Pochola Hernandez and Jose Augusto Capu, a well known duo in the world of off-road rally raid, have forged a reputation as capable co-pilot and pilot in the Metal Mine Rally Raid program. They, alongside Domingo Román and Susana Hernando, relocated to the town of Cifuentes in the Guadalajara region to compete in the VIII Rally TT Guadalajara. Their purpose was clear: to push hard in the Spanish Cross Country Rally Championship and aim for top results with their trusted machine lineup and experienced teamwork.
During the late September window, the VIII Guadalajara TT Rally gathered the region’s strongest crews, with Capu and Pochola scheduled to take the wheel and the navigator seat in their respective vehicles. The entry list featured a Mitsubishi L200 alongside Domingo Román and Susana Hernando’s co-pilot, as well as Bowler Wildcat T1, signaling a diverse field ready to tackle the demanding route through the area.
The rally commenced on a Friday with a 5.5-kilometer opening stage designed to set the tone for the weekend. The short loop started and finished near the town boundaries, creating an early test of speed control and edge-of-control handling for teams as they moved through the route. After the stage, crews proceeded to the service and aid areas before assembling for the public prospect at the Salinera Gate of the Alcarreñow municipality, where participants and their machines would be introduced to fans gathered to watch the start of the event proper.
Saturday’s program unfolded with a demanding 145-kilometer Selective Sector (SS1). The route began in Cifuentes and aimed toward the municipality of Henche, requiring precise navigation and steady pacing from both drivers and co-pilots. After a brief regrouping and service, a second leg—SS2—carried competitors along the same corridor with renewed focus on accuracy, as the field pressed toward the afternoon service halt. The day would culminate with the third Selective Sector (SS3), spanning nearly 100 kilometers and stretching between the towns of Masegoso and Las Inviernas before looping back toward the destination in Cifuentes, testing endurance and strategy under fading light.
Throughout the event, Pochola Hernandez and Capu kept their sights on a podium finish, hoping to rebound strongly in the T1-N category. Guadalajara is notorious for its rugged terrain and route disruptions that challenge both machine reliability and the crew’s navigational prowess. It is a race that places heavy emphasis on the interplay between driver skill and co-pilot accuracy, often cycling through navigation decisions that can alter the trajectory of the entire rally. In this environment, the duo demonstrated the ability to maintain composure, adapt on the fly, and extract maximum performance from their vehicles as the route demanded intricate decision-making and resilience.