Català
The driver from Lleida finishes seventh in his category and first among the Challenger competitors following the World Cup, catapulting him to first place with a 19-point lead over his closest rival.
The Pons Rallysport team, with Oriol Mena as co-driver, a novelty for this race, showcased their endurance in a challenge marked by rain, mud, and technical issues with their Taurus T3 Max.
“This was my third participation in Portalegre and, without a doubt, the year with the most extreme weather conditions. Physically, it was very demanding, but I’m pleased we were able to bring the car to the finish line. We achieved victory in our category and now we are the leaders with a solid advantage.”
A weekend of success and overcoming obstacles for Eduard Pons. The driver from Lleida completed an epic Baja Portalegre 500, where he went from nothing to everything, finishing in seventh place in the Challenger category –formerly T3– and securing a crucial victory among the drivers competing in the World Cup. This result allowed him to take the lead in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, with a 19-point advantage over his closest competitor, Khalid Aljafla.
In a tough and demanding race like the Baja Portalegre, the drivers’ skills and consistency were key to completing the course. Constant rain, mud, and thick fog turned the competition into a true survival race. On top of that, technical issues with the BBR Motorsport Taurus T3 Max affected the brakes and the engine throughout the event, forcing the driver from Lleida to give his all to bring the car to the finish line.
With Oriol Mena in the co-driver’s seat, temporarily replacing Jaume Betriu, Pons once again proved from the start that he is a strong contender for the world title. However, the rally didn’t start off favorably for him. On Friday, during the short 5-kilometer prologue, mechanical issues set him back to 12th place in Challenger (3rd among the drivers registered for the FIA World Cup for Bajas). That same day, in the only special stage of the first leg, a 60 km section, he continued to face difficulties, finishing 14th in his category (again 3rd among the World Cup competitors), a result that, although not what he had hoped for, allowed him to remain in the fight for the next day.“We faced some issues with the Taurus that added an extra layer of difficulty to the race. However, we managed to tackle them and overcome a tough first special stage, where we battled against the elements and ended the first day well positioned,” Pons explained.Saturday’s stage, the longest, with 300 km against the clock, proved to be another endurance test for the participants. The fog, rain, and rising river levels greatly complicated the passage of vehicles through the two specials that took place. Despite these adverse conditions, the solid pace of the Pons Rallysport team, along with the retirement of his two direct rivals for the title in the final stages, allowed Pons and Mena to secure a second-place finish in SS2 and a first-place finish in SS3, ultimately winning the Challenger category among World Cup drivers and finishing a commendable 17th overall in the car standings.
“This was my third participation in Portalegre and, without a doubt, the year with the most extreme weather conditions. Physically, it was very demanding, but I’m pleased to have brought the car to the finish line. We achieved victory in our category and are now the leaders with a solid advantage, so the balance is positive. Now it’s time to prepare thoroughly for the final three races of the season and try to bring the championship title to Lleida,” the driver concluded.After the Portuguese event, the last one on European soil, Eduard Pons’ next stop in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas will be the Qatar International Baja, which will take place from October 30 to November 2, where he will aim to extend his lead at the top of the standings.
