The Dubai International Baja marked the conclusion of the FIA World Baja Cup 2024 and crowned one of the most successful seasons in X-raid team history. João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro secured second place overall in the MINI JCW Rally Plus and claimed first place in the Ultimate ranking. With this, Ferreira scored enough points to clinch the FIA World Baja Cup title. Denis Krotov and Konstantin Zhiltsov, driving the MINI JCW Rally 3.0i, continued their impressive performance from the Qatar International Baja, finishing second in the Ultimate ranking. Behind them, Lionel and Lucie Baud celebrated an outstanding debut in the MINI JCW Rally Plus by securing third place.
Ferreira and Palmeiro can look back on a remarkable season. In the World Baja Cup, they achieved six podium finishes across eight events, including two victories. After winning the FIA European Cup and the Portuguese Offroad Championship, this marks the third title that the young Portuguese driver has captured this year in the MINI JCW Rally Plus. Together with Michal Maluszynski’s title in the Polish Championship, 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most successful years in X-raid’s history.
Krotov and Zhiltsov also extended their streak of success. Following their victory at the Qatar International Baja – the first win for the MINI JCW Rally 3.0i – they secured third place overall in Dubai, which translated into second in the Ultimate ranking. Fourth place overall, and third in the Ultimate ranking, came as a surprise: the father-daughter duo Lionel and Lucie Baud impressed in their debut in the MINI JCW Rally Plus.
Unfortunately, it was not a perfect weekend for the two crews Vladas Jurkevicius / Aisvydas Paliukenas in the MINI JCW Rally 3.0i and Maria Gameiro / Jose Marques in the X-raid 1000R Turbo. Despite strong performances, they were not rewarded and finished the Baja in 27th and 31st positions. The fact that Jurkevicius still managed to secure seventh place in the Ultimate standings highlights just how fiercely contested the Baja was.
Quotes from the team
João Ferreira (MINI JCW Rally Plus): “I am incredibly proud of X-raid’s performance, of Felipe, and of myself. This year, we competed in three championships and managed to win all three. I am truly overjoyed. A huge thanks to the X-raid team for providing me with such a fantastic car. Of course, I also want to thank my sponsors, who made all of this possible.”
Lionel Baud (MINI JCW Rally Plus): “We are very satisfied. The MINI is an amazing car, and I feel great driving it. The team is also fantastic and professional. Many thanks to everyone!”
Overall standings
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N. Al-Attiyah / P. Moreno – Taurus – 6h 20m 34s
2. J. Ferreira / F. Palmeiro – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 6h 23m 48s
3. D. Krotov / K. Zhiltsov – MINI JCW Rally 3.0i – 6h 28m 12s
4. L. Baud / L. Baud – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 6h 31m 02s
5. R. Chabot / G. Pillot – Toyota – 6h 31m 13s
…
27. V. Jurkevicius / A. Paliukenas – MINI JCW Rally 3.0i – 10h 41m 09s
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31. M. Gameiro / J. Marques – X-raid 1000R Turbo – 11h 22m 49s
