After tearing through over 700 kilometers of rugged terrain, the seventh edition of Rally Minas Brasil has crowned its champions: Gabriel “Tomate” Soares (Motos), Rodrigo Varela / Matheus Mazzei (UTV), and Luiz Nacif / Érick Silveira (Cars).
The grand finale roared to life this past Saturday, May 17, in Araxá, Minas Gerais, wrapping up three days of high-speed, dust-filled action through the dramatic mountain landscapes of Brazil’s interior. The final stage—epically dubbed Horizonte Perdido ("Lost Horizon")—covered a grueling 169 kilometers and brought new names to the top of the podium.
For Gabriel Soares, known in the rally world as “Tomate,” the moment was historic. Piloting his Yamaha WR 450F/IMS Yamaha, the Divinópolis native claimed his first overall victory in a round of the Brazilian Rally Raid Championship, winning both the general classification and the fiercely contested Moto 1 category. Stepping up in the absence of teammate and 2024 champion Adrien Metge, Tomate kept Yamaha’s winning legacy alive with precision and pace.
“Happy to win at home, in my fourth time competing at Rally Minas Brasil. I really like this terrain, I’m used to riding here. I pushed the whole time and, on top of that, crossed these mountain ranges. My navigation went well and I’m pleased with my riding. It’s my first win with this bike and with the Yamaha team,” said the winner.
As expected from the first stage, the battle for first place in the UTV category stayed within the family. And not just any family, but the Varelas—known as the “Dust Family.” Partnered with Matheus Mazzei, Rodrigo Varela (Can-Am Maverick R / Monster Energy Varela) started Saturday ahead of his brother Bruno, who was navigated by Ari Fiúza. Bruno was the fastest in the prologue, which set the starting order for the first stage of Rally Minas Brasil, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone Rodrigo from the overall win in the category. “The pace of the duos is really intense, especially Bruno’s—it’s very hard to build a gap on the course. This is an amazing rally, one of the best in the Brazilian Championship,” said Rodrigo. Mazzei, a native of Minas Gerais, also appreciated what his home state offered. “A fast rally through beautiful mountains; technically challenging with lots of cliffs, something we don’t often see in other events.”
And while one rider from Minas Gerais took the top motorcycle prize, two more locals brought home the victory in the car category. Luiz Nacif and Érick Silveira (Ford Ranger V8 / EXR Rally) managed the overall lead they had built. They pushed hard once more to clock the fastest time in the third stage and seal their first-ever win at Rally Minas Brasil. “We drove through mountain ranges, rivers, tight sections—foot down the whole time. It was a spectacular rally,” summarized Nacif.
For the general director of Rally Minas Brasil, the event was a success and followed the official schedule to the letter. “The Araxá region allows us to design highly selective and well-rounded special stages, set in breathtaking landscapes—a combination that once again pleased the competitors. Each year, the event becomes more traditional and anticipated, and our challenge is always to evolve and bring something new,” concluded Rallymakers general director Fernando Bentivoglio.
Adapted from the original press release
Source Rallymakers / Rally Minas Brasil / Liberdade de Ideias
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