Ricardo Mas (Yamaha) de Leiri was the best Portuguese driver in the light vehicle category, finishing the 45th edition of the off-road Dakar Rally in 12th position.
Ricardo Mas was the 10th fastest in the 14th and final stage of the race, which today linked Al Hofuf with Dammam, in Saudi Arabia -which is hosting the event for the fourth consecutive year-, crossing the finish line 06.03 minutes behind the winner , the Spanish Cristina Gutiérrez (Can-Am), who surpassed the Chilean Ignacio Casale (Yamaha) by 58 seconds and the Argentine David Zille (Can-Am) by 01.31 minutes.
João Ferreira (Yamaha) was the eighth fastest of the day, with 04:28, sanctioned with two minutes for speeding, the same as Hélder Rodrigues (Can-Am), 13th, with 06:12 minutes.
João Ré, sailing in the Saudi Saleh Alsaif (Can-Am), was 17th, with 08.09 minutes.
In the final standings, American Austin Jones (BFG) scored twice, leaving compatriot Seth Quintero (BFG) in 52.05 minutes, with Belgian Guillaume de Mevius (Grally) third, at 01:35.42.
João Ré was sixth in the final standings, 04:14.08 hours behind the winner of this T3 category, reserved for light vehicle prototypes.
Ricardo However, 33 years old, closed his fourth participation in 12th place, at 10:46.41, having signed a stage victory, with Hélder Rodrigues in 27th place, at 35:18.19. João Ferreira, who also won a stage, was 37th, after mechanical problems in recent days, more than 123 hours away.
“We started this adventure with ambitions and goals and to be here at the end of the Dakar is very important. Being part of this first adventure for X-Raid and Yamaha in the SSV was a great pride and I have to thank everyone who made this participation so possible, both João and I take the name of our city, Leiria, further, and that is also something that makes me very happy”, said Ricardo Mas.
João Ferreira admitted that, on this last day, he only thought about finishing the stage.
“After a race with so many ups and downs, we couldn’t waste everything on the last day. From the beginning of this adventure, I reiterated that my main objective was just to finish and reach the final podium. achieved very beautiful and unforgettable things,” he said.
In the series-derived prototype vehicles, the T4, there was drama to the very end, with Polish rookie Eryk Goczal (Can-Am), just 18 years old, becoming the youngest driver to win a class in the race.
The young Pole started the final special stage 03.24 minutes behind Lithuanian Rokas Baciuska (Can-Am), former European rallycrosse champion, but took advantage of Baciuska’s problems to take command.
Goczal was eighth, after having dented the left rear suspension of his Can-Am, 03.22 minutes behind the winner, the Spanish Carlos Sánchez (Can-Am). The Portuguese Fausto Mota, sailing the Brazilian Cristiano Batista (Can-Am), was second, just 38 seconds behind the winner of the run, with the Pole Michal Goczal (Can-Am) in third place.
Pedro Bianchi Prata, who sails on the Brazilian Bruno Oliveira (Can-Am), was sixth, while Paulo Oliveira was 34th.
In general, Eryk Goczal, who continues trying to reach the end of the connection in time to enter the closed park without penalty, is the winner, with an advantage of 16.44 minutes over Rokas Baciuska, and 18.15 over his father, Marek Goczal, who lost second place due to a two-minute speeding penalty.
Bianchi Prata closed the race in sixth position. “Another Dakar is over. The car arrived safe and sound. It’s been a difficult two weeks but that’s what the Dakar is all about. It feels good to come to an end,” said the portuense.
Fausto Mota, who runs with a Spanish license, was 32nd, while Paulo Oliveira, with a Mozambican license, was 37th.
In trucks, the Dutchman Janus van Kasteren (Iveco) interrupted the reign of the Russians from Kamaz, by winning the category.
João Dias, who is part of the X-Raid service truck crew, was 19th, ahead of José Martins (Team Boucou), who was 20th.
Source: TSF
