Ribeiro a class apart in opening EuroRX3 contest

Throughout what has been an intense weekend of competition in the heat of the Portuguese summer, João Ribeiro has been a cut above the impressive 19-car field. The four-time national champion made a clean sweep on the fearsome ribbon of dust and asphalt, topping every single session across the weekend.

While nothing is a foregone conclusing in rallycross, as soon as the #99 made a clean getaway from pole in the final, there was little the rest of the field could do to mount a challenge. Front-row starter and fellow Portuguese driver André Sousa had a clean race to hold his position to the flag, and for a time it looked as though it might be a 1-2-3 lockout for the local drivers.

Joaquim Machado started the race in third and found himself locked in a race-long tussle with Sámuel Kovács in his Skoda Fabia. Machado opted to joker on lap three, with Kovács staying out until the final lap, and while it was close, Machado made a small mistake that likely cost him the couple of car lengths that were the difference between the final step on the podium and fourth place.

Despite it not quite being a clean sweep, the thousands of fans in Lousada delighted in the Portuguese national anthem at the podium, having been treated to a masterclass in RX3 driving from Ribeiro throughout the weekend.

João Ribeiro said: “To finish first at my home race feels amazing, I couldn’t ask for more! I’m so happy with this result. It’s a great start to the season and will set us up well for what’s to come. It really was the perfect weekend: I finished first in every qualifier and race, so it couldn’t have gone any better. This result gives me great confidence for the rest of the season. I’m planning to celebrate with the local Portuguese fans and, of course, with my team.”

André Sousa, said: “It’s a great feeling to finish second here in Lousada. We worked hard for this result. It was tough competition going up against João Ribeiro. He’s really been the man to beat all weekend and truly deserved the win. I’m already looking ahead to the next round, where I’ll be pushing even harder to fight for the top spot.”

Samuel Kovács, said: “This weekend has been like a rollercoaster! There were times when we had good pace, and others when we struggled. But we ended the weekend well, finishing third and not far behind the local drivers. It’s hard to describe the feeling of being on the podium here in Lousada, the crowd was incredible, and I feel so proud to start the season this way.”