More than 440 participants, several commemorative initiatives and a celebration of the past, present and future of the event will mark a very special edition of the Alentejo classic.
The bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 is back for a historic edition. The 40th edition gets underway next Thursday, 15 October, once again bringing cross country rally action to the legendary tracks of the Alto Alentejo.
This year, the event brings together 441 participants across all categories, making it one of the largest entry lists of the past two decades and a clear sign of the importance that the Baja continues to hold on the national and international cross country rally scene.
In the car category, the entry list includes reigning national champion Gonçalo Guerreiro, current championship leader Luís Cidade, and some of the drivers with the most victories in Portalegre, including Miguel Barbosa, Ricardo Porém and João Ferreira, alongside many other Portuguese and international competitors.
In the motorcycle category, the number of participants once again stands out. Among those taking part are Micael Simão, championship leader and winner of the event in 2025, and António Maio, the outright record holder for victories in Portalegre, with eight wins.
The bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 counts towards the FIA World and European Baja Cups, as well as the national championships for each category.
Motorcycles are once again the category with the largest number of participants, with 115 competitors, followed by SSVs, with 85.
In the car category, there are 65 teams competing in the FIA event and 36 in the national FPAK event. The entry list also includes 42 quads and a further 42 participants in the Promotion and Hobby categories.
The 40th edition also gives space to a new generation through the Mini Baja.
A total of 55 riders, aged between eight and 16, will take part this year, representing the future of the discipline.
For Clerk of the Course Orlando Romana, the size of the entry list is particularly significant in an edition with such special meaning.
“The strong response from the teams and drivers who entered this special edition of the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 is a demonstration of the importance the event has, both in Portugal and beyond our borders. It has been 20 years, since the 20th edition, since we had such a high number of participants. We have no doubt that this event, which began in 1987, has become a benchmark in the discipline, and that is what we want to celebrate. We believe all the conditions are in place for the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 to continue to be an outstanding motorsport event and one that continues to leave its mark on everyone who experiences the discipline with passion, whether competing or watching, with thousands of people out on the stages supporting the competitors,” said Orlando Romana.
In addition to the competition itself, this year’s edition will feature several commemorative initiatives, celebrating the history of the event and its connection to cross country rallying.
Among the planned initiatives is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500, featuring several iconic vehicles on display in the Service Park.
The commemorative programme will also include specific competitions for vintage cars and motorcycles, bringing back machines from previous eras and uniting the past and present of the Baja in an edition that will celebrate its 40 editions.
From 15 October, all eyes will once again turn to Portalegre for another chapter in the history of the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500.