After making his international debut at Montalegre last season in the FIA European RX2e Championship, Gustavo Henriques is set to showcase his talents once again – this time in the RallyX series.
The CrossCar specialist will be back behind the wheel of his LaBase chassis, a machine he knows inside out. Currently sitting third in the Portuguese Rallycross Championship standings, the 18-year-old will be one to watch during this opening weekend of the 2025 season.
“I feel good about this race at Montalegre. It’s a new series for me, one I don’t know yet, and I’ll have to fight against new competitors. Of course I’m familiar with the track, but I’ll be up against some very talented drivers. Whatever happens, I think we’re in for an exciting weekend of rallycross with lots of great battles,” says Henriques.
For the first time in RallyX history, Henriques will be using a LaBase chassis from the Spanish manufacturer based in La Coruña.
“This chassis has some unique characteristics, especially in terms of the suspension, which is designed like a single-seater. Apart from that, my car is quite similar to what’s already out there. However, I must admit that its design makes it easier to handle than other machines.”
Despite boasting strong experience in Portugal, the hometown favorite isn’t letting overconfidence get the better of him.
“I’ve always approached the competition with humility. Even though I know the Montalegre track well, I’ll be up against some very fast drivers. Some of them may not need much time to adapt to the specific challenges of the track and could very well beat me. My focus will be on consistency – being as fast and as precise as possible in my driving.”
Although Henriques is currently only set to compete in Montalegre, the Portuguese driver is open about his long-term ambitions.
“Since I started in Rallycross, my dream has always been to compete in a full RallyX season, whether in CrossCar or Supercar. Of course, making that happen has always been difficult due to budget and logistical challenges, but RallyX is definitely a series I aspire to be part of.”