The 2023 edition of the BRB Sertões approaches with the expectation of a very high technical level dispute between the supermachines and the pilots involved. In large part, by the experience of the top winning candidates, all of whom had outstanding results in international cross-country rallies. But also for the struggle between the brands and their state-of-the-art machines.
They are no less than four former winners willing to expand their number of achievements at the end of the 3,800 kilometers of course (2.027 of them timed) that will take pilots and sailors from Petrolina (PE) to Preá (CE), in a prologue and eight stages, from 11 to 19 this month. Starting with the current ones: Lucas Moraes and Kaíque Bentivoglio, who also won in 2019, return with the Toyota GR Hilux DKR T1+ assisted by Overdrive and aligned by MEM Motorsport. Since last year's victory at Sertões BRB 30, a lot has changed.
Lucas was supported by Toyota Gazoo Racing Latin America; he was the sensation of the last Dakar with the third final position in his debut and, alongside Kaíque, was the vice-champion of the Baja Aragón in Spain. Which makes him even more qualified to pursue the tri.
even in the case of the Baumgart brothers and the X Rally team. Cristian (four titles) and Marcos (one) will compete with the Prodrive Hunter T1+, a prototype developed by one of the most traditional rally structures, with a design by Ian Callum (former Jaguar designer) and a Ford V6 3.5 biturbo engine. The two had the chance to see the new equipment at the Sonora Rally (Mexican stage of the World Cup) and the Jalapão Rally, won by Marcos. If Cristian wins, he'll be equal to the biggest car champion.
And to further heat up the struggle of names used to winning, the record holder of Sertões BRB is back, after two years of absence. Unique on four wheels, Guiga Spinelli aligns for its 20th participation in the Sertões with the Mitsubishi L200 Triton Sport Racing T1 FIA, which will also be the return of the Japanese brand, right down to the logo of Ralliart, its legendary sports division. Although with a smaller suspension course and width than the models of the regulation T1+, Guiga and the equally experienced Portuguese navigator Paulo Fiúza promise to integrate the struggle for the first positions.
It is also the goal of Marcelo Gastaldi and Cadu Sachs, with the latest version of the South African buggy, the Century CR6 T, equipped with an Audi turbo engine. And by Sylvio de Barros, Rodrigo Aché, Glauber Fontoura, Julio Capua, and Mauro Guedes, with other Toyota Hilux T1.
Those registered with the Mitsubishi Triton Sport R will take part in two competitions in one: in addition to those registered in the category T2 (Production), they will participate in a separate competition that will give the winner a three-day stay in Alter do Chão (PA). Among them is Youssef Haddad, engineer, navigator, and, since last year pilot. After making history last year as the first to complete the Sertões running solo in cars, he will now have his side Igor Quirrenbach.
In the T4 class (for UTVs with FIA approval), one of the highlights is the debut of Joaquim Monteiro, CEO of Dunas, organizer of Sertões BRB. Alongside the navigator, Rodrigo Mello, the idea is to live the reality of the competitors inside and take important aspects into account for the development of the test. Experience was also carried out by Marcos Moraes, the MEM, who was at the forefront of the event and guaranteed its consolidation from the 1990s until 2019.
BF Goodrich
In 2023, for the third year in a row, BF Goodrich will be the official tire of the Sertões. The winning tyre brand of the most legendary international off-road competitions provides riders with the highest quality in performances such as resistance, steering, and grip on various types of terrain, a key condition in trials in which tyres are subjected to extreme conditions.
Comments
Lucas Moraes: "It is always very good to run the Sertões, especially defending the title. I hope we can make a clean test, which is the most important thing. I believe that this edition will be a lot more technical than last year's one; more tight, and therefore the right part of the car will be much more important. We did the shakedown, and the car is very good. We have an excellent grid, a different format, and the homework is done."
Guilherme Spinelli: "It is a very special year for me, as it will be my twentieth Sertões and a return after two years without competing, having the honor of wearing the official Mitsubishi team, which is also back. And with the participation of my company, Spinelli Racing, which is a responsibility and an extra motivation. As the decision was made shortly before the race, let's get the car into the 2019 FIA T1 category. The expectation is that we will be the best in the category and go well in the overall ranking as well".
Marcos Baumgart: “It will be our 25th Sertões, always surrounded by great expectations. We already had the taste of running with the new car, we made all the adaptation to the Brazilian characteristics and we will work with focus on the victory. Sertões is unique, it has several traps, but, with the union of everyone in the team, we will try to overcome the obstacles of the journey”.
Automatic translation from the original Brazilian-Portuguese version available on Sertões Rally official site
Source: Rali dos Sertões
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