Driving a Baja for the first time is never easy, certainly not when the competition consists of many local drivers. Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar don’t let themselves be rattled and ride a flawless Baja Portalegre. They are the fastest participants in the World Cup, and Van Loon also scores many points in the Masters.
“It had been a long time since I stood at the start of a Baja as a rookie,” says Erik. “I’ve raced all the World Cup Bajas at some point, but this time in Portugal was my first. Many local heroes stand at the start here, and that makes it tough as a rookie. They know the terrain like the back of their hand and go really fast. We were close, but those few seconds behind meant we had to start a bit further back, causing you to lose a little time each time.”
Erik thoroughly enjoyed the rally itself. “Usually it rains here and it’s slippery and slick, but now it was bone dry. Really lovely summer weather, it was a truly stunning Baja in terms of terrain. Wouter and I didn’t make a single mistake, our Can-Am doesn’t have a scratch on it, and it was just like old times together. We really enjoyed it.”
Erik scores maximum points in the FIA World Bajas Cup. “We were the fastest World Cup participants in our class and second in the Masters standings. That’s what we went for! It’s not entirely clear yet how the championship will proceed now, with all the unrest in the Middle East. We’re keeping an eye on that, but at the moment it doesn’t feel right for us to go to that region.”
