The Brazilian started last after problems in the prologue, but managed to get the third best time of the first day of competition in Argentina

The Ruta 40 Challenge in Argentina, the fourth and penultimate stage of the World Rally Raid Championship, got off to a flying start on Monday (03/06) with the first stage. Lucas Moraes and his navigator, Spaniard Armand Monléon, finished third with the Toyota Gazoo Racing official team car after facing the harsh reality of starting last.
The Brazilians started the prologue in Córdoba on Sunday afternoon (02/06), on a foggy day in the center of the country. A stone hindered Lucas and Armand's performance: with damage to one of the wheels, the competitors ended up in last place for the start the following day.

No complications - In the first special stage, also held in Córdoba, Moraes faced 381 km on the clock on terrain made up of dirt, gravel and sand in the Argentinian mountains. He set off just over an hour ahead of the first car in the ultimate class.
The conditions didn't intimidate the two-time Rally dos Sertões champion and Dakar standout in 2023 and 2024. Lucas managed to complete the route in 4h01min51s, 5min51s ahead of the winning duo, Saudi Yazeed Al Rajhi and German Timo Gottschalk, from Toyota Overdrive, who finished the race in 3h56min00s.
With this result, Lucas Moraes is third in the provisional overall standings of the rally, which continues its activities on Tuesday. The second day will cover 423 timed kilometers, leaving Córdoba for San Juan.
Lucas Moraes is currently fourth in the World Championship table and is competing in the competition with the support of Red Bull, Repsol, Strava, Oakley and Zapalla - as well as having brought the Brazilian SpeedMax tire brand to sponsor the Toyota team, the reigning champions.

Automatic translation from the Brazilian Portuguese version
Source: Lucas Moraes official press release

Top-5 da 1ª especial, de um total de 5, Córdova até Córdova, 381 km
1º Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU) / Timo Gottschalk (ALE) - Toyota Overdrive - 3h56min00s
2º Nasser Al-Attiyah (CAT) / Edouard Boulanger (FRA) – Nasser Racing by Prodrive, +2min20s
3º Lucas Moraes (BRA) / Armand Monleon (ESP) – Toyota Gazoo Racing, +5min51s
4º Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG) / Daniel Oliveras Carreras (ESP) – Toyota Overdrive, +7min37s
5º Rokas Baciuska (LIT) / Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) - Can-AM Factory Team, +12min11s

Programação da prova:
2ª especial – 04/06 – Córdova até San Juan – 423 km
3ª especial – 05/06 – San Juan até San Juan – 341 km
4ª especial – 06/06 – San Juan até Rioja – 412 km
5ª especial – 07/06 – La Rioja até Córdova – 218 km

Top-5 do Campeonato Mundial de Rally Raid após a 1ª especial
1º - Nasser Al-Attiyah (CAT), 116 pontos
2º - Carlos Sainz (ESP), 100 pontos
3º - Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU), 84 pontos
4º - Lucas Moraes (BRA), 79 pontos
5º - Guerlain Chicherit (FRA), 69 pontos