State-of-the-art machinery and internationally renowned drivers and navigators. In the cars, the fight for victory in the Sertões BRB 2024 (August 23-31) promises to be spectacular once again along the 3,704km route from Brasília, which will take the competitors back to the Federal Capital. No fewer than eight titles will be up for grabs, confirming the high technical level of the 32nd edition of the biggest rally in the Americas.
One of them is the current champions Marcelo Gastaldi and Cadu Sachs, who have changed cars to defend their 2023 victory. After winning with the Century CR6 4×2 buggy, this time they will be driving the Century CR7, designed and developed for the regulations of the main category of rally raid, the Ultimate T1+. With the same engine as its predecessor, the South African-built model made its debut at the last Dakar and impresses with its size. Despite the short testing time, the expectation is for an excellent performance on the special stages.
Gastaldi and Cadu stayed in action by competing in the World Championship (W2RC) stages with a UTV in the Challenger category. By winning two stages of the last Dakar, they showed the strength of a sharp duo, which appeared in the Sertões BRB 2023 as a surprise, but is now a must on the list of candidates for the top of the podium.
The partnership between Lucas Moraes and Kaíque Bentivoglio is just as sharp. Together, they won the 2019 and 2022 editions and, if Lucas is currently competing in the World Championship (in the Toyota factory team) alongside Spaniard Armand Monleon, they are united once again in the quest for the triumph. The driver from São Paulo has exactly the GR Hilux T1+ used for the rest of the season, with the latest upgrades. Last year, a mechanical problem took them out of the race, which only increases their motivation to win again.
Speaking of victories, the record holder in the Sertões BRB is not only entered, but is also running the first kilometers of an unprecedented project in the 2024 edition. Guilherme Spinelli, or Guiga, has developed an Ultimate T1+ prototype with his company (Spinelli Racing) and Mitsubishi, completely designed and built in Brazil. The Triton Ultimate Racing was designed to fight for victories in the sport's main races. If the talk is that this year's participation will be the first big step in the model's evolution, Guiga and Portuguese driver Paulo Fiúza have plenty of talent and experience to lead the way.
The novelty in the regulations is the inversion of the starting position for the first cars, following what has been done in the FIA World Championship. Previously, after the start of all the motorcycles for each special, the UTVs came and then the car categories. This could lead to difficult situations involving overtaking by the slower UTVs.
As of this year, once the two-wheeled riders have left, the fastest cars start (with a time of up to 110% of that recorded by the previous day's winner), and then the UTVs and the other cars follow.
Driving and social action
There's also the prospect of balance in the other categories. With the right to stories that go beyond the sporting contest. This is the case of Mario Magalhães, from Paraná, who has entered the Ultimate BR. In the 2021 edition, held in the Northeast, when he faced problems with his car in an isolated region, he relied on the help of locals to get water and saw that the liquid had no treatment whatsoever. At the head of Conasa, which specializes in infrastructure management, and inspired by the episode, he led the creation of a filter with simple, low-cost components for communities without access to treated water.
The following year, the filters were distributed to populations along the Sertões route, which was repeated in 2022 and last year. In 2024, it will be no different. A total of 250 ConÁgua filters will be delivered, as well as guidance on how to produce them by the communities themselves.
Vila Sertões
Tuesday (20) marked the start of the official Sertões BRB program with the opening of the Sertões Village. The parking lot of the BRB Mané Garrincha Arena, in Brasília, became colorful with the teams setting up their structures, where the vehicles will stay until the start of the competition. There is also a Food Court, sponsor stands with activations and the Sertões Shop, with all the rally merchandise. The public can watch the event for free until the 23rd - access is through Gate 1 of the complex.
Lucas Moraes “I dream a lot about winning a third time and one day beating Guiga's record of titles, who is my great inspiration. The Sertões requires dedication, especially if your talent doesn't keep up all the time. For me, it's above all about overcoming.”
Marcelo Gastaldi “The changes for this year are valid, it's good for the faster cars to start ahead of the UTVs, because that sometimes turned the race into a roulette wheel. We're going into our fourth year together and Cadu complements me as well as I complement him, with all the complicity. The car arrived in Brazil just over 10 days before the start, we've done some tests and we're going for the best possible result.”
Guiga Spinelli “This is my 21st participation in the Sertões, but undoubtedly one of the most special of my career, given the opportunity to debut a 100% national project for the main category of rally raid. It's a huge responsibility and a huge privilege, knowing that we're going to the biggest rally in the Americas with a car that's still under development, but we'll be able to test and develop it in the ideal conditions. It will be extremely special for me and the team.”
Mário Magalhães “Our goal is to fight for the best result in our category. This year looks like it will be very good, a more enjoyable race, without so much breaking. When I took part in 2021, I came across a totally different reality to the one we're used to. Where we broke down, the water truck came every 15 days. That's when the idea of doing something came to me.”
Automatic translation of the Brazilian Portuguese version
Source: Rali dos Sertões / Sertões
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