The Sertoes Rally revs up in Sao Paulo, starting a 5,000-km trek to Maranhao
VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF BRAZIL'S 2020 EDITION OF RALLY DOS SERTOES / DRIVERS RACING / SOUNDBITE FROM RACE CEO AND DRIVER JOAQUIM MONTEIRO
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT
SHOWS: MOGI GUACU, SAO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL (OCTOBER 30, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. VARIOUS OF CARS RACING DURING COMPETITION
2. RACE CEO AND DRIVER, JOAQUIM MONTEIRO, TALKING WITH MEMBER OF THE ORGANISATION
3. CEO AT RALLY DOS SERTOES, JOAQUIM MONTEIRO, TALKING TO COLLEAGUE
4. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CEO AT RALLY DOS SERTOES, JOAQUIM MONTEIRO, SAYING:
"Sertoes, which has been going on for 28 years, went from city to city. With the pandemic, this will no longer be possible. So, what we did was adapt the regulation. Instead of people going from city to city, sleeping in hotels, eating in restaurants, fostering the economy of small cities, we became "bubbles," to evolve. The bubbles are in isolated places, in the middle of nowhere, with no access for the general public, with access only for competitors. Like here."
5. START OF COMPETITION
6. CAMP FOR COMPETITORS AND TEAMS
7. VARIOUS OF MECHANIC WORKING
8. PARKED MOTORCYCLES
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) CEO AT RALLY DOS SERTOES, JOAQUIM MONTEIRO, SAYING:
"Incredible as it may seem, this year is as big as 2019's race. Thirty percent of the competitors are novices. These are people who never considered participating in the Sertoes but saw security in this protocol and instead of going to Japan, they came to Jalapao. Instead of taking a trip to America, they are coming to see Brazil. It is really nice to show the best of Brazil."
10. GENERAL VIEW OF RACING CAMP
11. VARIOUS OF RALLY RACE PILOT, CRISTIAN BAUMGART, IN HIS CAR
12. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RALLY RACE PILOT, CRISTIAN BAUMGART, SAYING:
"There was a risk that the hinterland rally would not happen in 2020, at least everything has gone well. Up until now, at least the beginning of the rally is happening. The drivers couldn't stand being at home anymore and this here (Rally dos Sertoes) above all else is the best therapy and a new experience in an atypical environment compared to before."
13. VARIOUS OF CARS DURING COMPETITION
STORY: Competitors from all over the world will get their heart's pumping at Brazil's 2020 edition of Rally dos Sertoes, a week-long competition that this year will take racers from bubble to bubble instead of city to city amid the pandemic.
Competitors departed Sao Paulo on Friday (October 30) on their way to Maranhao covering approximately 5,000 km (3,100 miles) of route, crossing five states and the Federal District. This year, exceptionally, there will be no arrival in host cities.
With strict security protocols, the main difference from other years is that Sertoes will have an independent structure within isolated areas. All staff members at the competition will be confined within bubbles.
Those who break the rules will be disqualified from the competition.
Exact locations of each bubble will only be revealed to competitors on the eve of each stage and all competitors will be tested for COVID-19.
With 237 vehicles and 406 competitors on the starting grid, Sertoes 2020 organizers said they have ensured the race brings a positive economic and social impact in the small cities and rural areas where the rally will go through.
Organisers have also set-up safety protocols to make sure organizers, competitors and the local population are protected.
(Production: Leonardo Benassatto, Geraldine Downer)
