Barring a miracle, Fidel Castillo Ruiz‘s hopes of profitable the 2024 FIA European Baja Cup appear to be over. On Tuesday, he confirmed that as a result of damaged collarbone he suffered on the Hungarian Baja, he won’t be able to run this weekend’s Baja TT Sharish Gin.
Castillo suffered a proximal collarbone fracture and pulmonary contusion when his Can-Am Maverick X3 rolled in the course of the third Selective Part of final month’s Hungarian Baja. František Brutovský broke his vertebra in a separate rollover that very same leg, which prompted Martin Koloc to withdraw out of security concern. The pulmonary contusion, initially identified as a collapsed lung, prevented him from being flown again to Spain, and he needed to be taken again by way of floor ambulance. Castillo underwent remedy at Clínica Cemtro in Madrid.
Though his well being improved within the month since, he was not cleared by medical doctors to participate within the Baja TT Sharish Gin in neighbouring Portugal. His probabilities on the European Baja Cup’s outright title had been dashed by his Hungary retirement, which dropped him from second to sixth in factors with 75 factors to João Ferreira‘s 128. He stays mathematically eligible for the SSV championship as he sits third there and trails Miquel Prat by twenty-five factors. Nonetheless, with Prat and second-placed Tomasz Białkowski each racing at Reguengos, it’s unlikely Castillo will catch up except each of them retire.
“As a result of my restoration from the accident in Hungary and never having medical clearance but, I gained’t be capable of take part on this yr’s Baja TT Sharish Gin,” begins a press release from Castillo. “Thankfully, all the pieces goes as anticipated, and I’ll be again on the Can-Am quickly.
“It’s a disgrace, as I used to be competing for the European Championship title, however now I must deal with my well being and put all my vitality into an thrilling new undertaking that I’ll be saying quickly.
“An enormous thank to everybody who ask for me day by day.”
Driving for Ahúja Racing, Castillo started the European Baja Cup season by ending runner-up in SSV on the Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura in Could. He gained the category on the Italian Baja in July to take the SSV factors lead going into Hungary.
Whereas his focus stays on SSVs, he dabbled within the premier Final class for the primary time in June when he examined Previous-Racing’s Ford Ranger T1+ in Morocco. Pau Navarro, a fellow Spaniard and SSV common, introduced Monday that he’ll drive the Ranger on the 2025 Dakar Rally.
The European Baja Cup season ends with the Baja Troia Türkiye on 7–9 November.
