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The major Brazilian off road adventure is about to begin. The 23rd edition of the Rally dos Sertões starts on August 1st in Goiânia with a brand new route, for the first time heading south. The seven-day and 2,875-km race will end in Foz do Iguaçu, close to world famous Iguaçu Waterfalls located on the triple border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
Last years edition was pretty close among the T1 FIA cars, and Baumgart brothers X Rally Team are aiming to finish two places higher in 2015, since one of the NWM-built Ford Rangers V8 4x4 was third overall. From the last Sertões onwards, the work on the prototypes was intense at the shop located in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The Brazilian team will race in the Sertões once more with the Ford Rangers, but with major development implemented since last August.
Cristian Baumgart (driver)/Beco Andreotti (co-driver) and Marcos Baumgart (driver)/Kleber Cincea (co-driver) will be at the wheel (and roadbook) of two brand new NWM Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4.
According to Neil Woolridge, NWMs director, the car lost almost 200 kg of weight. The team worked on weight distribution and a lower center of gravity, which made the car easier to drive and more friendly to work on for the technicians. The 5.0-litre Ford Mustang V8 engine is mounted more backwards - now it is right behind the front axle. NWM also worked on a new exhaust system, better engine cooling, improved differentials and changed the management system to MOTEC.
The results are a weight distribution of 50-50 front and rear axle, a friendly car to handle (for driver and mechanics), and an increased endurance capability for all the drivetrain components on the car.
The Sertões starts on August 1st with the Prologue in Goiânia, a major city in the center area of the country. The following day, the cars, bikes, quads and UTVs go to Rio Verde (Green River) in a 357 km day (205 km stage); on day two they race 326 km from Rio Verde to Itumbiara (156 km stage); on day three the 503-km long path will host a stage 294-km long from Itumbiara to São Simão.
On the fourth day of competition they leave the Goiás state to get into Mato Grosso do Sul state to reach the city of Três Lagoas (Three Lagoons). Fifth day will see competitors cross a 427-km long stretch, including a 232-km stage. Next, they part to Euclides da Cunha Paulista, right on the border of the state of São Paulo on the longest day of the rally: 587 km with a 290-km stage.
Day six: from Euclides da Cunha Paulista the competitors go to the Paraná state racing 199 km (316 total) to reach Umuarama. On the final day, 111 kilometers to decide the champion in a 340-km long round.
In 2014, the NWM-built Ford Rangers debuted in the Sertões and finished third with Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti and fourth with Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea.
WHAT DO THEY SAY:
Cristian Baumgart, driver, Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4 #309
Cars - T1 FIA
"This year we have got an updated version of our car. Everything is better: suspension, breaks, weight distribution, it is much more agile than last years car. We also got more used to the car. This Sertões will put us on a completely new route, which I like. Competition will be tough - even tougher than last year when we were third -, but our main goal is to fight for victory".
Beco Andreotti, co-driver, Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4 #309
Cars - T1 FIA
"What we really want to do is to be in contention for the win. We were close in 2014, and now NWM made a fantastic job updating our cars, we as a team had a whole year to work on the Ford Rangers development, and looking in this direction the expectations are high".
Marcos Baumgart, driver, Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4 #303
Cars - T1 FIA
"We are well prepared. Im focused, with a very positive energy. I think everything that had happened until now during this year is flowing through a very correct path. Ill do what I like the most, which is to drive a rally car flat out and Ill give my best - sure everyone will do that, too - but the overall result will be a consequence of that. Im sure we will fight for this title".
Kleber Cincea, co-driver, Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4 #303
Cars - T1 FIA
"Last year was the first time weve raced in the T1 FIA class, so the big question was to understand the gap - if there was any, and how big was it. Wed managed to be in the same pace as our competitors, so now with the new cars, with ultimate configuration and all the updates, the goal is to win the race. This is everyones aim, but wanting is not enough; we have to build the path for that to happen".
Neil Woolridge, NWM Team Director
"The NWM Cross Country Ford Ranger has proved itself throughout the world. In South Africa our Ford Ranger is arguably the best in our championship, so this car is of course capable of winning the Sertões Rally this year. For NWM and the X Rally Team this is our goal in 2015.
"X Rally and NWM have formed a great partnership and friendship over the past year and we are looking forward to seeing our Brazilian friends again, while enjoying another new adventure in this beautiful country. The team is prepared. NWM will again be providing all the spare parts necessary for the maintenance of the vehicles during the race, as well as our own mechanics, engineer, logistics and management input into the team. Lets go racing!".
Celso Duarte, Advanced Engineering & Performance Supervisor
Ford Performance Team
"The aim is to win. The goal and the technical qualification of the team, its structure, the know-how of tecnicians, mechanics, engineers, the quality of the whole equipment, as well as our driver and co-driver line-up which is very fast and experienced, allow us to go for the overall victory".
Veichle Specifications
NWM FORD RANGER DAKAR V8 4X4
Engine: 5.0 litre Ford Mustang V8
Power: 350 hp
Max. Speed: 185 km/h
Gearbox: SADEV 6-speed sequential gearbox
Drivetrain: Neil Woolridge Motorsport, limited slip differential front and rear
Clutch: AP
Management System: MOTEC
Dampers: BOS
Wheels: Fondmental
Brakes: Brembo air cooled calipers front, Brembo water cooled calipers rear
Fuel Cell: 520 L
Fuel: Avi Gas
Air Conditioned Cooled Cabin
THE ROUTE
August 1st - Prologue
Goiânia (GO).
August 2nd - Stage 1
Goiânia (GO) - Rio Verde (GO)
Liaison 1: 50 km
Stage: 205 km
Final Liaison: 101 km
Total of the day: 357 km
August 3rd - Stage 2
Rio Verde (GO) - Itumbiara (GO)
Liaison 1: 20 km
Stage: 156 km
Final Liaison: 150 km
Total of the day: 326 km
August 4th - Stage 3
Itumbiara (GO) - São Simão (GO)
Liaison 1: 143 km
Stage: 294 km
Final Liaison: 65 km
Total of the day: 503 km
August 5th - Stage 4
São Simão (GO) - Três Lagoas (MS)
Liaison 1: 154 km
Stage: 232 km
Final Liaison: 40 km
Total of the day: 427 km
August 6th - Stage 5 (Marathon)
Três Lagoas (MS) - Euclides da Cunha Paulista (SP)
Liaison 1: 142 km
Stage: 290 km
Final Liaison: 154 km
Total of the day: 587 km
August 7th - Stage 6
Euclides da Cunha Paulista (SP) - Umuarama (PR)
Liaison 1: 27 km
Stage: 199 km
Final Liaison: 90 km
Total of the day: 316 km
August 8th - Stage 7
Umuarama (PR) - Foz do Iguaçu (PR)
Liaison 1: 199 km
Stage: 111 km
Final Liaison: 30 km
Total of the day: 340 km
TO DOWNLOAD PICTURES MORE PICTURES, CLICK HERE
Photo credits: P1 Media Relations
Video Credits: Anselmo Venansi e Cleyton Russo
X Rally Team is sponsored by Vedacit and Cidade Center Norte, with the backing of Ford Brasil, Motul, GoPro, Reebok Sports Club, Elemidia and Arai
Teams website: www.xrallyteam.com.br
Follow them on Twitter: @X_Rally_Team
Facebook Page: X Rally Team Oficial
Also on Instagram: @xrallyteam
MORE TEAM INFORMATION
P1 Media Relations
CLEBER BERNUCI, PR Officer
+55 (19) 992 222 517
cleber@xrallyteam.com.br
