With over 100 teams on cars and another great number of bikes
The most important Cross Country event held in Portugal for the last 17 years is taking place in Alto Alentejo - starting today - with over 100 cars and another great number of bikes.
The 17th Baja Vodafone 1000, the only Portuguese event, in terms of automobiles, scoring for a World Championship, also counts for the FIA Europe Bajas Cup, the Cross Country National Championship, Iberian Trophy, Tomaz Mello Breyner Trophy by Nissan and RTP Cross Country Trophy. As for two wheels, this round, organised the first time in 1988 by José Megre, is relevant for both UEM and FNM Championships.
Although there are some structural changes the event, the city of Évora as it's nerve centre, hasn't lost any of the characteristics that made it a Portuguese and International Cross Country reference. Following what happened in 2003, the car section of the event will be directed by the ex-rally co-pilot, Pedro de Almeida, who for a long time now has had his name attached to the Baja Vodafone 1000 organisation. On bikes, the strings will be held by the hands of the no less experienced Orlando Romana.
Yesterday was the first day for optional administrative checks which continue this morning from 8h00 to 10h00. Between 8h00 and 14h00 of the the teams will be able to do the recce of the Prologue, with the start for this first track scheduled for 15h00 (Auto) and 17h00 (Bikes).
At 9h15 Mora (the village that receives the departures and arrivals from the special stage) tsees the first of the two Special Stages, signalling the start of the event in terms of automobiles, while the bikes, which only complete one of the Special Stages, start the stage around 7h30 Saturday.
On Saturday night, the cars will stay in Mora, from where they leave for the Epilogue (third Special Stage of about 90 kms), to be run Sunday morning. This way, the event stretches throughout the regions of Ribatejo and Alto Alentejo, for a total of close to 620 kms of special stages, with a demanding course that forms a triangle cornered by Évora, Ponte de Sor and Santarém.
In terms of car entries, among over 100 teams entered are some of the strongest world level Cross Country names Most certainly fighting for victory, the official Mitsubishi and BMW teams will be driven respectively by Carlos Sousa (Pajero Evo), Luc Alphand (BMW X5) and Khalifa Al-Mutaiwei (BMW X5). With a vast national and international curriculum, Carlos Sousa - winner of the Cross Country World Cup and Bajas FIA Europe Cup in 2003 - commands the Portuguese debut of one of today's most desired Cross Country vehicles: the Mitsubishi Pajero EVO. As for Alphand and Al-Mutaiwei, the pilots drive two vehicles that have caused a sensation wherever they go, particularly on this year's Dakar and Tunisia Rally.
Joining them are other international Cross Country stars, such as Sergey Shmakov from Russia, Marco Tempestini and Pierpaolo Larini from Italy, the German speed driver - DTM and others - Ellen Lohr (Mitsubishi Pajero) and a group of several private drivers that travel to Portugal with the support of Ralliart Germany, Italy and GB. .
Joining the international stars is a strong indigenous contingent with special reference to the official Mitsubishi formation driven by the National Champion, Miguel Barbosa, behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Strakar. Also deserving a mention is the Salvador Caetano formation that will try to take the Filipe Campos and João Ramos's Toyota RAV 4 to the battle for the top spots. Also Group T2 National Champion and National Vice-champion, Rui Sousa, who is once more carried by the Nissan Pick Up Navara that helped him take home the Constructor Title in 2003.
On two wheels, beyond scoring for the UEM Cross Country Championship and the FNM National Cross Country Championship, the Baja Vodafone 1000 will also count for the Repsol Honda Sportax Trophy. Taking this in consideration, it's no surprise that the bike entry list is also very rich, with special reference for Luís Serra and Vitor Azevedo (both on Honda), Pedro Afonso, Mário Patrão, Ruben Faria and Bianchi Prata (all on Yamaha).
