From today, the heart of Portugal becomes the battleground for the 39th edition of the bp Ultimate Baja Portalegre 500. On Thursday evening, thousands of fans packed into the Jardim do Tarro in Portalegre for the ceremonial start, and now the focus shifts to pure speed and endurance across the rugged tracks of the Alto Alentejo and Ribatejo regions. Over three days, from October 23 to 25, national and international titles in the 2025 cross-country rally season will be decided here.
Final round of the FIA calendar
The Portalegre 500 serves as the finale of the FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the sixth round of the FIA World Cup. There’s still everything to play for in the European championship: Poland’s Bartlomiej Wajzer leads with 397 points, closely followed by compatriot Wlodzimierz Grajek (313) and Spain’s Miguel Ángel Valero (310). For them, it’s all or nothing in Portalegre.
In the World Cup, Argentina’s Juan Yacopini holds a comfortable lead but is not competing in Portalegre. As a result, the spotlight in the world championship shifts to the battle for the remaining podium places — a golden opportunity for the underdogs to shine.
Portuguese powerhouse at full strength
The local heroes are taking this one seriously. João Ferreira, behind the wheel of the Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo from Toyota Gazoo Racing, is aiming for his third victory here. Together with Francisco Barreto, João Ramos, and Luis Recuenco — all driving the now-dominant Hilux T1+ Evo — he’s among the top contenders for overall victory. Expect an intense showdown in the Ultimate class.
In the Challenger class (T3), it’s a stacked field featuring Miguel Barbosa, last year’s overall winner in Portalegre, in a Taurus T3 Max. Other frontrunners include Tiago Reis, Ricardo Porém, and wildcard Miguel Ángel Valero, who could excel in wet conditions thanks to their lighter vehicles.
Dutch line-up: Klaassen aims to impress
Flying the Dutch flag is Henk Klaassen, competing in the Challenger class with his Taurus T3 Max and Thai navigator Sasha Siripanyavuthi. Representing the Daklapack Rallysport Team, which has tasted success in the past, Klaassen is making his Portalegre debut. Backed by a strong season, he’s eyeing a top result in this fiercely competitive category.
There’s also Dutch action in the SSV category, with the experienced Mitchel van den Brink competing for South Racing Can-Am in a Maverick R. Entered in the FIA SSV1 class, the son of Dakar legend Martin van den Brink is showing steady progress. He could be a dark horse for a podium finish.
Domestic title battle in Portugal
The Baja Portalegre also hosts the decisive round of the Portuguese Cross-Country Championship. Gonçalo Guerreiro leads with 113 points, with João Ferreira (108) and Tiago Reis (79) close behind. In the SSV category, João Dias, Mitchel van den Brink, Afonso Oliveira, and Luís Cidade are battling it out for the 2025 SSV title.
In the bike division, veteran António Maio is chasing a record ninth win in Portalegre. However, he faces stiff competition from Bruno Santos, Sebastian Bühler, and title challenger Micael Simão, who currently leads the national motorcycle standings.
Final thoughts
With national and international titles on the line, over fifty FIA teams on the entry list, thousands of passionate fans lining the route, and Dutch contenders in both the Challenger and SSV1 classes, the Baja Portalegre 500 is once again shaping up to be a true motorsport spectacle. RallyTracks.nl will be following the action closely, with updates on Henk Klaassen and Mitchel van den Brink throughout the event.
