FIA proposals for the upcoming W2RC and Baja seasons

• His first competitive outing with the Ford Raptor T1+ will take place at Rally du Maroc and later at the Dakar Rally
• The driver line-up includes Mitch Guthrie Jr, Nani Roma, and Carlos Sainz Sr

Ford Performance welcomes world-renowned rally and off-road driver Mattias Ekström, who will be joining its team for the 2025 Dakar Rally and thus completing the driver lineup. Ekström, a two-time DTM champion, World Rallycross champion, and experienced rally raid competitor, will join Mitch Guthrie Jr, Nani Roma, and Carlos Sainz Sr in piloting the Ford Raptor T1+ in one of the world’s most demanding motorsport events.

Ekström’s diverse background, which spans success in rally, circuit racing, and off-road competition, makes him a perfect addition to the Ford Performance Dakar team. He has proven his capability in rally raid events, including multiple Dakar Rally appearances, and now looks forward to leading the charge alongside his teammates in the T1 Category.

Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Performance: “Bringing Mattias Ekström into the Ford Performance family is a big step forward for our Dakar program. Mattias brings a wealth of experience in rally and off-road racing, and his skills add to a formidable team in the Ford Raptor T1+. The Dakar Rally is a test like no other, but we’re confident in our lineup.”

Matthew Wilson, M-Sport: "We have followed Mattias’ career for a long time, from his DTM days to the FIA World Rallycross, and now the Dakar Rally. He has shown fantastic speed and ability in all forms of motorsport and his performances in off-road racing have been no different. We are really looking forward to working with him and his co-driver Emil, who both will bring with them a vast array of experience."

Mattias Ekström: "Joining the Ford Dakar program is really exciting for me. Ford and M-Sport have built a vehicle that looks, sounds, and drives awesome and we all have a common ambition to win the Dakar Rally. I have had four tries at Dakar so far and now I can say that I have some experience to be able to aim for the top. There is also a lot of knowledge and experience in the team to back up the ambition – starting with the long motorsport heritage of Ford, proven track record of M-Sport, very impressive driver line-up, smart engineers, technicians, and the rest of the team. I look forward to the first competitive outing with the Ford Raptor T1+ at Rally du Maroc and later at the Dakar Rally. I am in it to win it and I hope we will have very successful and great years ahead of us. I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

WHY: Ford Performance is committed to showcasing its off-road capabilities in rally raid racing and global competition efforts via entries and victories in the Baja 1000, Tatts-Finke Desert Race, and more. The addition of Mattias Ekström finalizes a strong driver lineup for the biggest challenge yet in Dakar, positioning Ford for a competitive push in the 2025 race with the Raptor T1+.a

Source: Ford

• Rallye du Maroc to mark competitive debut for The Dacia Sandriders
• All-star line-up of Al-Attiyah / Boulanger, Gutiérrez / Moreno and Loeb / Lurquin ready for Dakar test run
• Team principal Isnard: “You can’t run before you can walk”

The Dacia Sandriders will switch to competition mode for the first time later this week when Nasser Al-Attiyah/Édouard Boulanger, Cristina Gutiérrez/Pablo Moreno and Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin contest Rallye du Maroc (October 6-11), the 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season decider and the perfect practice run for January’s Dakar.

Having tested the Ultimate category Sandrider extensively in the UK, France and Morocco during the summer, The Dacia Sandriders will aim to put all of that valuable learning into practice on an event described as a miniature Dakar, motorsport’s ultimate test of driver and machine.

While Rallye du Maroc, which covers a total distance of 2468 kilometres, represents a competitive first for The Dacia Sandriders, its driving and team personnel have experience of the African rally-raid event from recent seasons. That gives the squad an important platform from which to progress. Indeed, Al-Attiyah, a five-time Dakar winner, was victorious on Rallye du Maroc as recently as 2021.

