and improvement in a future edition in Elvas, which could take place in 2027.
For now, X-Offroad now moves on to Couço, one of the most historic locations in Portuguese off-road racing and also strongly connected to trial competition. It was precisely in Couço that the X-Offroad test event was held in 2025, and it will be there that the second round of this first edition of the trophy takes place.
Compared with the 2025 event, no major changes are expected, although the track will include some different passage points. The route will feature two crossings of the Sorraia River, which means that TA categories will not be allowed to take part in this round. Even so, given the reduced water level of the river at this time of year, no problems are expected for the 4x4 vehicles.
With its debut in Elvas now completed, X-Offroad has taken the first step in its calendar, seeking to establish itself as a new competitive proposal within the Portuguese off-road scene. More than an inaugural event, the visit to Elvas opened the way for a project that aims to recover an important part of the sport’s competitive memory in Portugal — and to prove that these machines still have plenty to show.
The event was organised by Associação Vicentina, through its motor sports section, with the support of the Municipality of Elvas, the União de Freguesias de Caia, São Pedro e Alcáçova, Rui Malha – Construção Civil, Hidro Elvas, Manuland and Ouro D’Elvas.
The X-Offroad 4x4 Trophy is promoted by X-Adventure, under the authority of FPAK, with the support of Motorin, Todoterreno.pt and Rally-Raid Network.
Top 3
(Per category)
T8 Classic
1st Luís Santos / Marco Bento — Nissan D21 — 56:30.102
2nd Mauro Bontempo / Alexandr Vsivtev — UMM Protummble — 57:16.484
T8 Pre-Classic
1st Rui Malha / Guiomar Malha — Mitsubishi Pajero DID — 51:25.070
2nd Carlos Gomes / Nuno Silva — Mazda BT50 — 51:32.314
3rd Hugo Raposo / Rafael Lutas — Nissan Navara — 9:06.715
T0
1st Tiago Santos / António Dias — Land Rover Defender TD5 — 37:47.874
TA
1st Rui Mendes / Mauro Gonçalves — Citroen C2 — 37:13.454
2nd Carlos Alves / Joaquim Prates — Peugeot 309 GTI — 38:26.108
3rd Sebastião Sequeira Jr / Sebastião Sequeira — Ford Escort — 44:31.157
Official press release
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