The Baja Aragon will see the substantially updated and optimized HRX Ford with two top drivers at the start. After having suffered some problems in the recent Dakar Rally team owner Erik Wevers decided to take the car in hand drastically. The powertrain was completely revised and numerous small changes were made in the Wevers’ workshop in Markelo.
“We wanted the best possible drivers for the car in a serious competition”, explains Erik Wevers. “We are really happy with Nasser and Lucio to test the car.”
Nasser Al-Attiyah, winner of the Dakar Rally 2011 and third in the 2014 edition, won the Baja España in 2008. The Qatari, currently third in the cross-country world championship after having won in Qatar and a second place in Egypt, will be navigated once again by Frenchman Matthieu Baumel. Baumel is well known with the Wevers team as he has been co-driver to Bernhard ten Brinke in the Dakar twice.
Lucio Alvarez, fifth in the 2012 Dakar, will team up again with his co-driver Bernardo (Ronnie) Graue. The Argentinians competed the 2014 Dakar with the Ford Ranger. Alvarez tested the HRX Ford a few months ago in a private test in France. His remarks contributed to the changes of the car.
Both teams will test the updated HRX Ford on Wednesday. The prologue of the Baja Aragon will be on Friday 18 July, followed by two special stages on both Saturday and Sunday.
