We’re off to Spain where the winners of the first-ever World Rally-Raid Championship will be decided. With tight contests across all categories, there’s everything to play for on the winding tracks of the Andalucia Rally. With a racing distance of 1,175 kilometres spread over four stages, we’re expecting drama at the championship finale before our winners are crowned on Sunday, October 23.
In the T1 car class it’s reigning Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) who holds top spot. The Toyota Hilux driver has amassed 144 points alongside co-driver Mathieu Baumel (FRA) so far this season and is out to end the season in style.
« We were happy to finish on the podium last time out in Morocco, it put us one step closer to winning this very important title. » – Nasser Al-Attiyah
Hot on the heels of Al-Attiyah is nine-time WRC winner Sébastien Loeb (FRA). The Prodrive Hunter BRX racer is currently 22 points behind Al-Attiyah in the overall W2RC rankings. With 30 points on offer for the win in Andalucia, plus an additional five points per stage win, there’s plenty for Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin (BEL) to aim for in Spain.
« I hope to be competitive in Andalucia. For the championship, we are aiming for the perfect result and to get the maximum points available. » – Sébastien Loeb
Leading the inaugural W2RC rankings in the bike class is another reigning Dakar champion, Sam Sunderland (GBR) of the Gas Gas Factory Racing Rally Team. Wins at the Dakar and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge earlier in the season put Sunderland in pole position to wrap up the W2RC title in Spain.
« For me, the goal in Andalucia is quite clear; have a smooth race and get the points I need to win the world title. » – Sam Sunderland
Leading the charge for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Spain is 2021 Dakar winner Kevin Benavides (ARG). The Argentinian rider will be focused on getting both his riding and his bike in tune ahead of the next Dakar which is coming up in less than three months time.
« I’ve been training hard since Rallye du Maroc and it’s been really good, physical training and also roadbook training. » – Kevin Benavides
The T3 title is up for grabs in Spain with current leader Chaleco López (CHL) out to defend top spot in his Can-Am alongside co-driver Juan Pablo Latrach (CHL). López has picked up 182 points so far this season, but still finds himself within striking distance of two Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team drivers.
Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP) has shared the overall podium with López at all three previous rounds of the W2RC. Gutiérrez is racing her OT3 alongside co-driver Pablo Moreno (ESP) in their native Spain with the aim of overturning the 28 point gap between themselves and López.
A further 10 points back in the overall T3 rankings stands Gutiérrez’s fellow Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team driver Seth Quintero (USA). The 20-year-old will be full of confidence following his win earlier this month at Rallye du Maroc and gunning for top spot again alongside co-driver Dennis Zenz (GER) in their OT3.
« This rally is by far one of my favourite races, the atmosphere and the course really fit my driving style. It’s a new layout this year so I’m excited to see that. » – Seth Quintero
Also representing the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team at the Andalucia Rally will be drivers Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) and Guillaume de Mevius (BEL), co-driven by Kellon Walch (USA) and François Cazalet (FRA) respectively. The Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team will be looking to back up their historic result of landing all four cars inside the Top 6 in Morocco.
Joining Guthrie Jr. in the T3 Open Class in Spain will be 14-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) as he parks his Audi RS Q e-tron E2 for this rally and takes control of a Yamaha YXZ1000R alongside co-driver Edouard Boulanger (FRA).
The Andalucia Rally gets going on Wednesday, October 19 with a prologue stage close to Seville. Then comes 1,175 kilometres against the clock spread over four stages to decide not only the winners of this race, but also the first-ever World Rally-Raid Championship.
World Rally-Raid Championship Standings
T1 – Top 3 : 1. N. Al-Attiyah – Toyota, 144 points ; 2. S. Loeb – Prodrive, 122 pts ; 3. Y. Al Rajhi – Toyota, 80 pts…
T3 – Top 3 : 1. F. Lopez – Can-Am, 182 points ; 2. C. Gutierrez – OT3, 154 pts ; 3. S. Quintero – OT3, 144 pts…
BIKE – Top 3 : 1. S. Sunderland – GASGAS, 74 points ; 2. P. Quintanilla – Honda, 52 pts ; 3. R. Brabec – Honda, 50 pts…
QUOTES
Sébastien Loeb: « The goal is to have the best result possible. We saw in Morocco that we were on the pace so I hope to be competitive in Andalucia. For the championship, we are aiming for the perfect result and to get the maximum points available; our goal is to manage our rally as well as possible. The rally will be different from what we’re used to in the more open nature of cross-country with many tracks that should suit my driving. I hope to be performing well there with the target to win the rally. »
Sam Sunderland: « Andalucia is quite a different race on the calendar because it’s on those Spanish, slippery trails. I’m looking forward to it. I had a few issues that were hampering me a bit coming into Morocco, I injured my hand before the race and also had some sickness which wasn’t ideal. Now I’m all cleared up and ready for a good run in Andalucia. We’ve been testing this week in Spain and everything is feeling really good. For me, the goal in Andalucia is quite clear; have a smooth race and get the points I need to win the world title.”
Kevin Benavides: « I’ve been training hard since Rallye du Maroc and it’s been really good, physical training and also roadbook training. This will help me to catch the feeling on the tracks of Andalucia because it’s a different race to the others. I really like this race so I will try to do my best, enjoy myself and continue the preparation for Dakar. »
Seth Quintero: « We just came off of a win a few weeks ago in Morocco and that was our first win at a big rally. We’ve got plenty of stage wins before but not an overall win. I’m happy to finally to get that out of the way and now we’re looking to carry that momentum into Andalucia. This rally is by far one of my favourite races, the atmosphere and the course really fit my driving style. It’s a new layout this year so I’m excited to see that. »
Mitch Guthrie Jr.: « I’m really excited to be racing in Andalucia. I’ve been really impressed by the new car, the development, the engineers and everything that has been put into making it. The testing in Morocco went great, a lot of improvements were made. Now it’s time to race in Andalucia and see where that takes us. I have a lot of confidence in the team so I think it’s going to go really well. »
Christine Fial,