A scant point! This is the difference with which the top three finishers of the Clio Trophy Portugal will start for the season’s final race, after completing the Transibérico Eurocidade Chaves-Verín Water Rally.
In the special stages in Trás-os-Montes and Galicia, Danny Carreira was the strongest and was the first to repeat a win on the highest step of the podium of the competition promoted by Renault Portugal. Gil Antunes, Nuno Coelho, and Pedro Pereira Jr. finished in the immediate places behind. The Rallye Vidreiro Centro de Portugal is the deciding race, on October 11 and 12.
Emotion, spectacle, and an extraordinary balance in the battle for victory. The inaugural edition of the Clio Trophy Portugal is proving to be a huge success: zero retirements due to technical problems, only in the penultimate event of the calendar did a driver manage to repeat victories, and the three title contenders head into the last rally of the season separated by… a point. Yes, a scant point!
In the Transibérico Eurocidade Chaves-Verín Water Rally, contested between Friday and Saturday, the battle for victory among the title candidates was intense, with the 16.6 seconds that separated the top two finishers at the end being the largest time difference recorded between them throughout the rally.
Upon arriving in Chaves, it was Danny Carreira (once again accompanied by Marco Vilas Boas) who celebrated, being the first to repeat his climb to the highest step of the podium. A result that allowed him to regain the lead in the Clio Trophy Portugal, although tied on points with Gil Antunes. “Great rally, but very tough, as Gil was very strong,” emphasized the young 23-year-old driver upon arriving in Chaves. “It was also a race where I made some mistakes, but the objective was achieved: victory! Now, it’s time to attack for the last race, knowing that whoever wins, also wins the trophy.”
The duo Gil Antunes/Diogo Correia secured the second position, just 16.6 seconds behind the leader, repeating the result from the 11th Constalica Rally of Vouzela and Viseu. “Great rally! Diogo and I were on fire. When I finished the penultimate stage, I told Diogo (the navigator) that it was impossible to go any faster, but Danny was 7.5 seconds better. He deserves congratulations for doing a fantastic rally. The trophy and the car are awesome. Incredibly, the top three go to the final event separated by just one point.”
Nuno Coelho, again accompanied by Ricardo Cunha, secured his third podium of the season. “On the first day of the race, we didn’t start well, but then we managed to set some really interesting times, which allowed us to secure third place. Objective achieved,” highlighted the driver.
Nuno Coelho, novamente acompanhado por Ricardo Cunha, conquistou o terceiro pódio consecutivo da época. “No primeiro dia de prova não entrámos bem, mas depois conseguimos fazer tempos muito interessantes, que nos permitiram garantir o terceiro lugar. Objetivo cumprido”, destacou o piloto.
After the victory in the 11th Constalica Rally of Vouzela and Viseu, the duo Pedro Pereira Jr./Tiago Silva could only manage fourth place in the Transibérico Eurocidade Chaves-Verín Water Rally, being relegated from the lead in the Clio Trophy Portugal. “It was a race where almost everything went wrong,” the driver confided. “On the first day, we had a departure from the road that cost us a lot of time, and today (Saturday), we were on the brink of having the same happen three times. This result is to be discarded, and we head to the Rallye Vidreiro Centro de Portugal determined to fight for victory. We’re just one point from the trophy lead, and the tactic will be just one: go on the attack!”
The duo Luís Caetano/David Monteiro closed out the top five of the Transibérico Eurocidade Chaves-Verín Water Rally, with the young driver from Leiria stating: “The first day was tougher, but then things went better. It was another important rally to gain experience and evolve. The next one will be at ‘home’ and I will do my best to stay closer to the front group.”
The duo Paulo Barata/Fábio Santos finished sixth, with the driver from Góis highlighting: “Another rally to learn, without problems and with some progress made. I confess that I’m enjoying the car more and more.”
The duo Henrique Azenha/Ricardo Costa finished in seventh place, with the driver from Figueira da Foz stating: “Another positive rally, with a few scares, but I had fun and gained experience. I am loving this experience in the Clio Trophy Portugal and I will be here next year.”
The Clio Trophy Portugal continues at the Rallye Vidreiro Centro de Portugal, on October 11 and 12. Three drivers – Danny Carreira, Gil Antunes, and Pedro Pereira Jr. – will fight for the title of the competition promoted by Renault Portugal, starting separated by a scant point.
Clio Trophy Portugal Standings – Transibérico Eurocidade Chaves-Verín Water Rally
1st Danny Carreira / Marco Vilas Boas, 1h04m39.3s
2nd Gil Antunes / Fábio Ribeiro, 16.6s behind
3rd Nuno Coelho / Ricardo Cunha, 1m25.6s behind
4th Pedro Pereira Jr. / Tiago Silva, 1m36.6s behind
5th Luís Caetano / David Monteiro, 2m07.0s behind
6th Paulo Barata / Fábio Santos, 3m43.3s behind
7th Henrique Azenha / Ricardo D’Almeida, 8m08.0s behind
Winners of stages: Danny Carreira (6), and Gil Antunes (2).
Leaders: Danny Carreira PE1 to PE9.
Clio Trophy Portugal Standings
1st Danny Carreira, 78 points;
2nd Gil Antunes, 78;
3rd Pedro Pereira Jr., 77;
4th Nuno Coelho, 54;
5th Luís Caetano, 35;
6th Paulo Barata, 32;
7th Henrique Azenha, 16;
8th José Pedro Quintas, 13;
9th Vasco Tintim, 11;
10th Carlos Marreiros, 10;
11th Dário Rebelo, 0.
Next event: Rallye Vidreiro Centro de Portugal, October 11 and 12.
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