July 2020

RVM legends: Ferrari 308 GTB

  The mythical house of Ferrari won the Rally Vinho da Madeira in 1962 with the godlike Ferrari 250 of Horácio Macedo, but it would be the 308 GTB that would come to capture the attention of the regional public. Taking advantage of the confirmation, in group 4, of the model, the French dealer of the Italian brand decided to invest in its application on tarmac. In that context, Jean-Claude Andruet was in Madeira and fought for victory in 1981 when he was forced to retire due to a problem concerning fuel. As a result, the beautifully designed model, with its smooth lines by Pininfarina, ended up being withdrawn from the list of classics shining at the competition. Ferrari 308 GTB was produced between 1975 and 1985, having a length of 4.22 m, a height of 1,12 m and measure 1,72 m wide. The engine, positioned at the center in the rear end of the vehicle, was a 8 cylinder in V, with 2.927 cc and the power of 315 horses when competing. One of its singular characteristics was his bodywork in fiberglass which would help to limit its weight to no more than 1050kg.

Fighting for victory

  José Pedro Fontes states that the goals, in this Rally, are those of previous years: "to be the first amongst those competing for the Portuguese championship and to try and fight for absolute victory. If I win at the general level, I will be winning for the Portuguese Rally Championship (CPR). Since 2014, only in 2019 did I fail to be the best amongst national drivers. [I] Won the rally at the absolute level in 2016 and do want to keep that tendency. I will be facing this competition with that in mind. It won't be easy, since the competition is very strong and Madeiran drivers are clear favourites".  Fontes is 44 years old and premiered in motor-racing in 1997 in a Seat Ibiza GTI. He kept his allegiance to this model up to the end of the 1990's, but has since then officially represented many brands, being at the driving wheel of vehicles such as a Fiat Punto Kit-Car, a Renault Clio S1600, a Fiat Punto S2000 and, more recently, a Citroën DS3 R5. He also competed in other disciplines in which he won many national titles. He still represents the French brand, now at the wheel of a Citroën C3 R5. He was the FIA Iberian Rally Trophy winner in 2016 and a rally national champion in both 2015 and 2016.  

Signing of a cooperation protocol with the Municipality of Funchal

  The Municipality of Funchal and the organizing committee of Rally Vinho Madeira signed, this morning, a cooperation protocol through which the Municipality concedes a direct subvention of 27.500€, as well as logistic support in the manner of both materials and personnel.  Rally Vinho Madeira is the second Stage of the FIA calendar and, therefore, all attention will given to the competition as a way to greatly intensify the projection of both the Region of Madeira and the City of Funchal, as well as, the Rally itself. Given this, the Organizing Committee's central focus is to assure that the Rally is successful when it comes to security, organization, as well as, in terms of public health.  José Paulo Fontes, president of the Organizing Committee, and Miguel Gouveia, mayor of the Municipality of Funchal, stand united in appealing to the sense of responsibility of spectators and the public at large. According to Miguel Gouveia: "we will have to continue being an example of good behavior and common trust. It is in our hands the capacity to offer a sense of trust to the outside".

RVM legends: Adartico Vudafieri

  Adartico Vudafieri was one of the names that, for some time, rhymed with "speed" in Madeira. In the transition between the 1970's and the 1980's, the Italian driver was present at Rally Vinho Madeira in four different occasions, always at the gear of the most competitive Fiat 131 Abarth. In 1979 he finished second only to Tony Fassina's competitive Lancia Stratos, but, in 1980, he avenged his name and was able to open the honour champagne bottle at Avenida Arriaga, right in front of the seat of Club Sports da Madeira. Adartico Vudafieri was born in 1950, near to Venice, and started to partake in rallies in 1973 on a Simca Rallye 2. The two following years he ran in a group 3 Porsche, a vehicle with which he came third at the national rally trophy. He then went to drive a Lancia Stratos, but it was with a Fiat 131 Abarth that he became the Italian rally champion in both 1978 and 1980, and, later, in 1981, the European champion. In 1982 and 1983 he defended, falling short, the colours of the Lancia Stratos brand with the 037 model. We would become in 1984, at the driving gear of one of these, the Italian champion, retiring shortly after.  

Becoming the best peninsular driver

   Ricardo Teodósio, the current national champion, is taking part in this edition of the Rally Vinho da Madeira with "the ambition of becoming the best amongst racers from Peninsular Portugal. Four Madeiran racers are strong candidates to victory and I will be focusing mostly on the Portuguese Championship, by collecting the most points possible. I want to perform differently to how I have before, in other rallies. I am more confident, after all the work put towards the Rally of Calheta. Anyway, we will still be testing next week and checking some more stuff. The goal is to feel at ease."  Originally from the Algarve, Ricardo Teodósio is 44 years old and started racing in 2001. The current national champion is known for his spectacular driving and for being a faithful user of the many versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer up to 2017, with a passage of the wheel of a Renault Clio Williams and a Ford Fiesta R5. Since 2018 he is equipped with a Skoda Fabia R5, with which he won his first national title in 2019. This year he will be driving a Skoda Fabia R5 Evo.

RVM legends: Andrea Aghini

  Andrea Aghini's popularity in Madeira began with his victorious start in 1992 at the wheels of a glamorous "Deltona" by Martini Racing. A televised split off the road, the following year, also contributed to his fame. The Italian driver has always been very fast racing on the roads of the island and would manage to obtain another three titles in 1994, on a Toyota Celica, in 1998, with a Toyota Corolla WRC and also in 2002, on a Peugeot 206 WRC. Being a winning record holder, he was the only one to achieve, in 1994, the feat of winning all of the edition's special stages. Currently at 56 years old, Aghini started racing in 1983 on a Autobianchi A112. In 1987 he drove a Peugeot 205 GTi and took part of the french brand's team in his country between 1988 and 1991 at the wheel of the 309 GTi and 405 Mi16 models. Captured the attention of Lancia whose colours he defended in 1992, the same year in which he obtained his only victory at the WRC, and, again, in 1993. He was later involved with the Grifone team with a Toyota and Procar, with a Subaru. He has raced in the most varied models, regularly, up to 2011 and appeared, for the last time, in 2017 and 2018.

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