The team has new equipment and is confident of good results in the competition
Experience is not lacking for the Varela Can-AM Monster Energy team, which is competing in its 24th edition of the Sertões Rally, the most prestigious Brazilian event in the category, which takes place between August 23 and 31. With four representatives from the traditional Dust Family, the team is going for victory in the 32nd edition of the competition.
In 2023, the duo formed by Rodrigo Varela and Matheus Mazzei were on course to win the UTVs in the last special, but their car went into safety mode. This year, they return with the intention of winning another title for the team, which has two overall victories, nine in categories and one in the Over Pro 45 subdivision. “The Sertões has several challenges and getting the car to the end of the day is always challenging, the car creates memory, and that can be costly, as it was last year,” commented Rodrigo.
Accustomed to the unforeseen events of a stage as hotly contested as the Sertões, the Varelas are often in the top positions and this year should be no different. In addition to Rodrigo and Matheus, the team will be joined by Bruno Varela, champion in 2017. Along with navigator Aristóteles Fiuza, with whom he won the Minas Brasil Rally this year, the driver is looking for another title among the UTVs.
Betting on the new - The team is going to the Rally with the new Maverick R, which Reinaldo Varela debuted at the Minas Brasil Rally and then won in the Over Pro category of the Jalapão Rally, with the approval of the two-time Sertões champion. This year, Reinaldo will be alongside navigator Túlio Taniguchi. “Every year the Sertões rally is a surprise box, always very difficult, so the expectation is always to finish the rally well, always thinking about my category,” commented Reinaldo.
Gabriel Varela, the only one who will be driving a Maverick X3, closes the Dust Family quartet alongside navigator Guilherme Holanda. He is aware of the level of difficulty of the Sertões Rally and knows that this year shouldn't be a relief for the competitors. “The UTV category is very evolved, so everything we have, the other teams also have. So, of course, we have to trust in our team's development work to get the best out of it and try to arrive in Brasília in the best possible shape.”
The prologue, which defines the starting order for the 32nd edition of the Sertões, takes place on Friday, August 23, in Brasília. Over the nine days of competition, the peloton will make stops in three cities: Formosa (GO), Santa Maria da Vitória (BA) and Luís Eduardo Magalhães (BA). The finish will also take place in Brasília.
Automatic translation of the Brazilian Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: Varela Can-AM Monster Energy Team
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