Edition and Design
Eugenio Robleda E. Photography
Eugenio Robleda E. Antonio Sรกnchez Special Colaboration
Ing, Rodrigo Arrioja
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
Chihuahua Express 2018 page 4
page 8
Competitors page 10 The Drivers page 12 The Car page 14
Qualifying stage page 18
Helmets blessing page 20
Day 1 page 24
Day 2 page 34
Day 3 page 39
Final results
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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I
n 2018 the Chihuahua EXPRESS has had a significant increase in the number of enrolled, which allowed a more intense fight in all categories of this, which is one of the few invitation rallies in the
world that has categories for almost any automobile, that is of legal circulation in streets and roads. So the great camaraderie that is already traditional in this unique encounter in the roads of Chihuahua, because it reached degrees of coexistence and integration in which many call the “Community of the Chihuahua EXPRESS”. The pilots, co drivers, crews and families who participate closely in this race, agree that nothing changes these days that are unique in the motor sport calendar. Throughout three days, the journey through the very extensive state of Chihuahua always surprises everyone with many emotions, even for those who already know this route completely. And because the actions and emotions were not made to wait. Day 1. Chihuahua- Ciudad Madera-Chihuahua When we drive the road that crosses the Mennonites fields, we notice how the shy inhabitants of these communities each year dare to observe more and more closely to the competing cars. In other years, they barely peeped behind their windows. Now they go out to the fences of their extensive fields to find a good place and not miss anything. Of course, on the edge of the road they don’t come close and that’s good for security. The Mennonites children greet us all and are very visible with their traditional clothing.
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The very fast and long stage of initial speed of this day, is traversed in the opposite direction as the last before returning to Chihuahua. After an intense day of very demanding roads that take us back and forth to Madera City, the curiosity to know the positions of the other competitors makes us overcome the fatigue to reach radiant. And we still have two more days left.
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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Day 2. Chihuahua-Divisadero-Chihuahua Touring the interior of the Sierra Tarahumara by imposing roads in a very good state is one of the best ways to enjoy race cars, both modern and historic. So close contact with the Rarรกmuri population in Copper Canyon is an insurmountable experience. The logging villages give us a little respite in the transit stages and the services of the day. The view of the Divisadero is unique in the world and reminds us that we have gone a long way since we left Chihuahua that morning. The way back is to be undertaken cautiously, as these roads demand
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absolute concentration. The challenge of driving at its best. We wondered if it would be possible to do this stage twice in a row, even if the rally lasted longer. But the grueling end of the day reminds us that dreams have a limit. Day 3. Chihuahua-Ojinaga-Chihuahua Arriving on the third day we renew the enthusiasm and energy seems inexhaustible at all. The fast desert stages are the delight of the most powerful cars and lots of fun for the lesser categories as well. Yester-
1962 Triumph TR4 Number 253
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
day in Divisadero we thought we had seen everything in Chihuahua organizers ask them to do more than one edition a year, which for surprises, but this day in the desert we overwhelms again when we now would not be so easy. The wish chest opens and sporting ideals arrived at the PegĂźis canyon, to get to the border Ojinaga where the overflow. population turns to enthusiasm with our visit. We have touched the clouds and now we want to touch the sky. And We can not stop thinking about the return, which although shorter we will. than the first two days, is much faster in maximum speed. Chihuahua ÂĄArriba Chihuahua! receives the end of our long Rally with a celebration on arrival and final awards at night. and the desire to return begins already. The
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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Lugar N o.
