The Final (T1) class for prototype automobiles is the premier class in cross-country rally, whereas UTVs compete in Challenger (T3) and SSV (T4). In most rallies, an Final automobile would simply outpace a Challenger or SSV.
That was not the case on the Baja Portalegre 500, the place Final drivers struggled whereas the Taurus T3 Max of Miguel Barbosa turned the primary UTV to win the general in race historical past. Gonçalo Gurreiro and Paulo Rodrigues, respectively in a Polaris RZR Professional R and Can-Am Maverick X3, joined Barbosa on the rostrum forward of Edgar Reis‘ Taurus, making it a high 4 sweep by UTVs. João Ferreira was the highest-finishing T1 in fifth.
Final driver João Ramos, who retired from the race after water obtained into his Toyota Hilux’s engine, feels this improvement is extra alarming than spectacular. In an interview with AutoSport, Ramos alleged the closing hole between T1 and UTVs stems extra from poor regulation by the FIA and fears it may have an effect on fan curiosity within the self-discipline.
Whereas it’d sound like bitter grapes from a T1 driver, Ramos’ sentiment is way from unusual. North American desert racing had lengthy derided UTVs as golf carts which have little place competing alongside Trophy Vans and buggies, just for UTVs to change into probably the most standard automobiles in the marketplace for his or her accessibility and growing competitiveness. Ramos acknowledged the decrease price in comparison with a T1, however feels UTV groups are investing a lot into their programmes that it’s not precisely as low cost of an endeavour because it appeared.
“There are individuals who choose watching the vans, the bigger automobiles, and the T1s, that are rather more spectacular. These are the machines that really attraction to followers,” he started. “I perceive why individuals go for the UTVs, the T3s and the T4s, as a result of the funding is decrease. In actuality, with the developments being made, it’s now not as inexpensive as individuals say. They’re already spending much more cash now. They’ll by no means spend as a lot as they might on a T1 or a T1+, however they’re nonetheless spending a good quantity.”
He attributed a part of this to the FIA’s Equivalence of Expertise coverage, the place the sanctioning physique modifies the highest pace of a given class primarily based on the way it and different courses are faring. Whereas this enables the FIA to create a stage taking part in discipline, Ramos feels issues are getting out of hand.
“These automobiles weigh lower than half of ours, have plenty of braking energy due to their lighter weight, and so they’re extremely agile. Even then, they’re wider too,” he continued. “[The FIA] lets them to evolve with out castrating them in issues like gearboxes, which makes issues messier on the planet of Bajas. Individuals are spending much less to race and nonetheless find yourself competing on our stage.”
Apart from efficiency, Ramos stated the routes in European Bajas favour UTVs way over Ultimates. Whereas most long-distance races just like the Dakar Rally happen in open deserts, the place a T1 can simply outpace a UTV, European races are shorter and held on twisty programs that enable a UTV to maintain tempo. Guillaume de Mévius additionally pointed this out in 2023, although he was in favour of narrowing the hole between T1 and T3 to encourage drivers to graduate to the highest stage.
With extra individuals stepping into UTVs over T1s, Ramos additionally identified the ramifications this has on the general FIA European Baja Cup and Portuguese Cross-Nation Championship standings. As a consequence of inconsistent grid sizes, each sequence allocate factors which are multiplied by a coefficient relying on the variety of entrants in a given class, reminiscent of multiplying by 1.5 if there are over eleven rivals or 1.2 for six to 10. Since UTV fields are a lot bigger, Ramos famous a UTV with a decrease end in its class may earn extra factors than a T1 who positioned higher.
“That is nonsense. They’re destroying the game, and it’s no shock that curiosity is waning,” Ramos proclaimed. “I’ve been saying this for years: the day we depart, nobody will come to observe the races besides these already carefully concerned.”