“In less than three months we’ll be in Saudi Arabia for Dakar and for what will be an extraordinary human challenge,” said Tiphanie Isnard, The Dacia Sandriders’ team principal. “But you can’t run before you can walk and that’s why we’ve entered the final round of the 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship to get more important practice and confirm all that we have been learning and developing during testing.

“With five test sessions complete this will be our first race and we’re ready for this real-life rehearsal before we embark on our mission to conquer Dakar.

“To get to this point has required a huge amount of effort and hard work. The dedication of all members of our team has been incredible and I’m really proud of each and every one of them for what they have done.”

A founding round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship in 2022, Rallye du Maroc forms the season-decider for the second season in 2024. Getting under way with a Prologue in Marrakech to the west of Morocco on October 6 and finishing in Mengoub Bouârfa to the northeast of the country on October 11, the event is all about sand dunes, rock-strewn stretches, rough gravel sections and searing heat. Of the 2468-kilometre total distance, 1512 kilometres are against the clock, to underline the intensity of the challenge ahead for The Dacia Sandriders.

NASSER AL-ATTIYAH (QATAR), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS
“Rallye du Maroc is not only very important for the championship, it’s also very important for the teams because everybody is coming to prepare for Dakar. At this moment we are leading the championship and from my side we need to be clever, we need to manage with a good speed and do no crazy thing because the Sandrider is a new car and we must try to work day by day. I hope to win the world title and be the world champion, it would be nice for me and for my co-driver Edouard as well.”

CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ (SPAIN), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS
“It will be our first race with the Sandrider after a long series of tests and I'm very excited. It will also be my first race in a new category as I jump from the Challenger to the Ultimate class. A lot of new things are coming as it's a new car, new category and new team but I already feel very comfortable with The Dacia Sandriders and I hope we can confirm the work done during the tests on Rallye du Maroc. I have some pressure but it's a positive pressure, the type that makes you give the best of yourself. Of course, it will be a race of preparation for Dakar, but I hope we can achieve a good result and have fun.”

SÉBASTIEN LOEB (FRANCE), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS
“After all the hard work in testing we can finally measure ourselves against the competition and see where we are in terms of performance, but also because we’re starting a new adventure with this top team. It will be a full-scale test, a live rehearsal you could say, so the objective is, above all to see that everything is in place and working properly. If it isn't this is the opportunity to identify the problems and resolve them before Dakar. But if we can get a good result, that would be even better.”

DAKAR NOT ONLY FOCUS FOR THE DACIA SANDRIDERS IN MOROCCO
While its Dakar preparations will be the focus for The Dacia Sandriders on Rallye du Maroc, Nasser Al-Attiyah starts the event in contention for a sixth overall title in what is now the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship following the discipline’s rebranding in 2022. After four rounds competing with other teams, Al-Attiyah and co-driver Edouard Boulanger top their respective championships by 25 and 20 points.

THE DACIA SANDRIDERS RALLYE DU MAROC LINE-UP
#200: Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Edouard Boulanger (FRA)
#212: Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP)/Pablo Moreno (ESP)
#219: Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL)

RALLYE DU MAROC: THE BIG NUMBER
1512: Of Rallye du Maroc’s total distance of 2468 kilometres, 1512 kilometres – spread over five stages – are against the clock.

Source: Dacia

The stakes are higher than ever in the 2024 W2RC finale. From the drivers and co-drivers to the manufacturers, all the FIA titles are still up for grabs as the engines rev up in Marrakesh! The verdict will be pronounced at the end of the 2,468 kilometres of the Rallye du Maroc.

