The birth of the Baja Portalegre in 1987 - at the time still under the name Rali Maratona de Portalegre - Finicisa - was a true celebration of national off-road sport. At the time, the event had only two categories available, with the motorbike category only open to two riders - modelled on the Baja California. António Bayona and Paulo Marques made their debut as winners, in cars and motorbikes respectively.
In 1989, the race was run in a single lap over a 500-kilometre course, which gave rise to the name 500 km Cervejas Sagres Portalegre.