The Baja TT Cuenca 2026 is underway. On Friday 8 May, the prologue took place of what serves as the opening round of the FIA European Baja Cup. Portuguese crew João Ramos and Pedro Ré set the fastest time in their Toyota Hilux, claiming the lead in the prologue standings.
This year’s edition attracts more than 140 teams from nine countries, including Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy and the Czech Republic. Across the weekend, around 600 kilometres will be contested against the clock through some of the most spectacular landscapes on the Iberian Peninsula.
The prologue
The prologue covered a 10-kilometre course that, though short, determined Saturday’s starting order. Ramos and Pedro Ré came through quickest in a time of 5:19.1, averaging 102.3 km/h. Lithuanians Benediktas Vanagas and Aisvydas Paliukenas finished six seconds back in second place in a Toyota Hilux EVO. Polish driver Mariusz Wiatr, co-driven by Lukasz Laskawiec in a Ford F-150, completed the top three, nine seconds off the leader.
In the CHG class, Juan Gassó and Ion del Cid put in the strongest performance. The Spanish duo drove their G-Rally Team OT3 to fifth overall and took the class lead in CHG1. In the SSV category, Enrique Reyes and Carlos Ruiz claimed seventh overall and the top spot in SSV1 in a BRP Can-Am Maverick R. Portuguese teams were well represented: alongside prologue winner Ramos, crews from Rio Seco Racing (three cars) and the 767/PRK Sport Rally Team featured prominently in the standings.
A notable name in the entry list is Aliyyah Koloc, competing for Buggyra ZM Racing in a Red-Lined Revo GTR. The UAE-licensed driver finished twelfth, 32.3 seconds off the lead. Maria Gameiro drove a MINI JCW Rally 3.0D to fifteenth in the prologue.
Following the prologue, the start ceremony took place on Friday evening on Calle Carretería in the centre of Cuenca, where teams paraded past the start arch in front of the crowd.
The prologue standings in full (top 5 overall):
- João Ramos / Pedro Ré – Toyota Hilux – 5:19.1
- Benediktas Vanagas / Aisvydas Paliukenas – Toyota Hilux EVO – 5:25.8
- Mariusz Wiatr / Lukasz Laskawiec – Ford F-150 – 5:28.1
- Luis Recuenco / Daniel Cámara – Toyota Hilux EVO – 5:29.1
- Juan Gassó / Ion del Cid – G-Rally Team OT3 – 5:33.9
What’s on the schedule for Saturday?
Saturday 9 May is when the real fight begins. At 10:15, competitors tackle the first stage between Nohales and Colliguilla, covering more than 170 timed kilometres. A second stage of just over 102 kilometres follows in the afternoon at 16:40.
The Baja TT Cuenca 2026 also counts towards the Spanish Rally Raid Championship and the FIA European Baja Cup. Saturday and Sunday will reveal who claims overall victory after two long selective sections.
