Defective-Country – Contenders vying for most important choices mid-season

The third round of the FIA World Cup for Defective-Country Bajas takes the contenders to the east of central Portugal for Baja Portalegre 500 (November 5-7). Ever standard, the FIA match has attracted no fewer than 44 entries for its 34th edition with a host of contenders in four categories.

Vladimir Vasilyev, with a sleek co-driver in Dmitro Tsyro, tops the provisional entry checklist and the Russian heads the sequence standings by staunch 1.5 choices. For the fundamental time this season, he will almost definitely be competing in a Mini Cooper Countryman and can no doubt be hoping for better honest staunch fortune in Portugal, having dropped out of contention final Three hundred and sixty five days with a broken driveshaft on the final day.

Bernhard Ten Brinke and Tom Colsoul return to action after their beautiful 2nd position on the previous round in Poland. The Dutch/Belgian pairing, who currently lay fourth in the sequence, will almost definitely be competing in one of two Toyota Hilux Overdrive cars. Their group-mates will almost definitely be flying the flag for Portugal: Miguel Barbosa, a three time winner on his home round, will almost definitely be partnered by Pedro Velosa. The duo were entrance-runners again final Three hundred and sixty five days except they dropped spoil day the route and then sacrificed any hopes of a fourth victory by towing the afflicted Vasilyev lend a hand to the sanctuary of provider for repairs.

2018 Portuguese Off-Boulevard Champion João Ramos, co-pushed by Filipe Palmeiro, will almost definitely be fielding a Toyota Hilux. The Portuguese driver dropped time final Three hundred and sixty five days with mechanical considerations so will almost definitely be searching for a grief-free accelerate on his home match. Paulo Rui Ferreira and Jorge Monteiro performed a beautiful third on the match in 2018, and ugly-nation rallying brothers Ricardo and Manuel Porém may perhaps additionally be in the fight for a primary discontinuance in their Borgward, Ricardo having taken prime honours four events, once with Manuel in 2014.

5 crews will almost definitely be stopping it out in T2 with every other six contenders in the extremely-competitive T3 Community. Russian Vasily Gryazin currently leads the sequence, having taken victory on the previous round in Poland with co-driver Oleg Uperenko. The Can-Am Maverick X3 driver heads Bernd Hans Hoffmann by 5 choices, the German in identical Can-Am equipment. In T4, Aron Domzala tops the standings thanks to victory on his home round in Poland, and whereas his nearest contender is now not competing in Portugal, third-positioned Kees Koolen will almost definitely be having a glimpse to end the 11 point gap.

PROVISIONAL RALLY DATA

BAJA PORTALEGRE 500 – TIMETABLE & MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES