In April 1987, José Megre and Pedro Villas Boas organised the Rali Maratona de Portalegre – Finicisa, the first off-road competition held in Portugal, attracting 199 participants across cars and motorcycles. Four decades later, the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 continues to uphold the spirit of that inaugural event and remains one of the most iconic competitions on the motorsport calendar.
Counting towards the FIA World and European Baja Cups, as well as the national championships in each category, the event organised by Automóvel Club de Portugal welcomes around 440 competitors this year, across the Auto, Motorcycle, Quad and SSV categories.
From 15 to 17 October, car competitors will tackle a total of 435.29 km of selective sections, while motorcycles, quads and SSVs will cover 356.01 km against the clock.
A Packed Schedule Full of Excitement
The ceremonial start takes place today at 6:30 pm in Jardim do Tarro, Portalegre, for motorcycles, quads and SSVs, followed by the cars at 9:30 pm. In between, at 8:15 pm, it will be the turn of the Mini Baja competitors, an event dedicated to younger drivers. To mark the rally’s 40th edition, a UMM gathering will also be held, bringing together classic off-road vehicles that will cross the start ramp at 6 pm.
Tomorrow, the competition gets underway in earnest. The motorcycle and quad prologue starts at Herdade das Coutadas, in Portalegre, at 7:50 am, with regrouping scheduled from 9:25 am in Ponte de Sor. Competitors return to the tracks at 10 am for SS1, running from Ponte de Sor to Crato.
For the car category, the start is scheduled for 9:40 am, with regrouping in Ponte de Sor planned for 11:15 am. The first selective section for cars is due to start at 12:50 pm. In the SSV category, the prologue begins at 11:45 am, with the afternoon selective section scheduled to start at 3:55 pm.
On Saturday, 17 October, SS2 for motorcycles, quads and SSVs will run from Gáfete to Herdade das Coutadas, starting at 9:30 am. Earlier, at 7:50 am, competitors in the Promotion and Hobby categories will kick off the day's action, also in Gáfete.
Following different routes, the cars will start SS2 at the same time from Ponte de Sor, finishing in Portalegre. Also heading to the district capital will be the UMM Club competitors, departing from Cabeço de Vide at 7:50 am, and the classic vehicles, which will set off from Torre das Vargens at the same time.
In the afternoon, at 1:30 pm, the four-wheel competitors will start the third selective section, linking Gáfete to Herdade das Coutadas.
The podium ceremony will take place at NERPOR, in Portalegre, from 4:45 pm for the Promotion Baja & Hobby, Motorcycle, Quad and SSV categories, and from 5 pm for the cars.
Starting Young…
As part of the Emerald Anniversary celebrations, marking four decades of the event, the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 is also making room for the next generation with the Mini Baja in the Motorcycle, Quad and SSV categories.
On Friday, 16 October, the youngest competitors will take to the track. Children aged 8 to 12 in the Infantis category will compete in a 25-minute race, while riders aged 11 to 14 in the Iniciados category will race for 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, competitors aged 14 to 16 in the Juvenis category will take part in a five-kilometre prologue on Friday, followed by a 70-kilometre selective section on Saturday.
Find the spectator viewing locations for the 2026 bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500 here.