The 2024 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia, part of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championships, has been an intense and decisive competition. Here is a summary of the most notable events before the final stage in Córdoba.
Main Category Competition:
Nasser Al Attiyah and Yazeed Al Rajhi are in a tight battle for first place. Al Attiyah, initially with a 47-second lead, was penalized for not complying with safety regulations, putting him 13 seconds behind Al Rajhi. Lucas Moraes faced mechanical issues that took him out of contention, allowing Sebastian Halpern to advance to third overall.
Progress in Other Categories:
In the Challenger category, Rokas Baciuska surpassed Nicolas Cavigliasso, extending his lead in the overall standings. Dania Akeel secured a podium position for the day, moving up in the general classification. In SSV, Ricardo Ramilo leads after Enrico Gaspari's withdrawal, while Rebecca Busi moved up to second overall.
Successful Day for Female Competitors:
Female competitors had a good performance. Dania Akeel and Rebecca Busi excelled in their respective categories, with Busi advancing to second place in SSV. Both have replicated their good results from the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
Quad Category Situation:
Manuel Andújar leads comfortably in the quad category and is on track to win the Ruta 40, the Ibero-American Championship, and the W2RC world championship, as long as he maintains his position and Hani Alnoumesi does not finish in second place.
Final Stage:
The final stage of the competition will be a 519 km route from La Rioja to Córdoba, with 301 km of liaison and 218 km of special stage. The stage will be decisive, and driving technique is expected to play a crucial role in the final results.
Schedule:
- Date: June 7
- Stage: La Rioja - Córdoba
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Overall Points | Stage Points | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Heat Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N. Al-Attiyah (QAT) | Nasser Racing Prodrive | 0 (1.) | 16 | 4 (2.) | 3 (3.) | 4 (2.) | 5 (1.) | - | 16 |
| 2 | Y. Al Rajhi (SAU) | Overdrive Racing Toyota | 0 (2.) | 16 | 5 (1.) | 4 (2.) | 3 (3.) | 4 (2.) | - | 16 |
| 3 | S. Halpern (ARG) | X-Raid Mini JCW Team Mini | 0 (3.) | 4 | - | 1 (5.) | 1 (5.) | 2 (4.) | - | 4 |
| 4 | R. Baciuska (LTU) | Can-Am Factory Team Can-Am | 0 (5.) | 4 | 1 (5.) | - | - | 3 (3.) | - | 4 |
| 5 | L. Moraes (BRA) | Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota | 0 (7.) | 10 | 3 (1.) | 5 (1.) | 2 (4.) | - | - | 10 |
| 6 | N. Cavigliasso (ARG) | Wevers Sport Taurus | 0 (8.) | 1 | - | - | 1 (5.) | - | - | 1 |
| 7 | S. Quintero (USA) | Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota | 0 (11.) | 7 | 2 (4.) | 5 (1.) | - | - | - | 7 |