Make or break
The 2023 champion, Nasser Al Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders), and his runner-up, Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing), were looking forward to a rematch in 2024. Fast-forward to the end of the season and the two drivers are fighting for the FIA title again. It has become a classic duel. Six W2RC races have seen both of them on the final podium, including the last edition of the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia, where the Saudi ace got the better of his Qatari rival. The two-time reigning champion holds a margin of 25 points going into the grand finale, but Al Rajhi can still snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Indeed, he scored 27 points more than Al Attiyah when he triumphed in Morocco last year. The leader has no room for error in a country where he has already savoured the sweet taste of victory (2014 through 2018 and 2021) and the bitter sting of defeat (DNF in 2019 and fifteenth place in 2023). Shaking up this scenario even more is the fact that this will be his first official race in a Dacia Sandrider. Getting it right the first time is easier said than done, as the Qatari himself experienced first-hand when he had to bail out of his new Hunter before the finish of the Dakar last January. Sure, he bounced back with two consecutive victories at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, but if he messes up this time, the crown will go to his arch-rival in Morocco.
Another driver remains mathematically in contention… On paper, at least. Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) trails the leader by 53 points with 55 points on the table (see box below), so he needs something just short of a miracle. However, the Brazilian has two missions to keep him busy. First, to defend the W2RC bronze medal that he claimed last season, knowing that X-raid Mini JCW's Guerlain Chicherit and Guillaume de Mevius are 34 and 38 points behind, respectively. Second, to do his bit to propel Toyota Gazoo Racing to the manufacturers' championship! Just like Al Attiyah, TGR are eyeing their third title on the bounce, but now with him on the other side. The Qatari's marque, Nasser Racing by Prodrive, is 30 points adrift.

Historic first on the cards
Rokas Baciuška (Can-Am Factory) remains undefeated in the W2RC. The Lithuanian clinched the SSV titles in 2022 and 2023. He joined the Challenger field this season in a bid to become the first driver to emerge victorious in two different classes. He has never finished lower than first (Portugal and Ruta 40) or second (Dakar and ADDC). With a healthy lead of 44 points over Nicolás Cavigliasso, there is no reason for him to stress in the final round. The Argentinian has won almost as many stages as his rival (seven, i.e. one fewer), but he is paying the price for his anaemic early-season performances at the Dakar (sixth) and in the Emirates (fifth). Finishing sixth in Mengoub/Bouârfa would do the trick for Baciuška, although you should never count your chicks before they hatch in rally raids.
Marcelo Gastaldi (BBR) faces a scenario not entirely unlike that of his compatriot Moraes in Ultimate. He is also third in his class, Challenger, and he also needs to seal the deal on a podium finish. His closest rival, Austin Jones (Can-Am Factory), is not coming to Morocco. Instead, his BBR teammate Dania Akeel is the closest threat at 32 points.

Buckle up
A season is a long time in rally raids. By the time they cross the finish line of the Rallye du Maroc, the competitors will have covered over 17,000 kilometres. Consistency is key over such mammoth distances. Sebastián Guayasamín (BE Racing), ensconced in the SSV lead despite not having won a single race, is living proof of that! Keeping mistakes to the bare minimum and protecting his machine has allowed him to finish in the top 4 in every single round so far, in stark contrast with Yasir Seaidan (MMP), who has won two rounds but bowed out of the rallies in Portugal and Argentina. He now stands 6 points behind Guayasamín.
What looked like a two-man duel between the Can-Am drivers has morphed into a three-way standoff. Ricardo Ramilo (Escuderia Ramilo-Rodamoto) has surged back into contention for the title after snapping up the last two rounds. The Spaniard is 20 points from taking the crown from under his rivals' noses. Rebecca Busi (OnlyFans) has a bigger mountain to climb at 41 points. For the first time in W2RC history, four competitors are in the mix for the championship heading into the finale!

Points on offer
A maximum of 55 points are at stake in the Rallye du Maroc, with two different hauls up for grabs:

Finishing in the top 15 overall, according to the following scale: 30 (1st), 25 (2nd), 20 (3rd), 17 (4th), 15 (5th), 13 (6th), 10 (7th), 9 (8th), 8 (9th), 7 (10th), 6 (11th), 5 (12th), 4 (13th), 3 (14th) and 2 (15th).
Finishing in the top 5 of a stage, according to the following scale: 5 (1st), 4 (2nd), 3 (3rd), 2 (4th) and 1 (5th).
Each manufacturer can field a maximum of three crews in each event. Only the top two from each team will score points, which will be awarded following the above scale.

