This past weekend, the Baja TT Sharish Gin in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal, once again proved why it’s a staple on the European Baja calendar. Set against a backdrop of dusty gravel roads, expansive vineyards, and the iconic Alqueva reservoir, the rally delivered a remarkable comeback for co-driver Mathieu Baumel, strong Dutch performances, and a dominant showing by the local Portuguese drivers.
As the final round of the FIA European Baja Cup, the Baja TT Sharish unfolded in a legendary setting. With 297 kilometers of timed stages spread over three days, the event was a true test of man and machine. The dry, rocky terrain pushed both vehicles and crews to the limit.
Home victory for Ferreira and Palmeiro
The win went to the Portuguese duo João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro in their Toyota Hilux T1+ EVO. They finished 1 minute and 49 seconds ahead of Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel. Ferreira thus repeated his victory from last year. “We had to push hard after a slow start, but winning here again feels incredible,” Ferreira commented.
Toyota prepares for Rally-Raid Portugal
Toyota Gazoo Racing used the event as a warm-up for the upcoming BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Seth Quintero finished third overall, gaining valuable testing mileage. His teammate Henk Lategan, who had been leading, retired after hitting a rock during Sunday morning’s stage. “Finishing third in such a competitive field while still testing is a great outcome. Now it’s time to focus on the W2RC event later this month,” said Quintero.
Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk also returned to action following injury layoffs. Though not in contention for championship points, the Baja TT Sharish served as a crucial shakedown. Unfortunately, a broken driveshaft cut their rally short on Sunday.
Baumel and De Mévius: A dream comeback ends on the podium
After a seven-month absence, Mathieu Baumel made his official return to rally competition. The French navigator, who lost a leg earlier this year in a post-Dakar crash, teamed up with Belgian driver Guillaume de Mévius in the MINI JCW Rally 3.0i run by X-raid. The pair immediately proved competitive, battling for the win and even leading heading into the final day.
A puncture just 10 kilometers from the finish, however, dashed their hopes for victory. Still, second place was an exceptional result. “A dream came true,” Baumel said. “To come back this strong, just seven months after my accident, feels like a win.” De Mévius reflected: “We were up front, leading, and Mathieu did an incredible job. Of course, it’s disappointing to lose the win, but I’m really happy with how everything came together.”
SSV and Challenger: Portuguese domination, Dutch success
In the SSV category, Portugal’s Gonçalo Guerreiro and Joel Lutas were untouchable, finishing fourth overall, despite not being entered in the European Baja Cup. The full FIA points went to Sean Haran and Martin Hales.
In the Challenger class, Tiago Reis and Paulo Fiúza claimed victory in their Taurus T3 Max, scoring crucial championship points. Dutch team Daklapack Rallysport also delivered a strong performance, with Pim Klaassen and Mark Laan steering their Taurus to third in class and an impressive eighth overall. Solid drives on both Saturday and Sunday underscored their rising form ahead of 2026.
More Dutch representation at Baja TT Sharish
In addition to the success of Daklapack, another Dutch driver was in action. Herman Jasper competed in the FPAK T1 class alongside Portuguese co-driver Pedro Santos in a Red-Lined VK50. The pair finished a respectable eleventh in class. For Jasper, the event provided valuable rally mileage and experience on Portugal’s tricky terrain—perfect preparation for more international outings.
Portuguese sweep in Bikes, Quads, and Women’s categories
Portuguese riders also dominated the Moto, Quad, and Women’s categories. David Megre not only won the motorcycle class but also secured the European title. Rodrigo Alves was crowned Quad champion after two commanding wins. The SSV title went to André Carita, while Maria Taranto clinched the Women’s title, completing a Portuguese clean sweep.
Next stop: Rally-Raid Portugal
There’s little time to rest for the rally teams. In just a few days, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal kicks off. For both Toyota and X-raid, it will be a key test on the road to Dakar 2026, and also a crucial opportunity to score points in the W2RC. With confidence boosted after strong showings in Sharish, all eyes now turn to Grândola, and ultimately Lisbon.
