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23/08/2009 //
FIA INTERNATIONAL CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY BAJAS - Hungarian Baja (Round 4) - Victory for Van Deijne (Mitsubishi/BFGoodrich)
FIA INTERNATIONAL CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY BAJAS
HUNGARIAN BAJA (Round 4)
Victory for Van Deijne (Mitsubishi/BFGoodrich)
The penultimate round of the 2009 International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas was won by Tonnie Van Deijne from the Netherlands at the wheel of his BFGoodrich-equipped Mitsubishi Pajero MP13. Russian driver Boris Gadasin came second on the stages to theoretically sew up the title, but was disqualified from the results for a technical infringement.
The format featured two different special stages and totalled almost 500km of competitive action near Veszprem. The event also attracted a top entry of Central European baja specialists (Gadasin, Zapletal, Holowczyc), as well as Dutchman Van Deijne in an ex-works Mitsubishi Pajero Evo.
Indeed, it was Van Deijne who claimed the opening 47km test, while favourite Boris Gadasin (Nissan/BFGoodrich) incurred a one-minute penalty.
It would actually turn out to be a tough weekend for the Russian who won two bajas earlier in the season. Despite the presence of thick smoke in the cabin of his Nissan prototype, he completed the final test in Hungary in second place and the 2009 title seemed to be safely in his pocket. He was later disqualified by the stewards, however, because of non-compliant suspension. The 2009 crown will consequently be decided on the Baja Portalegre at the beginning of November.
Hungary's Palik (Nissan/BFGoodrich) was promoted to second place on his home event, ahead of compatriot Miroslav Zapletal (Mitsubishi/BFGoodrich) who wrapped up the Hungarian baja series in the process.