History in the making
The three world co-driver championships are also on the line. In the FIA class, Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) is in the pole position to succeed fellow Frenchman Mathieu Baumel (X-raid Mini JCW). Al Attiyah's new partner is 20 points ahead of Al Rajhi's lieutenant, Timo Gottschalk (Overdrive Racing).
There is history in the making in the Challenger class, where Valentina Pertegarini seems poised to become the first female W2RC champion! Riding shotgun with Cavigliasso, the Argentinian will not have to contend with Oriol Vidal (Can-Am Factory), who is still on the mend. The final obstacle standing in her way is Gastaldi's co-driver, the Brazilian Carlos Sachs (BBR), 35 points adrift. In the SSV class, Fernando Acosta (BE Racing) has a golden opportunity to erase his 11-point deficit to the leader Fausto Mota, who is no longer racing with Ramilo. If Sergio Lafuente (OnlyFans), who navigates for Busi, manages to keep his third place, he will net Uruguay its first ever W2RC title.

Source: W2RC / A.S.O.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) is set to tackle the final round of the 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) at the Rally of Morocco from 6 to 11 October. With two highly skilled crews competing in race-proven machines, the team is ready to take on the demanding terrains and fierce competition in the Moroccan desert. The Rally of Morocco, renowned for its challenging stages and tough conditions, will also mark a milestone in W2RC history, as it celebrates the 100th timed stage of the championship.

TGR’s lineup for the Rally of Morocco will feature Lucas Moraes and co-driver Armand Monleon in the Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+, as well as Seth Quintero and co-driver Dennis Zenz in the same race-proven machine. Moraes, one of the rising stars in the world of rally-raid, will be making his debut in the Moroccan race. Quintero, known for his speed and determination, will be looking to deliver strong results as he continues to gain experience in the W2RC

W2RC Standings: Aiming for Maximum Points

With the final round of the W2RC approaching, TGR heads to Morocco looking to close the season on a high note. Currently sitting in 3rd place in the W2RC standings, Lucas Moraes trails the championship leader by 53 points. While the title is out of reach, a strong performance in Morocco could see Lucas move up to 2nd in the final standings. His consistency and ability to tackle the toughest stages have been key to his success this season, and he will be aiming for maximum points to end the year on a high.

Meanwhile, Seth Quintero sits in 8th place in the standings, 103 points behind the leader. Like Lucas, Seth will be focusing on achieving the best possible result in Morocco. The young American driver has shown his enormous potential throughout the season and will be keen to deliver another solid performance in the challenging Moroccan terrain.

Rally of Morocco: The Ultimate Test of Skill and Endurance

The Rally of Morocco is widely regarded as one of the toughest events on the W2RC calendar. This year, the race will cover a total of 2,468 km, of which 1,512 km will be timed special stages. The event will take place over five gruelling stages, plus a short prologue. The terrain will challenge competitors with a combination of vast desert landscapes, sharp mountain passes, expansive dunes, and rocky tracks that test both the drivers’ skill and the durability of their vehicles.

The race kicks off on 6 October with a prologue in Marrakesh, setting the scene for the upcoming five days of intense rally-raid action. From 7 October, the real competition begins with Stage 1, a loop around Zagora, covering 268 km of timed racing. This region is famous for its Erg Chegaga dunes, where competitors will be tested by the deep sands and tough navigation challenges. The second stage, also based in Zagora, will be a longer special, adding another 317 km of racing through similarly punishing terrain.

Stage 3 will take the competitors on a point-to-point route, travelling from Zagora to Mengoub-Bouârfa. The stage will include 318 km of timed special, with the route featuring separate tracks for FIA and FIM classes to add variety and increase the complexity of the challenge for the car drivers. This stage will push competitors into the dunes of Merzouga, where the soft sands and challenging dunes will require utmost precision and control.