Piloto
Navegante
Pais
Categoria
Marca
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Doug Mockett Jean Marc Terrein Eduardo Lopez M. Mark Rittenhouse Marcus C. Neff Jack Rogers Hayden Groendyke Scott Butler Zach Mester Doug McDonald John Greenwood Bassam Haddad Ramiro González Heilijgers Boudewijn Michael Bondarenko Steve Walters Steven Evans A. Jeff Frank Roger Furrer
Manuel Iguínez Carlos Colomer Sergio Villavicencio Mark Laitenberger Rafael Pérez C. J. Sstrupp Jaki Groendyke Angie Mohle Alfredo Martínez M. McDonald Ben Greenwood Marisa Marroquin Santiago Mestre Heilijgers Blaauw Sam Burg Gray Safford Gregg T. Gumbinger Phillip Williams Jorge Doffo
EEUU MEX MEX CAN EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU MEX HOL EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU SUI
PANAM TM 1.6 A 2.5 T 2 1.6 A 2.5 T 2 1.6 A2.5 T 4 1.6 A 2.5 T 4 PANAM HC PANAM TM 1.6 A 2.5 T 2 4.6 L 2.5 A 4.6 NA PANAM HC PANAM HB PANAM HA+ PANAM HC PANAM HC PANAM HB PANAM HC 1.6 A 2.5 AN PANAM HA
Oldsmobile Seat Cupra MINI Mitsubishi Subarú Ford Studebaker Mazda Corvette BMW M3 Ford Porsche 911 Porsche 944 Ford Ford Falcon Mercedes Benz Ford Subaru Triumph
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133 18 510 633 33 369 45 357 76 127 25 13 27 20 125 343 30 518 253
COMPETITORS
Driver: Bassam Haddad
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
44 22 43 1 42 26 155 126 12 303 128 10 77 371 55 9 122 80 333 116 8 356
René Rodríguez Michael Shoemaker Wyeth Gubelman Rommey Bahhur Hans Lindbohm Jake Shuttlesworth Karlo Fores Reid Holzworth Kaming Ko José L. Salamanca Sr. Pascual Piccolo Francisco Diaz Gerie Bledsoe Jon Helmuth Arturo Mora Jr. Eduardo Henkel Gabriel Pérez T. Luma García Marcus Neff Dennis Varni Richard Tomlin John Fudge
Vance Stewart III Kristi Shoemaker Marisa Bodell Karim Shaban Christer Holmeren Ralf Christensson Carlos Salgado F. Dennis Chookaszian Stafford Galen José L. Salamanca Jr. Diego Piccolo Jorge Bernal Aaron Viperman Allison Hohn Alberto Sosa Sergio Puente Angie Fuentes Ricardo Iniesta Kreig Holand Larry Eugene Hursh John Starkweather Thomas Searls
MEX EEUU USA PAL SUE EEUU CAN EEUU CHI MEX MEX MEX EEUU EEUU MEX MEX MEX MEX EEUU EEUU EEUU EEUU
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
PANAM TP PANAM HA+ PANAM HC PANAM HB PANAM HC ORIG PANAM PANAM SM PANAM HC PANAM HC PANAM HB PANAM HB 1.6 A 2.5 T 2 PANAM HA+ PANAM HC 1.6 A 2.5 T 2 2.5 A 4.6 T 2.5 a 4.6 T SC 1.6 A 2.5 T 4 4.6 L ORIG PANAM OPEN SPECIAL PANAM HC
Ford BMW Chevrolet Porsche 911 Ford Ford Crown Victora Porsche CHEV MALIBU Dodge Porsche Datsun MINI BMW Ford VW BMW 1M BMW Subaru Subaru Nash (Tubular) Ford
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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Beirut Lebanon, living in Texas since 2000.
Bassam has been racing with Porsche Club of America and with Corinthian Vintage Auto Racing the white 1971 Porsche 911 E.The car has its original motor modified for racing and conforms to SCCA C-production class.
New to rallies, he joined the Chihuahua Express for the first time in 2014. The beautiful Mexican country side, the winding roads through mountains and canyons and the good people of Mexico are a perfect formula that brought him back year after year. 2018 was a special event for car #13, finishing 1st in class and 12 overall.
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Bassam Haddad, born in 1968 in
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
for the inaugural Porsche Club event as well as NASA Nationals in Mid Ohio among others.
First time in-car experience was in 2014, Chihuahua Mexico as a navigante. The excitement of the event, the pressure of being a navigante, and the beautiful scenery make it all worth coming back to Mexico every year since. In 2018, hard work and practice paid off, finishing first in Pan Am HB class and getting to bring home the first place trophy.
Marisa Marroquin, born and raised in Texas just north of the Mexican Border in 1974.
Not a stranger to the racing world, acting as pit support at the Circuit of Americas
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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1962 Triumph TR4 Number 253
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
> Thursday april 19th > 12 km.
C h ih u ah u a-C h ih u ah u a
D AY 0
45
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Q ua l i f y i n g
>Day 0 >Thursday april 19th > Km. 1 Cihuahua-Cd. Juรกrez Free Road
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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helmets blessing >El Palomar
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
> Friday april 20th > 592 km.
Chihuahua-Cd. Madera-Chihuahua
D ay 1
50
20 >Agua Caliente-Namiquipia Road
S ta g e 3
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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S ta g e 1 3 >Agua Caliente-Namiquipia Road
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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> Saturday april 21st > 610 km.
Chihuahua-Divisadero-Chihuahua
D ay 2
16
24 S ta g e 2
>CuauhtĂŠmoc-Creel Road
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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S ta g e 8 >Carretera Creel-Divisadero
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
s ta g e 1 6
> CH Control >CuauhtĂŠmoc-Creel Road
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
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> Sunday april 22nd > 468 km.
Chihuahua-Ojinaga-Chihuahua
D ay 3
16
34
s ta g e 6
>Chihuahua-Ojinaga Road > CH Control >PegĂźis Canyon
Driver: Bassam Haddad
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
C h ih u a h ua E XPRE S S 2018
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1977 Porsche 911 Number 13
Driver: Bassam Haddad
ov e r a l l r e s u lt s
Co-Driver: Marisa Marroquin
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