Henk Lategan, the South African sensation behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux, has seized the early lead in the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal. This event is a crucial stop on the World Rally-Raid Championship circuit. Lategan mastered the first stage, which both started and finished in Grândola, a town located in Setúbal. João Ferreira, piloting another Toyota Hilux, emerged as the fastest Portuguese driver, securing a strong third place.
Lategan powered through the challenging 302-kilometer timed section in just 2 hours, 30 minutes, and 21 seconds. Brazilian Lucas Morais, also in a Toyota Hilux, trailed by 1 minute and 51 seconds, landing in second. Ferreira, the local favorite, was a mere second behind Morais, completing the top three.
“The stage was incredibly demanding,” Lategan shared after his impressive performance. “I had a great day, drove cleanly, and truly enjoyed pushing the car. It’s a fantastic experience to compete in Europe.” This victory marks Lategan’s fourth stage win in the W2RC, a testament to his consistent skill.
The Leiria-born driver, João Ferreira, stood as the best national competitor. He races in the event organized by the Automobile Club of Portugal (ACP), which counts toward the World Championship. He finished only one second shy of Lucas Morais, proving his mettle against global talents.
The day wasn’t without its twists, especially for Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah in his Dacia Sandrider. He was one of four different drivers to hold the lead throughout the stage. Al Attiyah posted the second-fastest time on the road. However, a two-minute penalty saw him drop down to fifth place overall. “It was a difficult stage,” Al Attiyah admitted. “I’m not sure if I did well or not. The car’s setup wasn’t ideal, and we need to make changes for the next leg. The gap is small, so we’ll push our hardest. I hope for a better day tomorrow.” Al Attiyah is fiercely chasing his fourth world title.
Lucas Morais benefited from the penalty, moving up to second place. He described the stage as “very intense, with many different types of turns and frequent gear changes.” Morais expressed his enjoyment, noting the stage felt similar to some in Brazil. “The organization and the public are fantastic,” he added. “I’m happy to be in the top three and ready to attack tomorrow.”
João Ferreira also had his moment in the lead, but eventually settled for third. He found himself battling through the dust clouds kicked up by French rally legend Sébastien Loeb, also in a Dacia Sandrider. Ferreira also grappled with brake issues on his Hilux. “It was a very tough, long, and difficult stage,” Ferreira recounted. “The surfaces were slipperier than we expected, making it easy to make mistakes. Our starting position wasn’t the best because we were stuck in the dust of Loeb and Sainz. Still, we didn’t lose much time to the leaders, and tomorrow’s stage will be very important.”
Beyond the battles at the front, the day saw its share of drama. South Africa’s Marcos Baumgart rolled his Toyota Hilux, forcing him out of the race. American Seth Quintero, considered a strong contender for the victory, lost over 17 minutes. He had to stop for technical work on his Toyota Hilux. Spanish star Carlos Sainz also faced trouble, suffering a puncture in his Ford Raptor.
Looking ahead to Thursday, competitors will face the second stage, the longest of the entire event. It kicks off in Grândola and concludes in Badajoz, Spain. Drivers will cover a massive 655 kilometers, with 429 of those being timed sections. The first two timed sectors are in Portugal. They snake through the areas of Ponte de Sor and Mação. The initial part features dirt roads lined with numerous eucalyptus and pine trees. The Ponte de Sor zone is sandier, while Mação offers a mountainous challenge with hard ground. The stage then crosses into Spain, ending in a flat area that leads right to the Badajoz fairgrounds, nestled near the border with Portugal.