The 28th Baja Portalegre 500 will decide the winners of the 2014 FIA Cross Country Rallies World Cup, as well as the National Champions. With several classifications still open, there are many teams with high hopes for the event.
Regarding the World Cup, Vladimir Vasiliev (Mini All4 Racing) arrives to Portalegre as the leader with 216 points. The Russian has an advantage of 20 points over Nasser Al-Attiyah, in second. With 30 points still up for grabs for the winner of the 2014 Baja Portalegre 500, the Qatari still has aspirations to the crown, although his life won’t be easy. So as to get the title, he has to win the Baja and Vasiliev cannot finish higher than fifth. Should that be the case, both will be tight at 226 points, but Al-Attiyah will come out on top thanks to three wins against his rival’s sole victory this season.
With a vast entry list of high quality participants, there will certainly be several teams taking part on the Baja Portalegre 500 able to mix up the math. And that is also true for those fighting for the National Championship. Ricardo Porém is the present leader with 91 points, while Miguel Barbosa lags behind in second, with 80 (both discounting the worst result so far). However, and since regulations dictate that each driver discards his two worst results of the season, winning the Baja is the safest bet to be crowned Champion.
The young Leiria-born driver will be making his debut at the wheel of the Mini All4 Racing, and winning is the only result which will grant him the title immediately. On the other hand, even if Barbosa finishes second it won’t be enough to retain the title, since both will end up with the same number of points. And since both would also end up with the same number of victories, Porém’s discarded results are on his favor.
Meanwhile, on the T2 class, in which cars derive from production vehicles, Alexandre Franco will be at the Baja Portalegre 500 to celebrate, since he has the title already guaranteed. However, it will be a totally different matter on the T8. The struggle is wide open, with the leader Filipe Carvalho totalling only ten more points than second placed César Sequeira.
The 28th Baja Portalegre 500 takes place between next October 30th and November 1st. Thursday will be reserved to Administrative Checks and Scruteeniring, while Friday will host the SSS1. Saturday will be the all decisive day, with competitors facing two Special Stages, one in the morning and the other during the afternoon.