The final two stages, held around Mengoub-Bouârfa, will serve as a prelude to the grand finale. Stages 4 and 5 will take competitors into some of the most sparsely populated areas of the Oriental region, an area known for its rocky, barren landscapes and Dakar-style tracks. Navigational challenges will come to the forefront as the terrain offers little in the way of visible markers. The 272 km timed special of the final stage on 11 October promises to be just as unpredictable as the rest of the race, making it an exciting and nerve-wracking end to the 2024 W2RC season.

A Dakar-style Challenge

The 2024 Rally of Morocco, designed by race director David Castera, is often referred to as a miniature version of the Dakar Rally. With its blend of rocky trails, dunes, and fast sections, the event will provide teams with a demanding rehearsal for the next W2RC season, which kicks off with the 2025 Dakar. As always, the Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+ will be expected to showcase its reliability, durability, and performance across these varied stages, as Lucas Moraes and Seth Quintero aim to end their season on a high.

Source: Toyota

The date of Sertões 2025 has changed. Originally scheduled for August 29 to September 7, the 33rd edition of the biggest rally in the Americas has been brought forward and will take place from July 26 to August 3.

The decision was taken by the race organizers after careful evaluation and planning. The aim is to align the date of the event with the world Rally Raid calendar, optimize logistics and offer better conditions for drivers, teams and the press.

Automatic translation of the Brazilian Portuguese version

Prior to the Rallye du Maroc, Erik van Loon will test with the Audi S1, with which he will participate in the Dakar Classic in January. After the test, Erik will start getting ready to participate in the Rallye du Maroc, which he will do in a new Can-Am T4. Erik will be navigated by Hein Verschuuren.

Erik is looking forward to going to Morocco again. “Especially as a test for the Dakar Rally, it's always good to go to Morocco. You can really put the car to the test there, but also establish a good base in terms of setup. We have already driven the Audi a few times, but not yet under these conditions. During the Dakar Classic things are of course different than during the 'normal' Dakar, but also then the car has to be good and we have to know what it can do. I'm very much looking forward to driving it.”

The test will be followed by the Rallye du Maroc. “That's quite a switch, from the Audi to a Can-Am. South Racing has built a new T4 and we will drive it. The competition in this class is very big and usually the field of competitors in Morocco is well filled. For us, the most important thing is to finish and not have any problems, because we haven't been able to do that the last few rallies. Once we feel the confidence in the car we can increase the speed and see where we stand in this field of competitors.”

The Rallye du Maroc begins on Oct. 6 with a 25-kilometer prologue. The two days before the prologue will be used for inspections and final tests with the Can-Am. The rally ends on Oct. 11 after 1,512 kilometers at speed. For more information about the rally, visit https://rallyemaroc.com/.

Automatic translation of the Dutch version
Source: Van Loon Racing

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• Just 8 days to go until the fifth and final round of the championship, the Rallye du Maroc, which will take place from 5 to 11 October. 60 of the 270 vehicles on the start list of the 25th edition of the Moroccan race are W2RC entrants. A 2,468 km trek, including 1,512 km of specials, awaits the field on the route from Marrakesh to Mengoub/Bouârfa via Zagora.
• 27 FIM competitors are set to go head to head in the W2RC, with 7 of them in the Rally GP class. The overall leader, Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports), is feeling the heat from the Monster Energy Honda riders Ricky Brabec and Adrien Van Beveren.
• In Rally 2, the title fight is on between Romain Dumontier (Honda), Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) and Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Rally). 9 riders will line up in the category, and 8 in Rally 3. Meanwhile, 3 quads will be scrapping for the championship podium spots.
• 33 FIA W2RC crews are heading for Marrakesh. Among the 16 in the Ultimate class are the three title contenders: Nasser Al Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders), in his first outing in his new car, and the Hilux drivers Yazeed Al Rajhi (Overdrive Racing) and Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing).
• In the Challenger class, with 11 entries in the championship, Rokas Baciuška (Can-Am Factory) needs to keep Nicolás Cavigliasso at bay to claim the title. The tension is high in SSV, where 4 of the 6 contenders are still in the running for the crown.

