The bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal brings the elite of off-road racing to our country. From September 23rd to 28th, the world’s best car and motorcycle drivers will race along the dirt roads of Alentejo, Ribatejo, and Spanish Estremadura. It’s the European Dakar, a race that could prove decisive for the awarding of several world titles.
The event, organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), is part of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), which is organised by the FIA and FIM, and is the only one held in Europe. This clearly demonstrates the importance of our country in the off-road world.
For almost a week, we’ll experience the best of world off-road racing in our country, with long stages, sand, and fast dirt roads. The bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal covers 2,160 km, of which 1,405 km are timed (+40% compared to 2024).
The competitive portion comprises the prologue, a spectacular qualifying round in the centre of the town of Grândola, and five stages, promising plenty of adventure, competition, and a unique spectacle over five days. The race begins in Grândola on Tuesday the 23rd, then ventures into Extremadura, Spain, and ends in Lisbon, near the Monument to the Discoveries, on Sunday the 28th, in a setting of rare beauty and rich history. The Portuguese capital hosts the World Rally Raid Championship for the first time, having previously served as the starting point of the Dakar in 2006 and 2007.
114 teams registered
There are 62 teams registered in the Auto category, in addition to 52 riders on motorcycles. A stunning list featuring virtually every major name who competed in the 2025 Dakar Rally is a testament to the international enthusiasm the ACP event generates.
The bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal will feature the world’s best drivers driving prototypes designed for off-roading, boasting around 360 hp. Given the number and quality of entrants, a thrilling race is expected, with many contenders for victory.
Three-time world champion and current championship leader Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia Sandrider) will be aiming to repeat last year’s triumph, but he faces stiff opposition from his teammates on the Renault Group’s official team: nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb and Spaniard Cristina Gutiérrez.
Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC also has a powerful lineup, consisting of Henk Lategan, Luca Moraes, and Seth Quintero, who will pilot the Hilux T1+ Evo, one of the most competitive cars in the world championship. Portugal’s João Ferreira, the current holder of the 2024 Baja World Cup, will field a similar car and is a natural contender for victory. The Japanese brand is reinforced by Overdrive Racing, which will field 2025 Dakar Rally winner Yazeed Al Rajhi of Saudi Arabia, Juan Cruz Yacopini of Argentina, and Hermán Garcés of Chile.
Ford will field a Raptor T1+ for former two-time world rally champion Carlos Sainz, another contender for victory, and veteran Greek driver Jourdan Serderidis, a frequent rally competitor.
X-raid will field three Mini JCW 3.0i for Denis Krotov, Lionel Baud, and Adroaldo Weisheimer. Other names to consider in the top-place battle are brothers Marcos and Christian Baumgart, who will drive a Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo. Also noteworthy is the presence of the Portuguese drivers Francisco Barreto (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo) and José Rogeira (Ford Ranger T1+).
The ACP race could be decisive for the drivers’ and constructors’ world titles. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Toyota are leading the way, and if they win and their rivals fail, the titles are practically sealed.
The Challenger category features the best side-by-side prototype drivers. Nicolás Cavigliasso (Taurus T3 Max), Pau Navarro (Taurus T3 Max), and Dania AKeel (Taurus T3 Max) will fight for the world title, but the Portuguese drivers Gonçalo Guerreiro (Taurus Evo Max), second in the 2025 Dakar, Miguel Barbosa (Taurus T3 Max), and Hélder Oliveira (Can-Am Maverick), are potential contenders for the victory.
In the SSV category, Alexandre Pinto (Polaris RZR) is one of the favourites and could secure the world title in this race.
In the motorcycle category, a fiercely contested race is expected between specialists from KTM, Honda, Hero, and Sherco. Daniel Sanders (KTM 450 Rally) has won all three races so far and is, of course, the favorite, but he will face opposition from Ross Branch (Hero 450 Rally), the 2024 world champion; Luciano Benavides (KTM 450 Rally), current second-place finisher in the championship; Ricky Brabec (Honda CRF 450), two-time Dakar winner (2020 and 2024); Adrien Van Beveren (Honda CRF 450), Bradley Cox (Sherco 450 Rally), and Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Hero 450 Rally). Pedro Bianchi Prata will be competing on the Moove Stark, a fully electric motorcycle.
