Campeonato de España: the success of the Portuguese Araújo & Ré
By Stephan Wolf
At Spain’s Baja TT Dehesa de Extremadura, the Portugal competitors dominated not only the international classification (wins in Moto, Ultimate, Challenger, Stock categories), but also the round of the Campeonato de España de Rallyes Todo Terreno.
Last year in the Spanish championship the season was successfully started by Portuguese Henrique Silva on Mercedes Cattiva Proto X (won the first two rounds). However, now he is constantly encountering various problems and has already retired from the race twice in a row. In this year’s Baja TT Dehesa de Extremadura, the initiative in the national classification belonged to the Santag Racing Team crews.
At the prologue, the local favorites — current champion Santiago Carnicer Colomer (Toyota Hilux T1) and Jesus Fuster (Herrator Inzane X3) - had the advantage and took the first two positions. On SS1, the initiative was taken over by the Portuguese guests from Santag Racing Team - João Dias and Armindo Araújo (both on GRally OT3) took the first two positions and contended for the winning double. However, the Portuguese were not able to achieve complete success - the leader Dias was failed to finish on the final special stage. As a result, the victory was celebrated by his teammate Araújo.
Finishing second was another representative of the T3 group, junior Pau Navarro, who was only his second start for the GRS Team in the newest Demon Car DT3 prototype. This success allowed him to climb to third position in the Campeonato de España de Rallyes Todo Terreno general classification. In addition, Navarro has become one of the main contenders for the lead in Group T3 - with 71 points he is just behind leader Enrique Reyes (75 points).
The current champion Santiago Carnicer Colomer faced various problems after his success in the prologue - when one of the competitors blocked the track after a wreck (the stewards later compensated Carnicer for almost 22.5 minutes of lost time). After all this, he finished third and maintained his lead in the overall Campeonato de España de Rallyes Todo Terreno standings.
The race was successful for the two female drivers who finished in the Top 10. Fifth position was taken by Maria Luis Gameiro from Portugal in the Mini JCW Rally Plus. Spain’s Mónica Plaza Vazquez on the Herrator Inzane X3 finished sixth, also third in the T3 group, behind Armindo Araújo and Pau Navarro.
In the separate SSV category, Mario Exequiel Morillo Del Rio on a Polaris RZR XP Turbo took his second consecutive win. He finished second on SS1 on Friday, but won both special stages on the final day. He now leads the SSV championship with 100 points out of a possible 100.
Armindo Araujo: We are quite happy with the result. Unfortunately, at the last day in the morning, we caught a driver and it was impossible to pass him. We had problems with the dust. But races are races, it’s like that. So, in the end, this result is good for us. It’s a podium in the first race of the OT3. We are quite happy with that. Let’s think in another race.
Maria Luis Gameiro: I’m very very happy because I finished this race and I’m very happy for the MINI team because in three places in Ultimates, there are two MINIs so it’s a very very good result for our brand car. It was very tough, very challenge and for me special for me because it was my second international race with this car. I’m really happy with this result.
The third round, Baja Lorca — Ciudad del Sol , is scheduled for May 24–25. This year there are changes in the regulations, according to which only the four best results out of six will be counted for the season.
Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura (cars)
1. Araújo/Ré (P, GRally OT3, T3) 5:27:22.1
2. Navarro/Rosa (E, Demon Car DT3) +50.4
3. Carnicer/Peinado (E, Toyota Hilux, T1) +1:52.9
4. Mogni/Aguado (E, Polaris RZR Pro R, T4) +20:27.2
5. Gameiro/Marques(P, Mini JCW Rally Plus, T1+) +21:48.3
Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura (SSV)
1. Morillo Del Rio/Nieto (E, Polaris RZR XP Turbo) 6:00:48.2
2. Viñaras T./Viñaras R. (E, Yamaha YXZ1000R) +5:08.8
3. Caamaño/Moliné (E, Yamaha YXZ1000R) +5:12.9
Campeonato de España de Rallyes Todo Terreno (cars)*
1. Carnicer - 86
2. Mogni - 68
3. Navarro - 58
4. Gameiro (P) - 54
5. Reyes - 51
* - provisional results
Campeonato de España de Rallyes Todo Terreno (SSV)*
1. Morillo Del Rio - 100
2. Caamaño - 68
3. Gasso - 59
* - provisional results
Photo Credits: RFEDA CERTT, team and drivers social media
