The BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal 2024 has continued with stage 2, tracing a route around Grândola. This stage has seen Nasser Al Attiyah, piloting for Nasser Racing by Prodrive, take the lead in the car category, snatching the top position from Guerlain Chicherit of Overdrive Racing, who unfortunately had to retire from the stage.
In the Challenger category, the stellar performance of Nicolas Cavigliasso (Taurus Factory by Wevers) secured him the victory, surpassing Ricardo Porem and Austin Jones (Can-Am Factory). Cavigliasso now leads the overall standings, closely followed by Rokas Baciuska (Can-Am Factory) and Mario Franco.
The SSV category was dominated by Yasir Seaidan (MMP), who prevailed over Ricardo Ramilo and Sebastian Guayasamín (FN Speed). This victory puts Seaidan at the top of the overall table, followed by his competitors in the same order.
The day was not without setbacks for some standout drivers. Guerlain Chicherit faced difficulties after making a mistake in a ford and damaging his vehicle shortly after, while Guillaume de Mévius struggled with brake issues and a broken alternator belt. These incidents have changed the dynamics of the competition, especially for those who came to Portugal with high aspirations in the championship.
The performance of competitors in the Challenger and SSV categories has also been noteworthy. In Challenger, Cavigliasso capitalized on less favorable results from other competitors to climb in the rankings, while in SSV, Seaidan reaffirmed his leadership with a strong performance.
The rally program continues with challenging stages ahead, promising more excitement and changes in the leaderboard. The next stage will take competitors from Grândola to Badajoz, followed by a return stage to Grândola, and will culminate with a final stage in the same city.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Stage Points | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Manga Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N. AL-ATTIYAH | NASSER RACING PRODRIVE | (1.) 6 | 1 | 5 | - | - | - | 6 | |
| 2 | Y. AL RAJHI | OVERDRIVE RACING TOYOTA | (2.) 8 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | 8 | |
| 3 | C. SAINZ | X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM | (3.) 4 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 4 | |
| 4 | J. FERREIRA | X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM | (4.) 3 | - | 3 | - | - | - | 3 | |
| 5 | L. MORAES | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING | (5.) 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 3 | |
| 6 | M. BAUMGART STROCZYNSKI | X RALLY PRODRIVE | (6.) 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | |
| 7 | G. CHICHERIT | OVERDRIVE RACING PRODRIVE | (-) 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