As part of the 2025 edition of the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, the public will also have the unique opportunity to follow teams and drivers at the event’s three bivouacs. Located in Grândola (Fair and Exhibition Park), Badajoz (Badajoz Fairgrounds), and Lisbon (Pedrouços Dock), these spaces will be true hubs of action and interaction, allowing the public to get up close and personal with the competition’s machines and protagonists.
PROGRAM
September 21
3:30 PM/7:30 PM – Scrutineering (Grândola Fairgrounds)
September 22
9:00 AM/7:00 PM – Scrutineering (Grândola Fairgrounds)
September 23
3:00 PM – Start of the 1st Motorcycle Prologue (5 km)
4:25 PM – Start of the 1st Car Prologue (5 km)
6:30 PM/7:00 PM – Autograph Session (Grândola Fairgrounds)
7:30 PM – Motorcycle Starting Ceremony (Grândola Fairgrounds)
8:30 PM – Car Starting Ceremony (Grândola Fairgrounds) Grândola
September 24th – Stage 1 Grândola-Grândola (300 km)
6:00 AM – Start of the 1st Motorcycle from the Gravatá Fair and Exhibition Park
8:00 AM – Start of the 1st Car from the Gravatá Fair and Exhibition Park
4:15 PM – Arrival of the 1st Motorcycle at the Grândola Fair and Exhibition Park (estimated time)
6:00 PM – Arrival of the 1st Car at the Gravatá Fair and Exhibition Park (estimated time)
7:00 PM – W2RC Medal Ceremony at the Grândola Fair and Exhibition Park
September 25th – Stage 2 Grândola-Badajoz (430 km)
5:25 AM – Start of the 1st Motorcycle from the Gravatá Fair and Exhibition Park
7:30 AM – Start of the First Car of the Gravatá Fairgrounds
3:30 PM – Arrival of the first motorcycle at the Badajoz Fairgrounds (estimated time)
5:30 PM – Arrival of the first motorcycle at the Badajoz Fairgrounds (estimated time)
7 PM – W2RC Medal Ceremony at the Badajoz Fairgrounds
September 26 – Stage 3 Badajoz-Badajoz (300 km)
6:00 AM – Start of the first motorcycle at the Badajoz Fairgrounds
8:10 AM – Start of the first motorcycle at the Badajoz Fairgrounds
2:35 PM – Arrival of the first motorcycle at the Badajoz Fairgrounds (estimated time)
4:30 PM – Arrival of the first motorcycle at the Badajoz Fairgrounds (estimated time)
7:00 PM – W2RC Medal Ceremony
September 27 – Stage 4 Badajoz-Lisbon (260 km)
6:00 AM – Start of the 1st Motorcycle from the Badajoz Fairgrounds
8:10 AM – Start of the 1st Car from the Badajoz Fairgrounds
2:35 PM – Arrival of the 1st Motorcycle at the Pedrouços Dock (estimated time)
4:25 PM – Arrival of the 1st Car at the Pedrouços Dock (estimated time)
7:00 PM – W2RC Medal Ceremony at the Pedrouços Dock
September 28 – Stage 5 Lisbon-Lisbon (110 km)
6:30 AM – Start of the 1st Motorcycle from the Pedrouços Dock
8:40 AM – Start of the 1st Car from the Pedrouços Dock
12:50 PM – Motorcycle Podium Ceremony (Monument to the Discoveries)
1:20 PM – Arrival of the First Motorcycle at the Bivouac at the Pedrouços Dock (estimated time)
3 PM – Car Podium Ceremony at the Pedrouços Dock (Monument to the Discoveries)
3:30 PM – Arrival of the First Car at the Bivouac (estimated time)
7:00 PM – W2RC Medal Ceremony
PUBLIC OPENING HOURS
Grândola Bivouac
September 21 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
September 22 – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
September 24 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Badajoz Bivouac
September 25 – 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Spanish time)
September 26 – 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Spanish time) Spanish
Lisbon Bivouac
September 27 – 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
September 28 – 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM Podium Ceremony (Monument to the Discoveries)
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