Hugo Arellano back on the Isuzu D-Max T1 for the Baja Portalegre 500! 28.10.2021: After several participations in the Belgian Rally Championship in the Stellantis Rally Cup Belux, which is not giving him much of a chance at the moment, Hugo Arellano is going to return to the world of 'bajas' this Friday and Saturday. He will be at the

After several participations in the Belgian Rally Championship in the Stellantis Rally Cup Belux, which is not giving him much of a chance at the moment, Hugo Arellano is going to return to the world of 'bajas' this Friday and Saturday. He will be at the start of the Baja Portalegre 500, in Portugal, at the controls of his Isuzu D-Max T1 ex-Sousa...


 
For the first time since the beginning of the year 2020, the Luxemburgish rider Hugo Arellano will be back in the rally-raid atmosphere at the 35th Baja Portalegre 500 in Portugal. And while he will be delighted to be back at the wheel of the ex-Carlos Sousa Isuzu D-Max T1, this return will be accompanied by a big novelty, namely a co-driver who has never been used in this type of competition before.


I was looking for a new co-driver and I heard a lot of good things about Loïc Dumont, the grandson of Belgian rally legend Jean-Louis Dumont", Hugo explains. I contacted him and he was very excited about the project! So we're going to be together for the first time, which means that for him, the discovery will be total! The success of such an event lies in the perfect collaboration between driver and co-driver. The adaptation will therefore have to be quick...".


 

For Hugo Arellano and Loïc Dumont, the main objective east of Lisbon will be to reach the end of an event, that in the past wasn't the biggest success.


"I've already taken the start of the Baja Portalegre 500 twice, without ever managing to see the podium at the finish", Hugo continues. It's a very beautiful event, very hilly too, with lots of eucalyptus forests, so much so that it sometimes resembles the Rally Australia!


And then, in Portugal, there is this absolutely unique popular fest, from the Ceremonial Start. Seeing all these people is really impressive...".
 


On Friday 29 October, the competitors will compete in a 3 kilometre Prologue, before a first 64 kilometre warm-up stage in the afternoon. This means that the most important day will be Saturday, with a second stage comprising two specials, the first of 150 kilometres and the second of 190 kilometres!



We have been developing the Isuzu D-Max T1 for the 2020 season, which means that we will finally be able to appreciate the work that has been done on the car," explains Hugo Arellano. If everything goes well, and if the crew adapts well, we have the potential to be in the top 10 overall. If it rains, the difference between the cars will be even more even, and we could well be in the running!
 


In the meantime, Hugo Arellano and Loïc Dumont will start the 35th Baja Portalegre 500 this Friday with the aim of getting their voices together on such a course and in such a discipline. Good luck!  
 
                      
 
 
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Arellano trans. Deepl    also photos