Final showdown between Branch and Honda

As in 2023, the FIM Rally GP champion will be crowned in Morocco. Ross Branch is leading the standings thanks to his consistency (with top 5 finishes in every round), but he is under serious pressure from the Honda camp. Now only 9 points behind, Ricky Brabec has one goal: to win and hope that other riders wedge themselves between him and his rival. The same goes for Adrien Van Beveren, still mathematically in contention at 16 points from the Botswanan. Both the American and the Frenchman can count on their teammate Tosha Schareina, who has become a W2RC podium regular. However, the team boss, Ruben Faria, has already warned that there will be no team orders unless the title "is on the line"! Rounding out the Honda squad is Pablo Quintanilla. Over at Hero, Sebastian Bühler and Nacho Cornejo are reporting for duty to support Branch and help in the manufacturers' standings, where 22 points separate the two brands, with the Japanese manufacturer holding the advantage.

The Rally 2 championship is also wide open. Romain Dumontier is the favourite to defend his title after winning the Dakar and taking the spoils in Argentina… but Bradley Cox, the reigning champion in Morocco, is just 8 points behind! BAS World KTM Racing is coming in full force, with Michael Docherty, a potential race winner, racing alongside Mathieu Dovèze, who has been on the rise since winning stages at the Dakar, Tobias Ebster, victorious in Original by Motul, and the Czech rider Jiří Brož. His countryman Jan Brabec will also be on a KTM, but in Stojrent Racing colours. Over at Duust, Konrad Dąbrowski still has a shot at the title, trailing Dumontier by 23 points. Meanwhile, Jean-Loup Lepan is eyeing his third podium of the season.

John Medina (Xraids Experience) already has the Rally 3 title in the bag and wants to celebrate in style. He will need to overcome his teammate Alan Eduardo and the local hero Amine Echiguer, who came out on top in 2022! Last year's podium finishers, Richard Hodola and Souleymane Addahri (Africa Rallye Team), are out for revenge after missing out on the top step. The Moroccan Addahri is one of two ART selections, along with the Senegalese rider Fodé Traoré. The grid is rounded out by the Frenchman Emmanuel Beucher and the Ecuadorian Mauricio Cueva (Pedrega Team). In the quad category, all W2RC entrants are gunning for a spot on the overall podium. The champion, Manuel Andújar (7240), went out of the category with a bang, but the runner-up's spot is still up for grabs. Kamil Wiśniewski (Orlen Team) has been the best of the rest so far, but Hani Alnoumesi and Antanas Kanopkinas (CFMOTO Thunder Racing) are just 1 and 8 points behind him.

Al Attiyah faces off against Toyota in Dacia debut

The reigning two-time FIA W2RC champion, Nasser Al Attiyah, is going into the race as the overall leader and on familiar ground, holding the record for the most wins in Morocco (2014 through 2018 and 2021). Securing a third crown would be the perfect way to mark his debut with the Dacia Sandrider, which is making its first W2RC appearance. However, he will need to fend off the Toyota crews chasing him —Yazeed Al Rajhi is just 25 points behind, while Lucas Moraes trails by 53. The Saudi, who won here in 2023, is banking on the consistency of his set-up to tip the scales. The dark horses Seth Quintero (Toyota Gazoo Racing) and Juan Cruz Yacopini (Overdrive Racing) have also remained true to the Hilux. TGR are the favourites for the manufacturers' title thanks to their 30-point lead over Nasser Racing by Prodrive.

