Grândola to host World Rally Raid Championship event

Off-Road: BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal crosses the region between 3 and 7 April

Spanning over 1,700 km, the new racing event for cars, bikes and quads that puts Portugal on the route of the big names in the Dakar and the World Rally-Raid Championship will take place between 2 and 7 April, passing through the Alentejo, Ribatejo and Spanish Extremadura. In what will be the only round of the World Cross-Country Championship held in Europe, organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal, the competition will pass through the region, specifically in the municipalities of Abrantes, Chamusca, Mação and Ponte de Sor.

The BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal was presented on the 7th of March, with this event marking Portugal's debut as host of one of the rounds of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), organised by the FIA and the FIM. With a route of over 1,700 kilometres, covered by the machines and emblematic figures of international and national rallying, in a competition for cars, motorcycles and quads.

Some of the best drivers in the world will compete, from 2 to 7 April, starting from the village of Grândola, which is hosting the operational base and the Prologue, in what will be the third round of the W2RC world championship, consisting of five stages, which will cross the Alentejo and Ribatejo regions, with a foray into Spanish Extremadura and the city of Badajoz, the organisation indicates.

Among the locations the Rally-Raid Portugal will pass through are municipalities in the region, including Abrantes (spectator zone in Pego), Chamusca, Mação and Ponte de Sor. The event will pass through 11 municipalities along the entire route on Portuguese soil, also crossing the municipalities of Grândola, Santiago do Cacém, Alcácer do Sal, Almeirim, Coruche, Salvaterra de Magos, Sines and the city of Badajoz in Spain, which hosts the finish of one of the stages.

1,008.87 km out of a total route of 1,758.41 km will be timed, divided into five stages in addition to the prologue – which will determine the starting order for the first stage, over a distance of 5 km.

Source Médio Tejo