- With the 52nd edition of one of the most important races in the state, now held in San Felipe, the port is positioned as a benchmark for Off-Road races.
- 140 teams from 19 states of the American Union and 10 countries begin a 493-mile circuit.
San Felipe, B.C., September 26, 2020.- The Governor of the State Jaime Bonilla Valdez and the mayor of Mexicali Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, gave the flag for the start of Edition number 52, of the Baja 500 off-road race, which for the second time takes place in the port of San Felipe.
In this regard, the City of Mexicali mayor stressed that San Felipe is positioned as an international benchmark for Off-Road races, and without a doubt, for the residents of the port, it is a source of pride to receive the 140 teams from 19 states of the American Union and 10 countries. Marina del Pilar indicated that for this sports event they worked for hand in hand with the hotel, commercial, and gastronomic sectors, as well as Score International organizers, to jointly establish specific measures for the protection and prevention of COVID-19, runners, and staff that participate in this race: “Without a doubt, this sports event will give San Felipe and Baja California a global projection, since it will have a presence in millions of homes in the United States and 25 countries,” said the Municipal President.
In this sense, the authorities mentioned that, although the 250 home race could not be carried out due to the health contingency, thanks to the coordinated work, it was possible to rescue the Baja 500 edition and have San Felipe as its headquarters, which will give a strong boost to the local economy.
The visit of the competitors represents a rebound in the port’s hotel demand with 1,150 occupied rooms since during a week various activities are contemplated, increasing the influx of tourists, economic spill, and unprecedented promotion for San Felipe. Off-road bikes started at 3:00 am and vehicles at 6:30 am, to travel 493 miles, in a 20-hour time limit to complete the circuit.