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04.Aug - Day 3: Itumbiara (GO) - São Simão
Liason 1: 143 km
Stage: 244 km
Final Liason: 115 km
Total: 503 km
The Ford Rangers Dakar V8 4x4 updated and prepared by South-African based company NWM Motorsports are once more in contention for another international title: the Rally dos Sertões, the major off-road competition in Brazil. The Vedacit-yellow livered cars run by X Rally Team showed a strong pace on the 244-km stage between the cities of Itumbiara and São Simão, in Goiás.
Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti won the stage with 2h39min03s, 3min40s faster than Toyotas Reinaldo Varela/Gustavo Gugelmin, the overall leaders. Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea, who started the day in fourth position, came third only one minute behind Varela and almost three minutes ahead of 2014 champions Guilherme Spinelli/Youssef Haddad.
It was a day to fly high. "Sertões Air Race", named Cristian. His brother Marcos agreed: "I think we were most of the time in the air than on the ground. We even did go over two or more obstacles with only one jump. It was amazing. I can tell you we were 5 or 10 per cent of the time with no wheels on the floor", he estimated.
X Rally Teams strategy today was to push the cars boundaries. "It was a monster today, and weve managed to go all the way in an astonishing pace", said Cristian. "I started to push and it was like the car was telling me come on, push as hard as you can, I am with you. We had lost a little time due to a slower car in front of us who did not let us pass for several kms. I think we could have done a 1-2 today", pondered Marcos.
The new version of the NWM Ford Ranger Dakar V8 4x4 went through a deep work of development, which included updates on the suspension, brakes, cooling and on the 5-litre V8 engine.
"This is the first time this cars are racing and their performance today were impressive. The car had the same pace from the beginning to the end of the stage. Drivers and co-drivers did a great job and the NWM Ford Ranger impressed the whole bivouac by its speed and toughness. Everyone in the team did a great work, and I think there is more to come", said Neil Woolridge, NWM Motorsports founder and director.
The fourth of seven days is going to be held this Wednesday in 427 kms (of a 2,855 total) from São Simão do Três Lagoas. The stage is 232-km long.
Day 3 result (cat. T1 FIA)
CARS
1-) Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti (Ford Ranger) - 2h39min03s
2-) Reinaldo Varela/Gustavo Gugelmin (Toyota Hilux) - 2h42min45s (a 3min42s)
3-) Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea (Ford Ranger) - 2h43min43s (a 4min40s)
4-) Guiga Spinelli/Youssef Haddad (Mitsubishi ASX) - 2h46min20 (a 7min17s)
05.Aug - DAY 4: São Simão (GO) - Três Lagoas (MS)
Liason: 154 km
Stage: 232 km
Final Liason: 40 km
Total: 427 km
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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
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Facebook Page: X Rally Team Oficial
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MORE TEAM INFORMATION
P1 Media Relations
CLEBER BERNUCI, PR Officer
+55 (19) 992 222 517
cleber@xrallyteam.com.br
