There is no question about it: Gonçalo Amaral is the Rally3 king at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal. After winning the inaugural edition in 2024, he was taken out last year by mechanical issues while running second.
Six months later, he was back with a vengeance. Amaral won all but one stage in dominating fashion, clearing Eduardo Alan by nearly three hours, for his second World Rally-Raid Championship class victory.
“Six days of racing, over ten hours on the bike each day, it’s incredible what you feel during a race like this,” he stated.
His older brother Salvador, who finished second to him at the 2024 race, was his closest opposition early on. The brothers were 1–2 in Stage 1, separated by just seven minutes, before Salvador ran out of gas shortly before the refuel a day later. The older Amaral fell behind by over 40 minutes as a result, and further sank down the order with an electrical problem in Stage 3.
Salvador was out of the race by the last day when his bike couldn’t start. He and Steve Pasco were the two DNFs in Rally3, the latter bowing out after three stages.
While Gonçalo put on a clinic, he wasn’t perfect as he failed to win Stage 3. Instead, Murun Purevdorj beat him by 6:58 for his maiden stage win in the W2RC. Unfortunately for the defending Silk Way Rally winner, he couldn’t contend for the overall because a mechanical issue forced him out of Stage 1. Still, Purevdorj was pleased to salvage a stage win and podium in the end.
Alan fell several times in Stage 1 then went off course in Stage 2 and lost even more time. Despite the early struggles, he stayed out of trouble the rest of the way.
He described the race as an “incredibly tough challenge with demanding navigation and stages that offered no respite. One of those rallies that puts you to the test at every moment: mentally, physically, and consistency. We continue to add experience, kilometers, and learn with every stage.”
Richárd Hodola rounded out the finishers in fourth.
Results
| Finish | Overall | Number | Rider | Team | Total Time | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 69 | Gonçalo Amaral | Wingmotor Honda | 13:02:26 | Leader |
| 2 | 30 | 54 | Eduardo Alan | Xraids Experience | 15:44:46 | + 2:42:20 |
| 3 | 34 | 79 | Murun Purevdorj | Xraids Experience | 19:23:06 | + 6:20:40 |
| 4 | 35 | 58 | Richárd Hodola | Richárd Hodola | 20:05:43 | + 7:03:17 |
| DNF | DNF | 70 | Salvador Amaral | Wingmotor Honda | DNF | N/A |
| DNF | DNF | 100 | Steve Pasco | RAW Motorsports | DNF | N/A |
Stage winners
| Stage | Overall | Rider | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue | 12 | Gonçalo Amaral | 3:12.6 |
| Stage 1 | 18 | Gonçalo Amaral | 1:47:44 |
| Stage 2 | 17 | Gonçalo Amaral | 3:16:05 |
| Stage 3 | 22 | Murun Purevdorj | 3:15:59 |
| Stage 4 | 19 | Gonçalo Amaral | 3:18:00 |
| Stage 5 | 19 | Gonçalo Amaral | 1:14:28 |
Featured image credit: Edoardo Bauer / Edophoto / DPPI / ASO
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