A regular in the Portuguese Rallycross Championship, Rafaela Barbosa had the chance to test herself against some of Europe’s top Open 2WD specialists during the inaugural round of the RallyX series at the end of March. Armed only with a modest Citroën Saxo VTS, the young driver made her presence felt on home soil in Montalegre.
With a consistent performance – two 14th places in the intermediate standings over the weekend – Barbosa proved that she can make the most of every opportunity. Lacking the raw engine power of the category leaders, the local favorite capitalized on the second day of competition to secure a spot in the Open 2WD final, reserved for front-wheel-drive vehicles.
A result that delighted one of the rising stars of the Portuguese Rallycross scene.
“It’s true that I probably had the least competitive car on the grid this weekend, but I’m lucky enough to know the Montalegre circuit very well,” explained Barbosa.
“Especially the gravel sections – I knew I could make up time there just by myself. As the weekend went on, I felt more and more confident. But what helped me the most was my familiarity with the track. We race here regularly in the Portuguese Championship, so that definitely helped me to limit my mistakes behind the wheel.”
There’s no doubt that Rafaela Barbosa will look back positively on her first foray into the RallyX series.
“The atmosphere all weekend was just incredible – huge crowds, tons of supporters. It was not only a very motivating environment, but also really exciting to see so many different cars and driving styles on the track. There were some really strong drivers on the grid, and I have to say I had a lot of fun competing at such a high level.”
Enough to spark some ambitions for the near future.
“For this event I used my usual car – the one I drive in the Portuguese Championship. But maybe next year I’ll be able to race with more competitive equipment. And who knows, maybe a podium finish? My main goal is to keep progressing and eventually move up to the Super1600 category. This season I’m fighting for the national title and if things go well, we could consider investing in a better car that would allow us to broaden our horizons and compete in more international events.”