NWM-Ford Rangers storm through the Brazilian desert

There are more two days to go in the Rally dos Sertões, Brazil’s largest off-road competition. This Thursday, the competitors racing through the heart of the country reached the Jalapão area, which is a semi-ard microregion in the state of Tocantins, with astonishing landscapes, sand dunes, rock formations, clear rivers and even waterfalls.

In this scenario, Cristian Baumgart and Beco Andreotti finished second after a 425.67-km stage, behind Mitsubishi’s Guilherme Spinelli/Youssef Haddad. Third came NWM’s Lance Woolridge, pairing Marcelo Haseyama.

"Lots of sand, quick changes of direction, very pleasant to drive. We kept a good pace, saving the equipment. The car is like new, and tomorrow our plan is to be in the same rithm, but it will be a long day", said Cristian Baumgart.

The marathon stage was good to the cars and enjoyed by the drivers. "The stage was good. We caught Cristian, and for the rest of the stage we just drove together, taking it easy, with no mistakes. I really enjoyed the day again. It was a good one, and the last 20 kilometers specifically was just like the desert race we have in Bostuana. Apparently, that’s what the terrain will be like tomorrow. So, I’m looking forward to it: very sandy and twisty, but it flows. I’m just feeling like home. It will be nice tomorrow", said Lance.

Both NWM-built Ford Rangers lead the overall T1 FIA classification after five stages - with only two to go. Cristian and Beco, on car #304, sustain a margin of 47min08s in front of Lance and Marcelo, and more than an hour on Spinelli/Haddad. On Friday, they will part on a 515-km trip from Mateiros to Ponte Alta, finishing the second part of the marathon stage.

DAY 5 - Results:
1º) Guilherme Spinelli/Youssef Haddad (MITSUBISHI), 5h11min03s
2º) Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti (FORD X RALLY TEAM), 5h14min56s;
3º) Lance Woolridge/Marcelo Heseyama (NWM-FORD PERFORMANCE), 5h15min16s;

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 5:
1º) Cristian Baumgart/Beco Andreotti - 19h45min01s
2º) Lance Woolridge/Marcelo Haseyama - 20h32min10s (+47min08s)
3º) Guilherme Spinelli/Youssef Haddad, 20h52min00s (+1h06min59s)

WHAT THEY ARE UP TO THE NEXT DAYS:
09/09 - Round 6 - Marathon Stage
Mateiros (TO) - Ponte Alta (TO)
Stage: 514,98 km
Total: 520,95 km

10/09 - Round 7
Ponte Alta (TO) - Palmas (TO)
Stage: 191,54 km
Total: 243,61 km

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FURTHER INFORMATION IN BRAZIL
P1 Media Relations
CLEBER BERNUCI, Press Officer
+55 (19) 992 222 517
cleber@xrallyteam.com.br