It was a great start for the Monster Energy Honda Team at Desafio Ruta 40 2023 in the 2023 World Rally Raid Championship. Adrien Van Beveren dominated the prologue (6:48 minutes) and confirmed his great momentum, while Dakar winner Ricky Brabec was third just two seconds away. Pablo Quintanilla made the 7th best score of the day (6:53minutes) and his companion from Chile José Ignacio Cornejo finished in the 13th position (7:16 minutes).
Desafio Ruta 40 YPF, the fourth and penultimate stop of the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) is finally on the road! This epic comeback to Argentina, a playground very well known by all off-road lovers after one decade of Dakar Rally in the country, is for now focused on La Rioja. This Sunday was time to decide the standings for Stage 1 during a prologue with around nine kilometers long (added by a road connection of 29 km).
The prologue track was situated around Los Sauces Dam, very close to the city center of La Rioja. Quite spectacular and sinuous, this warm-up was the first chance for the local fans to meet the best rally-raid specialists in full action.
Tomorrow the race will remain in the province of La Rioja, with a long day for the riders. The first stage will complete a circuit of nearly 700 km with start and arrival in La Rioja: 362 km of liaison and 334 km of Special Stage. At this point, gravel will dominate the menu – with 85% of the track. This means that the sand specialists will have only 15% of their favorite ingredient.
Ruben Faria
General Manager
“This was a technical prologue with two kinds of terrain, between the mountain and a dry river bed with sand. It was a short distance and the gap between the first riders was short. The team has done well and tomorrow the ones that could chose their starting order will start from behind, except for Nacho Cornejo - he will open the stage. I’m not worried about this, because he is an excellent navigator. We will attack no stage 1 and do all to keep Honda’s dominance.”
Adrien Van Beveren 42
“Overall I had a good feeling during this prologue. I enjoy this kind of track, it’s technical and slippery. It was easy to make mistakes, I made only one when I entered too fast on a corner. my Honda CRF 450 Rally is going really well in these extreme conditions and this makes me feel even more confident.”
Provisional Standings Prologue Desafio Ruta 40
Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Time/Gap
1 Van Beveren Adrien 42 FRA Monster Energy Honda Team 06:48
2 Benavides Luciano 77 ARG Husqvarna Factory Racing 06:49
3 Brabec Ricky 2 USA Monster Energy Honda Team 06:50
4 Walkner Matthias 52 AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team 06:50
5 Schareina Tosha 68 SPA Honda Team 06:51
6 Price Toby 18 AUS Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team 06:51
7 Quintanilla Pablo 7 CHI Monster Energy Honda Team 06:53
8 Evan Branch Ross 16 BWA Hero Motorsports Team Rally 06:56
9 Bühler Sebastian 110 GER Bühler Racing Team 07:03
13 Cornejo José Ignacio 11 CHI Monster Energy Honda Team 07:16
Monster Energy Honda Team