Ricardo Porém, in a Toyota Hilux, was the winner of the 29th Baja Portalegre 500. The Leiria-born driver repeated the 2014 feat, securing his second career victory at the mythical off-road race organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal. Miguel Barbosa, also repeated last year’s performance at the Baja. However, this time the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer driver was crown National Champion. João Ramos completed the podium.
The race was totally dominated by Ricardo Porém. The young driver led right from Friday’s Prologue and set the fastest time in all special stages. Meanwhile, thinking about the national championship, Miguel Barbosa opted to keep Nuno Matos and Hélder Oliveira under control, since both had the possibility of winning the National Championship. Always with this in mind, and despite having had some traction problems during the final SS, Barbosa was never outside the Top 3 and managed to finish the 500 km in second, just 10m54s from the winner.
As for João Ramos, the Toyota Hilux driver was second overall yesterday. However, he lost time this morning and started SS4 in fifth. The Porto-born driver never gave up and managed to recover two positions after having benefited from Nuno Matos's and Carlos Sousa’s problems.
Matos, competing at home, was the leader of the Championship at the start of the Baja Portalegre 500, but failed to clinch the crown due to problems with the Opel Mokka Proto gearbox. As for Sousa, his problems were originated by the Mitsubishi ASX Racing water pump. Even so he manage to finish seventh, while Nuno Matos scored his only DNF of the season.
Hélder Oliveira was fourth, securing the third spot in the National Championship, while Boris Garafulic debuted in Portalegre with a very positive fifth place overall.
Ricardo Porém, in a Toyota Hilux, was the winner of the 29th Baja Portalegre 500. The Leiria-born driver repeated the 2014 feat, securing his second career victory at the mythical off-road race organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal. Miguel Barbosa, also repeated last year’s performance at the Baja. However, this time the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer driver was crown National Champion. João Ramos completed the podium.
The race was totally dominated by Ricardo Porém. The young driver led right from Friday’s Prologue and set the fastest time in all special stages. Meanwhile, thinking about the national championship, Miguel Barbosa opted to keep Nuno Matos and Hélder Oliveira under control, since both had the possibility of winning the National Championship. Always with this in mind, and despite having had some traction problems during the final SS, Barbosa was never outside the Top 3 and managed to finish the 500 km in second, just 10m54s from the winner.
As for João Ramos, the Toyota Hilux driver was second overall yesterday. However, he lost time this morning and started SS4 in fifth. The Porto-born driver never gave up and managed to recover two positions after having benefited from Nuno Matos's and Carlos Sousa’s problems.
Matos, competing at home, was the leader of the Championship at the start of the Baja Portalegre 500, but failed to clinch the crown due to problems with the Opel Mokka Proto gearbox. As for Sousa, his problems were originated by the Mitsubishi ASX Racing water pump. Even so he manage to finish seventh, while Nuno Matos scored his only DNF of the season.
Hélder Oliveira was fourth, securing the third spot in the National Championship, while Boris Garafulic debuted in Portalegre with a very positive fifth place overall.