Results from the 2023 Desafio Ruta 40 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship round in Argentina where Monster Energy Honda rider Adrien Van Beveren took the win ahead of Luciano Benavides and Ricky Brabec.

World Rally Raid Championship prologues can be close on time but the opening day in Argentina, at the fourth round of the W2RC series this year, was something else.

In the RallyGP category for pro riders, Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda) snatched the win in 6′48″, one second quicker than Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna Factory Racing) and two seconds faster than Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda).

Blink and you missed the gaps as 2023 points leader heading into this penultimate round, Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), grabbed sixth place on an identical time to Honda’s unofficial fifth rider, Tosha Schareina.

As ever the prologue can make a huge different in the ebb and flow of a rally because the fastest riders can choose start order based on the result. The places further back were the most sought after with VBA getting first pick.

The Frenchman explained: “Starting 10th is ideal because, in 11th position, the gap at the start of the special with the rider in front is only two minutes instead of the three minutes between riders.

“I'll be starting behind Luciano, who knows this place and rides fast. At least on paper, this means that I shouldn’t have any dust and I should be able to capitalise on good tracks ahead. I shouldn’t catch him, that’s not my plan. Being so close in the championship makes this position even more ideal. Everything has fallen into place. For me, there was no point in choosing to start with a teammate because the dust here in Argentina doesn’t let you ride as a group.”

At the evening ceremony Van Beveren chose 10th position then, one place behind Luciano Benavides, with championship leader Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) starting in seventh place.

In Rally2, the South Africans Michael Docherty and Bradley Cox (BAS World KTM Racing) waltzed to victory ahead of Konrad Dąbrowski (Duust Diverse Rally). Manuel Andújar (7240 Team) was the fastest W2RC quad rider.

Provisional Standings Prologue Desafio Ruta 40

1          VAN BEVEREN Adrien Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 06:48

2          BENAVIDES Luciano    Husqvarna Factory Racing                  06:49

3          BRABEC Ricky              Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 06:50

4          WALKNER Matthias    Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team       06:50

5          SCHAREINA Tosha       Honda Team                                         06:51

6          PRICE Toby                  Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team       06:51

7          QUINTANILLA Pablo    Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 06:53

8          SUNDERLAND Sam      Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing        06:55

9          EVAN BRANCH Ross    Hero Motorsports Team Rally Hero    06:56

10        BÜHLER Sebastian      Bühler Racing Team    KTM                 07:03

 

 

Tomorrow, the first of five stages will take the competitors due south on a route starting and ending in La Rioja. 362 km of road sections and a 334 km special are on tap for this loop course.

 

 

Photo Credit: Honda Racing + Husqvarna Factory Racing