Al Attiyah is not the only one who will be sporting new colours in Morocco. Guerlain Chicherit, the winner of the 2022 edition, has swapped his Toyota for a Mini JCW Rally Plus from X-raid! The same goes for Guillaume de Mevius, who came in second in the Dakar earlier this season. The Quandt family's squad is rounded out by João Ferreira, who dominated the SSV class here a year ago. There will be two Fords on the grid, with the Czech Martin Prokop (Orlen Jipocar) and the rising Catalan star Pau Navarro (Past Racing). The Moroccan caravan will also feature Marcos Baumgart in the Prodrive Hunter (X Rally), Mathieu Serradori in his Century (SRT), Aliyyah Koloc in her Red-Lined (Buggyra ZM Racing) and the MD Optimus entries of Eugenio Amos and Jean-Luc Ceccaldi (MD Rallye Sport).

Just six specials stand between Rokas Baciuška and a historic first in the Challenger class. The Lithuanian winner of the last SSV championship is targeting an unprecedented double, and Nicolás Cavigliasso, 44 points back, is the last remaining obstacle. Marcelo Gastaldi and Dania Akeel will be hunting for the first win of the season for Team BBR. Mitch Guthrie (Red Bull Off-Road Junior) is taking his final bow in a Taurus before trading it for a Ford in the Ultimate class. This will be his first W2RC appearance since the Dakar, as for the entire Goczał clan —Eryk, Marek and Michał—, racing for Energylandia Rally Team! The cousins Mario and Rui Franco (Franco Sport) and the father-daughter duo consisting of Lionel and Lucie Baud (G Rally Team) are also ready for a family outing. Ricardo Porém (MMP) rounds out the list.

Nowhere is the suspense greater than in the SSV class, where 4 of the 6 W2RC crews in the race have still got a shot at the title! A run of bad luck in Portugal and Argentina forced Yasir Seaidan (MMP) to relinquish the overall lead to Sebastián Guayasamín (BE Racing). 6 points separate the two Can-Am drivers, with Ricardo Ramilo (Escuderia Ramilo-Rodamoto) 20 points behind the Ecuadorian. Rebecca Busi (OnlyFans Racing) is also in the mix at 41 points. Claude Fournier (MMP) and Enrico Gaspari in his Polaris (TH-Trucks) are no longer in contention, but they are still spoiling for a fight.

Source: W2RC / A.S.O.

• Chicherit, De Mévius and Ferreira in the MINI
• Debut of the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i

The Rallye du Maroc marks the end of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Championship and is one of the most popular events on the calendar for this reason, among others. This year, the X-raid team is travelling to the starting city of Marrakesh with a total of four vehicles: the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i will be making its debut there. It will be accompanied by two X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus and an X-raid 1000R Turbo side-by-side. In addition, X-raid can rely on an interesting and powerful line-up of drivers.

Two new crews will be sitting in a MINI in Morocco: the two Frenchmen Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq will be driving the new X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i. The Belgian Guillaume De Mévius will be competing in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus together with the Frenchman Mathieu Baumel. João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro are also in the line-up, and they will be looking to continue their winning streak from previous races in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus. Hungary's Pál Lónyai will be competing in the X-raid side-by-side with Alexey Kuzmich.

For Ferreira and Palmeiro, it will be their first longer rally in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally Plus in about half a year. So far, the two Portuguese have mainly competed in Bajas – and with great success: they secured a total of seven podium places, with five of them at the top of the podium.

Chicherit has accompanied the X-raid team at several stages of its history. He started in the BMW X3 CC and drove the first MINI ALL4 Racing. Later, he competed in the CBRA Buggy, with which the X-raid team wanted to gain experience in the category of rear-wheel drive vehicles. Now the Frenchman and X-raid are starting together on another adventure. Chicherit will drive the first X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i in the Rallye du Maroc.

De Mévius has also already covered the first kilometres in the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i. The Belgian is currently one of the great talents in the off-road rally scene. After finishing third in the 2023 Dakar in the Challenger classification, he sensationally secured second place in the car classification this year.

