Portuguese championship at Sever do Vouga

by Eddi Laumanns |

Matos, Sousa and Lopes picking the laurels at the cradle of Portuguese Rallycross.

The fourth round of the Portuguese Rallycross Championship was held on July 30 and 31 at the Circuito do Alto do Roçário at Sever do Vouga near the town of Aveiro in the north of the country, where the sport of Rallycross many years ago saw its first event in Portugal. In Division 1 one of the favourites was missing here as the defective engine of Joaquim Santos’ Opel Astra H was not to be repaired in time. All D1 racing this time was dominated by two drivers, Pedro Matos and Rui Sirgado. After setting twice the fastest times in the first and second qualifying runs it was Citroën Xsara campaigner Matos who ensured himself the pole for the A final.

Also in the last race of the weekend Matos took the lead, but was dog-hounded all the way to the chequered flag by Peugeot 306 driver Sirgado. After seven laps Matos claimed a well deserved victory, just half-a-second ahead of runner-up Sirgado. The third place on the rostrum was taken by Mitsubishi Lancer man Luís Tavares, while Saab pilot Miguel Abrantes had to give up due to a fire in his ex-Norstedt Xtrac 9-3.

After a demonstration of superiority throughout the day Peugeot man João Sousa drove to victory in the A final too, eventually to be joined on the podium by Nuno Ralha and female Rallycross driver Cátia Sirgado. The A final of the Initiation Trophy competitors [all 13 to 15 years of age] was won by Hugo Lopes, thereby breaking the 2011 supremacy of Rafael Lobato who became the runner-up here while Pedro Pereira bagged the third place.

 

  • Division 1 – Final Results:
  • 1. Pedro Matos (P) Citroën Xsara
  • 2. Rui Sirgado (P) Peugeot 306
  • 3. Luís Tavares (P) Mitsubishi Lancer
  • 4. Carlos Silva (P) Mitsubishi Lancer
  • 5. José Pereira (P) Subaru Impreza GC
  • 6. Miguel Abrantes (P) Saab 9-3
  • Division 2 – Final Results:
  • 1. João Sousa (P) Peugeot 306
  • 2. Nuno Ralha (P) Peugeot 206
  • 3. Cátia Sirgado (P) Peugeot 106
  • 4. Rui Raposo (P) Opel Kadett E
  • 5. Paulo Reis (P) Renault Clio II
  • 6. Filipa Sanguedo (P) Peugeot 206
  • Troféu Iniciação Rallycross – Final Results:
  • 1. Hugo Lopes (P) Peugeot 106
  • 2. Rafael Lobato (P) Toyota Starlet P8
  • 3. Pedro Pereira (P) Citroën AX Sport

 

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