The most radical woman adventurer

Elisabete Jacinto challenged a men’s world for several years while taking part in the most difficult motocross competitions for motorbikes all over the world. However, for this geography teacher who only at 24 learnt how to ride a two wheel vehicle (and planning nothing more than to use it in everyday life) her main challenge has always been herself, since she believes will-power and tenacity are enough to remove all barriers.

And that was her motto to overcome every difficulty and not only becoming the first Portuguese woman to dare facing the mythical Paris Dakar on a motorcycle but also heroically reaching the end of the race and, above all, being the first among women, when some of these had enormous feats in their résumés and were part of professional teams.

Motorcycles were succeeded by cars and again she won international competitions among women.

However, great challenges are still welcome by Elisabete Jacinto’s internationally recognized tenacity and, three months after obtaining her driving license for trucks, she was at the starting point for the 25th edition of Dakar (2003) driving a lorry, the sort of vehicle which has a fantastic competitive space in the African rally but from which women kept away for many years.

Then, in 2004, Elisabete becomes not only one of the first women to finish the Paris-Dakar rally at the steering wheel of a lorry but also the first woman to actually winning a special interim classification in the category during Rallye Optic Tunisie 2000.

Since then she has been permanently working to progress at the levels of driving, technically preparing her truck and organizing a team of which she is very proud. About 40% of her truck’s technical preparation is at present made in Portugal.

Though her experience in competitions has also had several particularly difficult moments, Elisabete does not throw the towel and she proceeds to the top in general classification at all the different races she enters.

Elisabete Jacinto forced to abandon the Africa Race 2017

Elisabete Jacinto finished today her participation in the Rally Africa Eco Race 2017 due to a mechanical problem that arose in the engine of the MAN TGS that was impossible to solve and prevented the Portuguese to continue in the race.

The Bio-Ritmo® team had completed about 70 kilometers of today’s special, which had 370 timed kilometers, when a fire started in the engine of the MAN TGS. Elisabete Jacinto stopped before entering the dunes of the Erg Chebbi to extinguish the flames and to verify the damages.

The Portuguese quickly extinguished the fire and soon realized that it would be impossible to continue the race: “We had already done about 70 kilometers of route and we were in the oued that gives access to Erg Chebbi when at a certain time Zé began to complain of a smell of burned inside the cabin. Marco realized that there was indeed something burning. At that moment, we stopped and turned off the engine. When we got out the truck we noticed that there were flames on the engine that was pouring oil. We picked up the fire extinguishers, put out the fire and found that we had a serious engine problem. We called our assistance that came to help us solve the problem. We were still hoping to be able to continue the race but then we realized that the problem was serious and that we couldn’t continue. It was a great disappointment for us all”, told Elisabete Jacinto.

Jorge Gil, manager of the Bio-Ritmo® team, considered that the team’s skill and experience were essential to minimize the damages: “what happened during today’s stage was really terrible. Fortunately all the elements were well prepared and were able to quickly extinguish the fire that started. It was the good sense and efficiency of the mechanic, Marco Cochinho that allowed that the damages in our MAN TGS weren’t greater” he said.

The Portuguese are already on their way back to Portugal and will quickly begin the truck’s recovery to start preparing for the next race of the 2017 sports calendar. The Morocco Desert Challenge, which will take place from April 16th to the 23rd, will be the next Great adventure of the Portuguese formation.

Elisabete no Africa Eco Race 2017 – 1ª etapa

Elisabete Jacinto no Africa Eco Race 2017 - 1ª etapa YouTube play

Elisabete Jacinto in third among trucks

Elisabete Jacinto finished today the first stage of the Africa Race 2017 in third place in the truck category. The Portuguese driver was able to overcome successfully the short 86 kilometer selective sector, held between Ameziane and Dar Mimoun, having made 1h14m50s to complete the course. The Bio-Ritmo® team started in a very positive way this ninth edition of the Africa Eco Race and has a short difference of 8m11s for the first place in the T4 category, the Russian Andrey Karginov pilot of the team Kamaz, who is currently the leader among trucks and occupies the fourth position in the auto / truck joint table.

The journey was not simple, because most of the route was composed of narrow and winding paths, and it turned out to be a very demanding first day: “Today’s special was short, but it wasn’t easy. The route was narrow, full of ditches, big holes and walls. This is a day for us to adapt and adjust our driving to the race and it turned out to be an intimidating stage due to the constant surprises that we met along the way. But overall, it all went well. We spent some time in the dust of Tomecek, but we had no problems today” said Elisabete Jacinto.

