Mário Patrão crowned European Bajas Champion 2021

Mário Patrão became this weekend European Bajas Champion at Baja Oeste de Portugal, and with this result, he adds another title to the 7 he has already won internationally and the 26 he has achieved in Portugal.

The Portuguese driver, who had previously been vice-champion of the Bajas world championship in 2018, entered the race well, winning the first day of this completely new competition in the national off-road panorama. However, and despite staying in the lead of the race until the end of the 344.90 km of qualifying, in the third and last race of the FIM European Bajas Championship he failed to win the second day of the race.

With some prudence and despite the unfavorable weather conditions that were felt on Sunday, he tried to manage well the pace and the demand of this race and thus achieve the much sought-after European title.

For Mário Patrão:

"Saturday was good, I managed to stay focused and didn't make any driving mistakes. On Sunday, due to the heavy rain that fell in the morning, I had some difficulty with the reduced visibility that continued until the assistance area. My glasses fogged up on the inside, which interfered a lot with my speed and pace. At the assistance I changed glasses and from then on there were no problems. I liked the course a lot. It's an area with a lot of potential, with good conditions to have a good TT race here. I hope that the organization evaluates what is good and not so good, and that they can improve next time. I dedicate this title to my sponsors".

Mário Patrão had previously triumphed in one of the two days of the previous punctuating races for the Bajas European Championship, in June at Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura and in the beginning of October at Baja TT Capital dos Vinhos de Portugal, and was second in the other day, making the management of this championship in the best way.

Mário Patrão will continue his competition program on the next 28th to 30th October, racing the emblematic Baja Portalegre 500, sixth round of the Portuguese Cross-Country Championship.

Source official press release / Automatic translation from the official press release
Photo Rally-Raid Network