Eight countries will be represented in 2012: Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, United States, France, Portugal and Venezuela. Registrations for the 20th anniversary edition of Rally dos Sertões ended on July 20th. A total of 220 competitors are registered among cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads and UTVs (category which debuts in the competition). Competitors from eight countries will be racing in the historical 20th anniversary edition: Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, United States, France, Portugal and Venezuela. From the 220 competitors, five are women (three among the cars, one riding a bike and another one driving an UTV).

In the grid that leaves São Luis (MA) on August 19th, there will be 63 bikes, 47 cars, 12 UTVs, 10 trucks and nine quads. The surprise is the number of registered UTVs. "As an experimental category that will compete for the first time, this number is very impressive for a competition within Brazil," said Sabrina Proença - Race Secretariat for Dunas Race.

In the UTVs, there will be many champions of Sertões in previous years from other categories, such as Carlo Collet (five-time champion in quads) and Robert Nahas. Among the favorites, we also have Bruno Sperancini. This category also brings the first woman to race in an UTV, Martha Marino, from Colombia.

In the cars, this edition has everything to be memorable: Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel, the myth of cross country rally, is confirmed to participate. The driver will be in the Rally dos Sertões for the first time and enters, with his MINI All4 X-Raid, in battle with the Brazilians thought to be favorites: Guilherme Spinelli in his Mitsubishi Lancer, Riamburgo Ximenes in the BMW X3 CC, Marcos Moraes in his T -Rex, and other teams that also will battle for the victory.

The dispute on the bikes also promises to be exciting: Jean Azevedo returns to the category after years of racing cars, but the driver will not have an easy life. Felipe Zanol, two -times runner-up - is seeking his first title. Dario Julio (Darinho) and Ike Klaumann will also be in the battle.

André Azevedo, Guido Salvini and Edu Piano enter as favorites in the heavy trucks. Within the light trucks, the battle should be between Rafael Martinez-Conde and Amable Barrasa. Tom Rosa sees as an advantage over sandy terrain this year and tries another title in quads. But he will have to overcome Marcelo Medeiros and Nei Costa, among others.

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