July 2023

Winning the rally

Giandomenico Basso is back at Rali Vinho da Madeira with a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. The Italian says he is "happy to return to this island to which I have a great connection, where I have so many friends and count so many passionate fans. Lorenzo Granai will be with me and, at this very rally, we will be celebrating 10 years as a team. On that occasion we won. I haven't been to Madeira for so many years and this will require a lot of preparation work, despite the proximity of the Rally di Roma Capitale. As for the goals, I have the same as always, to win the rally. It won't be easy as there are many strong drivers, apart from the locals of course. It's going to be fun to fight Kris Meeke again, someone I've done a lot of rallies with and who I really like, but who I haven't fought for a long time. There are a few new things in this edition, but I know the stages for the most part. I will try to study a lot and we promise to give, with Delta Rally, our best". Winner of the Rali Vinho da Madeira four times, in 2006, 207, 2009 and 2013, Basso is 49 years old and his rallying debut was in 1994 with an Opel Astra GSi. Between 1995 and 2010 he only drove Fiat, but since then he has driven for Proton, Hyundai and Skoda, with a few stints in Peugeot and Ford models. He was European champion in 2006 and 2009, won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2006 and the Tour European Rally in 2017 and 2018, and won his country's outright titles in 2007, 2016, 2019 and 2021.

Message from the President of Club Sports da Madeira and the Organising Committee for the RVM 2023

It is with great satisfaction and pleasure that I address you, on behalf of the centenary Club Sports da Madeira, a warm welcome to Madeira and to the "Rali Vinho da Madeira", the international sporting event that most promotes the Madeira tourist destination and its secular and famous export product. It is the oldest motor rally event in Portugal, because it is enough to remember the first "Tour of the Island" to realise how it has always been lived and cherished by all Madeirans who, in a very unique way, positioned themselves on its narrow and winding roads to closely follow the challenges that were launched to drivers and their vehicles, to overcome the difficult orography and microclimate of the Island. This enthusiasm with which successive generations of Madeirans receive Rali Vinho da Madeira is maintained and renewed every year, which forces the organising committee to always maintain a high ambition in order to meet the expectations of our fans and continue to affirm all its history and prestige in the context of national and international motorsport. There is no other sporting event that perfectly combines the external promotion of the Region and intensifies its internal economic activity. It is enough to mention the contribution to the economy, measured not only by its media return generated, more than 12.7 million euros of AVE (Advertising Value Equivalency), by the revenues generated directly in stays and meals, by all competitors, their teams and companions, in addition to indirect taxes on consumption and the contracting of supply companies with tax headquarters in the Region. It is urgent to carry out a study on the strong impact that the Event has on the economy of Madeira, but there is no doubt that in an analysis of the cost / benefit ratio, Rali Vinho da Madeira is economically sustainable and a positive contribution to regional and municipal revenues. In sporting terms, Rali Vinho da Madeira 2023, scores points for the FIA European Rally Trophy, for the Portuguese and Coral Madeira Rally Championships and, this year, for the Peugeot Rally Cup Trophy Iberica, a mono-brand competition that will bring to Madeira, about 14 competitors to which four Madeiran teams will join, in what will be "another rally" within this edition of the event. To prove the prestige and international image of our rally, it is enough to go through the list of entries, not only for the high number of entries in an island competition, which surprised everyone, but also for the quality and the fact that we have several drivers who are former winners of the Rali Vinho da Madeira which, from the outset, will be decisive to have a lot of competitiveness on the roads of the region. President of Club Sports da Madeira and the Organising Committee of RVM 2023 José Paulo Fontes

Rally Special Stages: cidade do Funchal

by Pedro Calado, co-driver "A spectacular special stage right in the centre of the city of Funchal, taking place late Thursday afternoon. The starting ceremony in Avenida Do Mar - Praça do Povo, will attract many people to experience closely all the excitement of the race. The spectacular race begins in a downhill area near the Funchal Fire Brigade, entering the access tunnel to the Francisco Sá Carneiro Roundabout, with a spectacular roundabout and ends in front of the Funchal Marina, in the north lane. The entire special stage is very fast and with spectacular areas and chicanes. Naturally, thousands of people will watch it, giving a lot of joy to all the teams and life to the City. Very fast and technical, to be done with attention. As this is a city special stage, with chicanes and only 2.18 kilometres long, "nothing is lost", but a lot can be "compromised". Very nice for the general public, especially in the new Praça do Povo area. A good start for the next two days of racing".

