A Leopard 2 would probably fare better in the wet and muddy conditions that the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal offered than most of the field, but we are talking about tanks built to handle such environments (just look at them in Ukraine).

Before Stage 2 on Thursday crossed into Spain, it briefly went by the Campo Militar de Santa Margarida. As the site of the largest garrison in the Portuguese Army, the Brigada Mecanizada decided to put its Leopard 2A6 tank, M109 howitzer, and M113 armored personnel carrier on display by the course.

It is the same arrangement that the Mechanized Brigade uses at the Baja Portalegre 500, down to the crossroads at 39° 19.822’N 8°11.425’W. The Leopard, M109, and M113 have also been the unit’s go-to vehicles for the displays at Portalegre.

Like with Portalegre, the display doubles as a promotional booth for civilians as well as an extra vantage point for troops to watch.

“Adrenaline surged through the trails of Campo Militar de Santa Margarida, leaving its mark,” the unit posted. “Amidst the dust, power, and precision, Rally-Raid Portugal demonstrated its full grit on the trails of the Brigada Mecanizada.”

Like with Stage 1, Thursday’s leg was plagued by rain and mud. As opposed to Portalegre, when much of the surrounding greenery is gone since the baja is held in October, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid took place in front of more lush scenery. The rain also made for plenty of small water crossings near the brigade’s location.

Known as BrigMec for short, the Brigada Mecanizada was founded in 1953 as the NATO 3rd Infantry Division before being reformed into a mechanized unit during the later Cold War years. It became its current form in 2006.

Featured image credit: CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team