Marechal Deodoro (AL), August 3, 2025 – Mitsubishi Spinelli Racing ended its participation in Sertões 2025 with a symbolic and promising result: victory in the sixth and final competitive stage — considered the most demanding of the entire rally. This year’s edition was brought to an early close due to heavy rains in Alagoas, which forced the cancellation of the last two stages, scheduled for Saturday (2) and Sunday (3), including the ceremonial finish at Praia do Francês.
Despite the frustration of not completing the opening stage due to a front transmission problem, the team showed resilience and progress throughout the competition. With the maximum time penalty applied by the organizers on Day 1 (5h30), the duo of Guiga Spinelli and Youssef Haddad began a determined recovery, further developing the Triton Ultimate — a 100% Brazilian-built project competing in the Ultimate T1+ category, the fastest in rally raid.
“It was a very productive Sertões for validating the work we’ve done to evolve the Triton Ultimate,” said Spinelli. “The stages were very diverse and demanding for the car. We have no doubt that we have a competitive vehicle against the international entries in this edition, with outstanding durability. Not once did the car finish a day differently from how it started,” added the five-time rally winner.
With two fourth-place finishes, two thirds, and a win in the sixth stage, the pair steadily moved up into the leading pack from Day 3 onward. The performance reinforced the soundness of the Brazil-developed project. “I was very pleased with the speed, handling, and durability of the car. Of course, we will review the assembly process for the part that failed early on, but the project itself proved solid and flawless in every area. We leave with a lot of data and development opportunities,” Spinelli noted.
Reuniting with Spinelli after four years, co-driver Youssef Haddad praised both the teamwork and the vehicle’s performance. “It was a very technical rally that pushed the car, the driving, and the navigation to the limit. We had a problem on the first day, but apart from that, we never had to get out of the car — no punctures, no penalties, no navigation mistakes,” he said.
Haddad also valued the opportunity to return to the Mitsubishi team. “It was a last-minute but very happy experience. It was a rally I thought I’d be watching from afar, feeling restless. Coming back with Guiga felt natural. We’ve now stamped our names in the history of the Triton Ultimate, and I’m sure it will win many more stages and rallies,” he concluded.
The victory in the toughest stage of Sertões 2025 was not just a sporting achievement, but also the consolidation of a promising development path. Mitsubishi Spinelli Racing closes the largest rally in the Americas with a clear plan for continued evolution, renewed confidence, and the certainty that it is ready for new challenges on the international stage.
The official Mitsubishi Spinelli Racing team was supported in this edition of the Sertões by Petrobras Podium, ArcelorMittal, BTG Pactual Wealth Management, W. Truffi Blindados, and FF Seguros, along with backing from Dacar Motorsport, Loctite, and OMP.
Source: Mitsubishi Spinelli Racing
Photo: Wagner Araujo
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