The first day of competition of the Euromilhões PAX Rally, that connected Lisbon to Castelo Branco, was marked not only by the intense heat, but also by the dominance of the Portuguese riders in the bike and quad competition. In the two wheel category, Ruben Faria (Honda CRF 450) took the lead after CP2 (156,31 km), recuperating from 6th place registered at CP1 (87,40).

Faster in the initial stage of the race, Cyril Depres (KTM LC4 690 Rally) lost some time until reaching the second check point. Not happy with his performance, the Frenchman increased his rhythm and finished the SS in 2nd place, losing more than a minute to Ruben Faria, but gaining 3 seconds from Marc Coma (KTM LC4 690 Rally), that lost second place only at the end of the leg. Third until CP2, Hélder Rodrigues (Honda CRF 450) couldn’t do better than 4th place, but with an advantage of more than 2 minutes relatively to 5th place David Casteau. Brasilian rider Zé Hélio, recent winner of Sertões, (Yamaha WR) occupied 6th place during the whole SS and saw Paulo Gonçalves (Honda CRF 450) finish right behind him, even after a “immediate encounter” with a tree in CP1.

In the car competition, Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi Pajero Evo) passed Carlos Sainz (VW Race Touareg 2) on top of the finish line! At the end of the SS and after the first 223 km of the “crono”, only two small seconds separate the rivals that lead the PAX Rally and despite being only the first day of competition, the Frenchman was the 3rd leader of the Dakar Series race. Dieter Depping was faster at CP1 and Carlos Sainz at CP2.

The first day of the PAX Rally was greeted with an intense “fight” between the leading drivers, with VW and Mitsubishi discussing almost side by side the victory in the first leg. The Japanese team won the first battle, but not the war, as Carlos Sainz stressed at the end of the SS. In third place came Giniel de Villiers (VW Race Touareg 2), closing the group of drivers that have less than a minute (53 s.) of disadvantage to the leader.

Filipe Campos (BMW X3) ended the SS in 7th place, finishing the day as best Portuguese driver – the main goal he wants to achieve. And if this isn’t a reason strong enough to make Campos smile, also he is the fastest BMW driver in the standings.

If in the car competition the foreigners reign, in the bike contest the Portuguese proved that they meen business and in the quads, domination of the national riders is the key word. Luís Engeitado (Suzuki LTR 450) won his category, recuperating some lost time to Rui Mendes (Suzuki LTR 450 in the initial fase of the SS while he gained an advantage of almost 5 minutes upon second place Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris Outlaw 525 IRS).

Rui Mendes started well and even was the fastest rider during CP1, but he lost momentum and, after crossing CP2 in 2nd place, he finished in 4th, behind Miguel Monteiro (Yamaha Raptor 700). One last reference: all 9 quads that departured from Parque Eduardo VII, in Lisbon, arrived at Castelo Branco.

Laurent Lazard Racing News Thursday 11, September, 2008 at 13:34 hs.