This year's Rallye du Maroc starts in Marrakech and leads via Zagora to Mengoub Bouarfa in eastern Morocco. A total of 2,492 kilometres are on the agenda, 1,517 km of which are against the clock.

All news regarding the X-raid Team's participation in the 2025 Dakar Rally will be announced at a later date.

Sven Quandt, X-raid Team Principal: "We are delighted to be competing in Morocco with such a great line-up. De Mevius and Chicherit finished the Dakar in a sensational second and fourth place. Joao has already clinched several victories this year. He is currently ranked second in the FIA World Baja and leads the Portuguese championship. I can't wait to see our new family member, the X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i, in action in a rally and to gain more experience with it. We would have liked to have entered more vehicles, but due to delivery bottlenecks at some suppliers, we had to limit ourselves to one petrol-powered car.’

Guerlain Chicherit: "My career started with X-raid in the BMW X3 CC. We tested and developed many vehicles together. That was a great time. Later, I tried out various other projects. I have learnt a lot in recent years and X-raid has been extremely successful. But now I'm back again. I think that X-raid can offer me the opportunities to fight for victories.’

Guillaume De Mévius: ‘The start with the X-raid team is a new adventure for me. I am very excited and can hardly wait for the journey to begin. I can certainly still learn a lot from X-raid. Together, we want to achieve victories and top results.’

João Ferreira: ‘The Rallye du Maroc will be my first real rally in a T1+ car. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll do my best and I'm excited to see how I fare against the other top drivers. I'm also looking forward to working with my new team colleagues.’

Pál Lónyai: ‘I am looking forward to driving for X-raid again. The car has been further developed, and I am excited to see how it feels during the pre-race tests. It is always a pleasure for me to come to Morocco. I can't wait for the rally to start.’

Source: X-Raid

Helder Oliveira in a Mini won the final stage

The João Ferreira/Filipe Palmeiro duo in Mini John Cooper Works Rally T1+ were the big winners of the 36th edition of the Baja TT Sharish Gin, the Portuguese leg of the FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, a result that allowed the driver and navigator to reinforce their lead in the competition. On the final day of the race, however, it was another Mini John Cooper Works, piloted by Hélder Oliveira and navigated by Fausto Mota, that set the best time on the 160 km section on the Mourão and Reguengos de Monsaraz tracks. João Dias in a G Rally OT3 triumphed in the Challenger Category.

Starting with a comfortable lead of 2m36s, João Ferreira didn't go any further than 6th on this final stage, but he finished the race 1m11s down on Helder Oliveira, who was always under a lot of pressure from the fastest drivers in the Challenger Group, but he held on to 2nd place, clearly the best of the traditional T1s. Navigated by João Filipe Miranda, João Dias took the G Rally OT3 to victory in the Challenger Group and also strengthened his position at the top of the FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. He finished with a lead of 51.8s over the Tiago Reis/Candido Carrera duo in Tauros and with the Alexandre Pinto/Can-Am Maverick pair at 1m10s.

The next positions went to three more Challenger Group drivers: Miguel Barbosa/Luis Ramalho in a Tauros, Pedro Carvalho/Romeu Martins in a Can-Am Maverick and Daniel Silva/Gonçalo Magalhães in a Tauros. The Top 10 ended with two Ultimate Group drivers: Alexandre Ré/Carlos Martins in a VW Amarok and Alejandro Martins/David Monteiro in a Mini T1+.

Tomasz Bialkowski in Can-Am and Fernando Barreiros in Isuzu were the winners of the SSV and Stock groups respectively.

More information about the Baja TT Sharish Gin: www.sar-motorismo.com

Automatic translation of the Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: SAR-Motorismo oficial press release
Photos: ImagensDesportivas.pt / Rally-Raid Network
   Image Gallery available here: https://www.imagensdesportivas.com/gallery-collection/BAJA-TT-SHARISH-2024/C0000U0vhYwOr.pQ