July 2021

The Regional Government supports the achievement of the “Rali Vinho da Madeira”, organized by Club Sports da Madeira, which is the greatest motorsport event performed in Madeira for 6 decades. We have a competition that, besides the strong connection it has with the local people, can be considered a tourist animation centre, as it brings to the Autonomous Region of Madeira not only fans but also the whole commercial and sports engine of drivers and teams involved. The rally, besides the contribution coming from outside the island to the Regional economy, also has the particularity to revival local business spread all over the Island, where the racing cars drive by, as the numbers of fans follow them year after year.  On the other hand, our cooperation for the “Rali Vinho da Madeira” to be back on the roads is justified by the impact it has in the promotion and disclosure of the Madeira Destination, as a result of other important sports events here achieved, that are part of the annual calendar of Tourism Animation of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.  Madeira is a Tourism Destination of recognized quality, with great statement. Being so, we create conditions in order to always have such events, with great mediatic, social and economic impact, allowing to amplify the visibility of the Region through diversified events for different audiences. An acknowledgement is due to the Club Sports Madeira and his whole team involved in the achievement of one more Rali Vinho da Madeira” edition. The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Culture  Eduardo Jesus  

This year’s Rali Vinho da Madeira edition will have a new format of the official board competition. Until last year, the competitors, main part interested in the information published, could check such information in a board placed in the Rally Control Centre of the Organization Committee, which has been at the Dr Horário Bento de Gouveia School. This year, the whole information will be in the official board on the website https://ralivm.com/2021/pt Every time there is an update, a text message will be sent, allowing anyone to check the information. This innovation is going to fasten the search for any documentation, making the whole process a lot easier.  

The harsh and demanding roads of the Island in the first Rali Vinho da Madeira editions challenged the drivers with multiple difficulties in order to achieve average speed, impossible at a time when this type of competition was regular and was decided by the minimum penalties. Recently, a very technical asphalt did not reduce the level of success in a competition that also demands perfect knowledge of roads that impose perfect trajectories. Being so, there was an idea that it would almost be impossible for a driver to win his first competition. As a contrast of such idea, nine foreign drivers already won their premier in the competition in Madeira. Such conquests were achieved by the French Jean-Pierre Nicolas, in 1967 with a Renault R8 Gordini, by the Finnish Ari Vatanen, in a Ford Escort RS in 1978, by the Italian Toni Fassina, with the powerful Lancia Stratos em 1979, by the Luxembourgish Ali Kridel, in  1981 behind the wheel of a Ford Escort RS, by the Italian Massimo Biasion, in 1983 with a Lancia Rally 037, by the Finnish Henri Toivonen, in the following year, driving a Porsche 911 SC, by the Spanish Salvador Serviá, in 1985 with a Lancia Rally 037, by the Italian Fabrizio Tabaton, in 1986 with the very insightful Lancia Delta S4, and again in 1992, also by the Italian Andrea Aghini, driving a Lancia Delta Integrale 16V.  In 2021 the Rali Vinho da Madeira will have, as debuts, the Spanish Jan Solans, driving a Citroën C3 Rally2, and Francisco Santana Castro in a less recent Opel Corsa B Kit-Car.  

Ricardo Teodósio will use the new Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Evo and, just as before, in this Rali Vinho da Madeira, he wants to be “the best amongst all competitors of CPR. This is a very difficult rally and, except in 2018, that I had the 4th place, things have not always been as I wanted. In Madeira, there are always unforeseen situations, something always happens or we make the wrong choices. In such occasions, we have to run against all odds. In 2021, we do not want to have the problems we had before, as it is much easier when things go well. I wish I can achieve a great standing and have fun with the audience.” Ricardo is 45 years old and, after being in different motorsports had his debut in the rallies 20 years ago. He drove for many years several versions of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and has always stood out due to his exuberant driving, being able to create enthusiasm to the spectators and a wide range of devoted fans. In 2018, he drove a Skoda Fabia R5 and the year after that became the National Champion, in 2020, he did not win any rally competitions and this year he is the second in the Portuguese Championship of Rallies and second in Castelo Branco Rally.