With information from Isabela Rios, straight from Belo Horizonte Horizonte (MG)
There were eight day in total : the prologue and another seven specials and liaisons. It traveled about 2,600 kilometers from the city of Goiania, capital of Goias to the capital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte. An intense dispute among the racers in the UTVs (Utility Task Vehicle), was one of the most surprising victories in the 22nd edition of the Sertões International Rally, for who knowa the history of the competition. On thhe last stage carried out on Saturday (30) thatleft Diamantina in Minas Gerais , the duo André Sawaya/Eduardo Costa (S2 Rally/Bike Box were in the lead with a big advantage of over 34 minutes .
However, a problem with vehicles drive, near kilometer 140 of the special, took the duo who were leading, out of the race, Sawaya and Costa forfeited (they did not complete the special within the time limit). It was imagined that the title would fall into the lap of Zé Hélio/Edmilson Camargo, who won four of the seven stages, including todays. But no, the duo had also already forfeited on the fifth stage of the competition. They were also out of the contest for the title.
The secret, then, could not be in the amount of victories. Maybe the champions of the UTVs in the 2014 Sertões International Rally can explain it. The emotion of winning a Sertões is very intense. There are difficult days, with very difficult specials. Thank God we were able to complete all the stages and we managed to conquer the best result. I am very happ, Vinicius Mota celebrates. In the UTV, you have to have balance, you can break down, but never forfeit. I had problems on the first and the third stage, but we finished them all. The UTVs is a new category. It is necessary to have a strategy, if you force it too much, it breaks, The secret is to accelerate but spare the machine, explains the racer of the Taguatur Racing team who ended the competition with a total time of 22h27min12.
The navigator, Shimuk also celebraetes, but he recognizes the surprise of the victory. As year I competed in the Sertões Series and I was the champion. This year I came with Vinicius and our objective was to complete the race. Afterwards we changed and the aim was tto completed the race among the top ten, then we came in fifth and we wanted the podium. We went building up, but thought we would not be champions. Saway had bad luck and broke down today and we completed the stage, he said. This years navigation was perfect. Every day the roadbook was 100%. I congratulate Edu Sachs, who is a great race director. All the dangers and references were in the roadbook. I think that the most marking special was the marathon, which we managed to complete without the car breaking and gave us better chances in the rally, Rafael adds
Zé Hélio, the winner of the last stage and tenth place in the overall result, regrets the breakdown that made him lose his chances in the rally. I liked the competition a lot. I loved the new configuration of the race. Unfortunately the victory slipped through my fingers. I was the biggest champion of the stages, but that doesnt count for anything. What counts I who wins the race. And because of a small defect in one of the stages, I was left without the victory. But we can once again fight for the victory next year, I will be here again, promises theracer.
Carlos Ambrósio/Cadu Sachs, of the Podium team ended the day in second place, followed by Fabio Campo/Sergio Avallone (Sacramento Racing).
Henrique Gutierrez/Weidner Moreira (Podium) came in second in the overal , 22min08 behind Mota/Shimuk. Coming in sixth place in the special, the duo, Edson Cascão/Claudia Grandi, were some of the happiest for coming in third place in the overall, and they confirmed their strategy of regularity. I really administrated it. That was the idea. And it is what we did. I knew that puncturing a tire, for example, can already leave the competitor back. We couldnt puncture a tire or break anuthing. It had to be a square race, Cascão explains The navigator, Claudia agrees: I just found out that we conquered third place. I am very happy! To race in the Sertões International Rally, one has to be fast, of course, but youve got ti have a head also, she assures.
Check the ranking of the seventh stage and in the overall among the UTVs colocados na sétima etapa e no resultado acumulado nos UTVs:
UTVs 7th Stage
1. #202 JOSE HELIO/EDMILSON CAMARGO (POLARIS RACING) 01h52min11s
2. #204 CALOS AMBROSIO/CADU SACHS (PODIUM) 01h56min17s
3. #205 FABIO CAMPOS/SERGIO AVALLONE (SACRAMENTO RACING) 01h57min16s
4. #213 VINÍCIUS MOTA/RAFAEL SHIMUK (TAGUATUR RACING) 02h01min054s
5. #208 LEANDRO TORRES/IDALI RODRIGUES FILHO (XTREME PLUS / TORRES RACING) 02h03min22s
UTVs Overall
1. #213 VINÍCIUS MOTA/RAFAEL SHIMUK (TAGUATUR RACING) 22h27min12s
2. #218 HENRIQUE GUTIERREZ/ WEIDNER MOREIRA (PODIUM) 22h49min20s
3. #211 ELSON CASCAO II/CLAUDIA GRANDI (KANDANGUS RALLY TEAM) 23h06min24s
4. #208 LEANDRO TORRES/IDALI RODRIGUES FILHO (XTREME PLUS / TORRES RACING) 23h35min52s
5. #219 GUSTAVO LAPERTOSA/MARCELLO BRANDÃO (LAPERTOSA MOTORSPORTS) 26h40min53s
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Este texto foi escrito por: Marcos Souza