In 2023, Bryce Menzies gained the Baja 1000 and the SCORE Worldwide World Desert Championship in Trophy Truck with the assistance of Tavo Vildósola. One 12 months later, they’re rivals trying to stroll away with the title.
After three of 4 rounds, Menzies and Vildósola are separated by simply 5 factors within the 2024 SCORE TT standings with the previous having 353 factors to the latter’s 348. Vildósola shouldn’t be Menzies’ solely risk, nonetheless, as Alan Ampudia additionally has 353 factors.
Menzies enters the Baja 1000 with some momentum because the defending winner and victor of the newest spherical, the Baja 400 in September, whereas Ampudia claimed the season-opening San Felipe 250. Vildósola didn’t win any of the three races (Toby Value gained the Baja 500, however is tenth within the standings) however has consistency on his aspect with a 3rd in San Felipe, second on the 500, and fifth on the 400.
In easy phrases, whoever of the three finishes larger than the opposite two will win the championship. To higher their probabilities of success, Menzies and Vildósola have respectively enlisted Christopher Polvoorde and Jason McNeil to share their #1 and #21 Trophy Vehicles, whereas Ampudia will proceed together with his brothers Aaron and Rodrigo.
Solely 24 years previous, Polvoorde is among the brightest younger stars in off-road racing. 2024 is his first full TT season after impressing in Trophy Truck Spec, and at the moment sits fourth in factors with a 3rd on the 500. On the 2023 Baja 1000, he moved as much as Trophy Truck however remained in his Spec truck, but nonetheless impressed with a tenth general and eighth at school.
Like Menzies, Vildósola pulled from the TT Spec ranks with McNeil’s addition. McNeil gained each the TT Spec title and the outright SCORE World Desert Championship throughout each class in 2023, the latter due to him scoring extra factors than another driver (551, Menzies was second with 538). His title defence started with a seventh at San Felipe earlier than being deserted after a crash in Baja 500 qualifying that compelled him to withdraw. A water leak on the 400 relegated him to thirteenth at school.
After profitable San Felipe, Ampudia completed tenth on the 500 then narrowly misplaced to Menzies on the 400. Aaron and Alan gained the 2019 Baja 1000 whereas Rodrigo is a UTV star who was the quickest amongst such autos at San Felipe in 2023.
With Menzies and Vildósola choosing different drivers, their 2023 third driver Andy McMillin will as a substitute race the #23 alongside his cousin Dan McMillin. McMillin stepped away from full-time racing after the 2022 season however returned the next 12 months for the Baja 400 and 1000 as Menzies’ team-mate.
Qualifying for the Baja 1000 will happen on Tuesday, 12 November, adopted by racing three days afterward 15 November.