The second stage of the Africa Race 2017 will be held tomorrow. The special will be composed of 370 timed kilometers and will have the first dune cord of this ninth edition of the great African marathon. The crossing of the Erg Chebbi, although common, is always a great challenge for the competitors. Once the dunes are passed, the route follows into a fast section that will give way into a typical Moroccan track with a lot of sand and rock. Before reaching the bivouac, which is located near Tangounite, the riders will have to face one last challenge: the Oued Draa crossing.

Conferência do Africa Race reúne pilotos em Lisboa

A piloto de todo-o-terreno Elisabete Jacinto participou esta tarde na conferência de imprensa de apresentação dos pilotos portugueses que vão estar presentes no Africa Eco Race de 2017.

O evento teve lugar no Museu Nacional do Desporto em Lisboa e contou, para além da piloto de camião, com a presença de Sérgio Castro, que participa pela segunda vez na prova na categoria de moto e os estreantes Didier Frederico, Alexandre Azinhais e João Pós de Mina, que também participam de moto.

A nona edição do Africa Eco Race terá uma das maiores comitivas portuguesas de sempre. Ao todo serão cinco as equipas que vão representar as cores lusas neste rali. Nesta conferência de imprensa Elisabete Jacinto, a participante com mais edições do Africa Race cumpridas, revelou ser esta a melhor prova em que participa. Falou do rigor desportivo e do bom ambiente que se vive entre os vários participantes: “o Africa Race é uma experiência única e um desafio sem limites. Estou convencida de que os pilotos portugueses, tal como todos os outros, jamais esquecerão a sua travessia do deserto do Sara ”, acrescentou a piloto.

A equipa BIO-RITMO® será formada por Elisabete Jacinto, José Marques e Marco Cochinho. No MAN KAT da equipa de assistência BIO-RITMO® viajam o gestor de equipa Jorge Gil, o mecânico Helder Anjos e o piloto Pedro Azevedo.

A saída para o Africa Eco Race já está em contagem decrescente. A partida da Europa será feita uma vez mais do Mónaco e está agendada para o dia 31 de Dezembro. Após uma viagem de dois dias a comitiva desembarca em Marrocos onde no dia 2 de Janeiro de 2017 se disputa a primeira etapa desta grande maratona africana.

Africa Eco Race uma aventura para Elisabete Jacinto

A piloto de todo-o-terreno Elisabete Jacinto está a ultimar os detalhes para aquela que será a sua oitava participação no Africa Eco Race.
Esta é a prova mais importante do calendário desportivo da equipa Bio-Ritmo® e, como é habitual, os portugueses partem com o objectivo de conseguir uma posição de destaque entre os concorrentes da categoria camião ou seja, um lugar de pódio.

O Africa Race tem início marcado para o dia 30 de Dezembro no Mónaco, onde se vão realizar as habituais verificações técnicas e administrativas, e termina no dia 14 de Janeiro junto ao Lago Rosa, em Dacar no Senegal, onde se vai disputar a mítica etapa de consagração do rali.

Elisabete Jacinto, José Marques e Marco Cochinho farão, com o seu MAN TGS, a primeira etapa da nona edição deste rali no dia 2 de Janeiro e, ao longo de 14 dias, disputarão 12 especiais percorrendo cerca de 6000 quilómetros entre Marrocos, Mauritânia e Senegal.

O Africa Race, para além de constituir a maior competição do calendário da equipa assume-se como uma verdadeira aventura por ser a mais desafiante tanto em termos desportivos como pessoais face às condições extremas que se vivem nesta prova.
Este rali tem uma componente de aventura muito grande.
Vamos percorrer cerca de seis mil quilómetros em 12 etapas e atravessar vários países culturalmente muito diferentes.
Teremos pela nossa frente uma grande variedade climática, desde o muito frio e chuva na Europa,ao calor e secura no deserto.
As paisagens são extremamente variadas e estamos sempre a ser confrontados com novas dificuldades a
o nível da condução.
O objectivo é conduzir rápido mas o cansaço instala-se mesmo antes da partida… e já não há como recuperar pois as condições de vida são duras!

Continuamos a acampar e a viver com o que levamos de casa.
Preparámo-nos bem mas, ao longo destes dias há sempre situações inesperadas para as quais temos de encontrar uma solução.

É um grande desafio… é muito mais do que uma simples corrida!

͟Para além da equipa Bio-Ritmo® participam neste rali mais quatro equipas portuguesas.