2023-12-05 21:48:00
He is from Chapadão do Sul, 331 km from Campo Grande, and has lived in Costa Rica for 11 years.
Rodrigo Schlatter Matsumoto with trophy raised in the city of São Carlos (SP) (Photo: Disclosure)
The driver from Mato Grosso do Sul Rodrigo Schaletter Matsumoto became champion of the 2023 Baja Brazilian Rally Championship in the UTV 4 category. The competition took place last weekend in São Carlos (SP).
He is from Chapadão do Sul, 331 km from Campo Grande, and has lived in Costa Rica for 11 years. He is PwD (Person with Disability) and competes with a prosthesis on his right leg. Completely adapted to the environment, he states that the disputes are on an equal footing with the other drivers.
Rodrigo says the condition is not a problem for him. “This condition is not an obstacle for me, so much so that I easily adapted to the Maverick X3, without the need to make any type of change. I can accelerate with my mechanical leg and brake with my left leg naturally.”
At the age of 4, Rodrigo suffered an accident on his grandfather’s farm, in which his leg was crushed by a machine. “I live very well with this issue. In addition to competing, I play tennis, go to the gym, spend time with my children, everything is normal. What makes me very happy is that, with this, I end up helping a lot of people, encouraging them. But I would like to help more and I have plans to join people and companies in actions in this direction.”
Considered a newcomer to the sport, the driver arrived at the circuit at the hands of his brother, Conrado Schlatter Matsumoto, also from the Cotton Racing/Boreal PowerSports team and competitor in the UTV 2 category in the Baja national championship.
Rally car owned by driver Rodrigo, born in Chapadão do Sul (Photo: Disclosure)
“In 2022, I started competing under the influence of my brother, who was champion in 2021, and now I’m here, on an adrenaline rush, with my first title, of many, aboard my Can-Am Maverick X3.
Even with an anticipated title, I’m going for first place. I want to take the opportunity to test my limits, rank well overall and keep an eye on the competitors in the next category I want to compete in, UTV 3”, said Rodrigo in an interview with Revista Podium, days before the grand final.
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