A new star has arrived in the world of off-road racing. Portuguese co-driver Bernardo Oliveira secured the world navigator title this past Sunday. He did it in the SSV class, which features lighter vehicles. Oliveira navigates for pilot Alexandre Pinto, and together they are part of the Old Friends team.
The duo recently celebrated a big win in their category. They claimed victory in the SSV class at the Rally Raid Portugal. This race was the fourth event in the World Championship calendar.
At just 20 years old, Bernardo Oliveira now stands tall with 223 points. This puts him well ahead of his closest competitor, Fausto Mota. Mota, who navigates for Italian pilot Enrico Caspari, has 140 points. Interestingly, Mota missed the UAE Desert Challenge. This absence means he has fewer points than his own pilot, Caspari, who boasts 190 points and is still in the hunt for the driver’s title alongside Alexandre Pinto.
Bernardo has already locked up his championship crown. His pilot, Alexandre Pinto, still has one more race to go to claim the overall driver’s title. That final showdown will take place in Morocco in about three weeks.
“Honestly, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” Bernardo Oliveira shared. “This is my very first season in the World Championship. I’m incredibly happy to become champion right here in Portugal. I truly believe we’ll bring home the drivers’ title in Morocco too.”
Alexandre Pinto, also 20 years old, hails from Fafe. He’s currently busy with his Master’s degree in economics in Boston, United States. Their partnership has clearly delivered impressive results.
This victory marks a historic moment for Portuguese motorsport. It’s the first world title ever won by a Portuguese competitor in the car category for off-road racing. Before this, Portugal had seen other off-road champions, but on two wheels. Hélder Rodrigues made history in 2011, becoming the first Portuguese off-road world champion in motorcycles. Two years later, the late Paulo Gonçalves also earned a world championship title on two wheels.
As the championship heads to its final event, Alexandre Pinto holds a strong lead in the driver standings. He currently sits at 223 points. This gives him a comfortable 33-point advantage over Enrico Caspari as they approach the decisive final race.