“I don't have the experience to have too much ambition”
CREW FACTS
A.P.
- 25 years old Alexandre Pinto started racing the Portuguese off-road championship back in 2021 without any family member being involved in motorsport.
- But that doesn’t seem to have hindered his progress and since then he has finished 4 times on the championship’s podium.
- In 2024 Alexandre broadened his horizons by entering the European Baja Cup. It turned out to be a good move as he finished 2nd in his category.
- In preparation for the 2025 Dakar he also entered the Rallye du Maroc where he finished Best Rookie and second T4 as well as winning the Road to Dakar category.
- Racing is taking more and more place in Alexandre’s life but when he’s not competing or training he likes to travel and hang out with his family and friends.
B.O.
- Alexandre’s team mate is even younger and will have just turned 20 for his first Dakar.
- He only started racing 2 years ago with his dad before the chance came up to co-drive for Alexandre.
- He does however have more experience on long format rallies, having raced on the Africa Eco Race last year, which he won.
- Bernardo is currently studying economics at university and it isn’t easy to combine studies with his burgeoning racing career. His exams will actually be taking place while he is on the Dakar.
- Depending on how the Dakar goes the W2RC isn’t out of the question for the young duo. So, studies will have to take a back seat -except there isn’t one in a T4!
2025 AMBITIONS
A P.: “My ambition for the 2025 Dakar is to gain as much experience as possible and to finish. Of course, I will do my best but I know I don't have the experience to have too much ambition. I also really want to enjoy everything that Dakar has to offer!”
B O.: “We have been super competitive since we started racing together. We finished P5 on the Rally Raid Portugal in a T3 and then P2 in a T4 on the Rallye du Maroc. For sure Alexandre doesn’t have much practice driving in the dunes but he has a lot of driving skills so I’m not worried about that aspect of the Dakar. Obviously what we lack is general race experience so it is important that we finish and get the chance to learn as much as possible.”
