Amongst the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, attentions will be on the battle between Vladimir Vasilyev and Nasser Al-Attiyah. The Russian will arrive in Portugal as the leader of the World Cup, but the Qatari is quite capable of turning around the order and take the crown, specially after winning the last round in Morocco. Meanwhile, on T2 Andrey Rudskoy is already the 2014 World Champion.
Quite similar is the scenery when it comes to Autos National Championship. Ricardo Porém is the presente leader with the reining Champion Miguel Barbosa not far behind in second, but there’s no easy math on this fight and win might not be enough for Porém. Just like on the World Cup, the National T2 crown is already decided in favor of Alexandre Franco.
In the meantime, on Bikes the duel everyone is waiting for will be between Mário Patrão, last year’s winner of the Baja and present leader of Bikes National Championship, and António Maio. On the other hand, when it comes to Quads, Roberto Borrego and Ricardo Carvalho are the names to be on the look out for, since one of them will be the 2014 National Champion. Patrão just needs to manage the advantage, while Carvalho’s goal will be that of jumping to the lead and, at the same time, getting his first win at the Baja Portalegre 500. Quite different is the situation on the UTV/Buggy, since Jorge Monteiro has already been crowned Champion.
As far as the event itself, Baja Portalgre 500 presents a programme very similar to other editions. Thursday, October 30th, will de reserved for Administrative Cheks and Scruteeniring, Friday, October 31st, will stage the SSS1 (5.52 km) for Autos and Bikes, the same as in previous years. Meanwhile Saturday, November 1st, will be the all decisive day. Autos will face two Special Stages (200.4 and 212.6 km), with the novelty been the SS3 start from Crato and the finish in Portalegre, as always. On the other hand, Bikes will have a sole 380 km Special Stage, this one also starting in Crato and finishing in Portalegre.