Last year’s winner of the Baja Portalegre 500, Ricardo Porém, started the 2015 edition of the Automóvel Club de Portugal event on the attack. At the wheel of a Toyota Hilux, Porém leads the overall classification among the Autos with a 1m04,58s advantage over João Ramos, driving a similar car. Miguel Barbosa, with his Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, is third, two minutes from the Porém.
The day started with the traditional Pologue and with Ricardo Porém making it quite clear that he is looking for victory at the 2015 Baja Portalegre 500. The Leiria driver was the fastest on the 5.62 km of SSS1, leading from Miguel Barbosa and João Ramos, the three separated by less than 12 seconds at that stage. Carlos Sousa, making a comeback to the Alentejo event after a few years absence, was the forth fastest, while the leader of the National Championship and local driver, Nuno Matos was eighth.
This year the event has undergone a slight change, with competitors facing a second special stage in which Porém was once again the fastest. He won another 50 seconds to João Ramos, while Miguel Barbosa shifted his attention to the National Championship fight, driving in third.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sousa is 35 seconds behind Barbosa and seems to be happy with the performance of his Mitsubishi ASX, despite the time lost to the leader. Behind the Portuguese, and consolidating a so far strong pace are his two team makes on the Mitsubishi Brazil team. João António Franciosi is fifth, with Guilherme Spinelli following in sixth.
Still with a shot at the national title, Hélder Oliveira ended the day a bit unhappy. The Barcelos-born driver had some problems with the engine of his Nissan near the end of the stage, and hopes to find a solution for it, but at the moment the title seems to be very far. Also in a difficult situation regarding the crown is Nuno Matos. The Opel Mokka Proto driver had some clutch problems and wasn’t able to do better than 10th, behind Pedro Grancha and Boris Garafulic.
Last year’s winner of the Baja Portalegre 500, Ricardo Porém, started the 2015 edition of the Automóvel Club de Portugal event on the attack. At the wheel of a Toyota Hilux, Porém leads the overall classification among the Autos with a 1m04,58s advantage over João Ramos, driving a similar car. Miguel Barbosa, with his Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, is third, two minutes from the Porém.
The day started with the traditional Pologue and with Ricardo Porém making it quite clear that he is looking for victory at the 2015 Baja Portalegre 500. The Leiria driver was the fastest on the 5.62 km of SSS1, leading from Miguel Barbosa and João Ramos, the three separated by less than 12 seconds at that stage. Carlos Sousa, making a comeback to the Alentejo event after a few years absence, was the forth fastest, while the leader of the National Championship and local driver, Nuno Matos was eighth.
This year the event has undergone a slight change, with competitors facing a second special stage in which Porém was once again the fastest. He won another 50 seconds to João Ramos, while Miguel Barbosa shifted his attention to the National Championship fight, driving in third.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sousa is 35 seconds behind Barbosa and seems to be happy with the performance of his Mitsubishi ASX, despite the time lost to the leader. Behind the Portuguese, and consolidating a so far strong pace are his two team makes on the Mitsubishi Brazil team. João António Franciosi is fifth, with Guilherme Spinelli following in sixth.
Still with a shot at the national title, Hélder Oliveira ended the day a bit unhappy. The Barcelos-born driver had some problems with the engine of his Nissan near the end of the stage, and hopes to find a solution for it, but at the moment the title seems to be very far. Also in a difficult situation regarding the crown is Nuno Matos. The Opel Mokka Proto driver had some clutch problems and wasn’t able to do better than 10th, behind Pedro Grancha and Boris Garafulic.