It will be like starting all over again

Kris Meeke returns to Rali Vinho da Madeira after 13 years in a Hyundai i20N Rally2 "I have more grey hair, but I remember how hard my debut in 2009 was, especially in anticipating, in the reconnaissance, the speed at which we would pass in the race. In 2010 I was better but I gave up near the end with mechanical problems. It's a very beautiful place, a very traditional tarmac rally. Maybe even more difficult than Corsica because the road is wider and we can't have such precise notes. The goal for this year is a bit limited because I have a vague idea of the race and I don't remember the technical aspects. It will be like starting all over again. The Portuguese competitors know the race well, the Madeirans are very familiar with the route. It will be almost mission impossible to beat them. I'm going to fight thinking about the Portuguese championship. We'll see. I'll try to do my best because I really like the island". 44-year-old Kris Meeke started rallying in 2000 with a Peugeot 106 GTi. He was British junior champion in 2002 with a Ford Puma S1600 and in 2003 with an Opel Corsa S1600. His speed and driving style led to him being sponsored by Colin McRae. He has represented brands such as Peugeot in the IRC and Mini, Citroën and Toyota in the WRC, but his only outright title came in the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge. He has worked on the development of several racing models.  In 2023 he replaced the late Craig Breen in the Hyundai Portugal team and is fifth in the CPR after winning two of his three races.

Rali Vinho da Madeira welcomes visitors

Rali Vinho da Madeira, in partnership with ANA, has welcomed passengers arriving at Cristiano Ronaldo Airport with an installation informing them of the 64th edition of the event taking place later this week. On display is the Ford Escort RS Cosworth with chassis number 12, the first to race worldwide in this configuration, at the 1993 Sopete Rally. This car belongs to Rui Conceição, a driver who won the regional rally titles between 1994 and 1996, and is similar to those that won Rali Vinho da Madeira in 1993 and 1996 through the Belgian Patrick Snijers and the Portuguese Fernando Peres, respectively. Respecting the specifications of the time, it still competes with its owner at the wheel.

A place on the podium

Bernardo Sousa returns with a Citroën C3 Rally2 to the Rali Vinho da Madeira, "a race in which I hope to have a growing result, according to the latest records. In 2023 the difficulties increase because the competition is bigger and very strong. However, given my last participations in the event, I will be more comfortable because I have a better knowledge of the race. Our main goal is to be in the top three of the Portuguese Rally Championship, something that, given what we have shown in the last races, is within our reach. I would also like to get on the absolute podium. In Madeira, the weather conditions are always very important and a stage and some new ground will reduce the advantage that the drivers in the local championship have. This is my first RVM with José Janela as co-driver and I may have to use new notes. Psychologically, this is my "home" race but in reality it is the one, in the national championship, in which I have fewer participations". Aged 36, Sousa made his rallying debut in 2005 with a Ford Escort RS MkII. His first full season was in 2006 with a Peugeot 206 S1600. He then moved on to a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and it was with this car that he was in the PWRC for the first time in 2008. He remained in that championship until 2011, first with a Fiat Punto S2000 and then with a Ford Fiesta S2000. It was with the latter model that he was national champion in 2010. He is sixth in the Portuguese Rally Championship.

Rally curiosities: 6 winners at the start of the rally

At the start of the 64th edition of Rali Vinho da Madeira will be six previous winners of the event. The drivers who have already climbed to the top step of the podium of the Club Sports da Madeira organisation are number 4 - Miguel Nunes, 5 - Alexandre Camacho, 6 - José Pedro Fontes, 11 - Giandomenico Basso, 23 - Adruzilo Lopes, and 39 - Vítor Sá. Alexandre Camacho is also, with five triumphs, the record holder of victories in the event. The Madeiran driver won in 2017 with a Peugeot 208 T16 R5, in 2018 and 2019 in Skoda Fabia R5 and in 2021 and 2022 with Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. There are four drivers with four triumphs: Américo Nunes, first in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1977, always with Porsche 911S, Giandomenico Basso, winner in 2006, 2007 and 2009 with Fiat Punto S2000 and 2013 at the wheel of Peugeot 207 S2000, Bruno Magalhães, triumphant in 2011 and 2012 in a Peugeot 207 S2000 and 2014 and 2015 in Peugeot 208 T16 R5 and Andrea Aghini, best in 1992 in Lancia Delta Integrale, 1994 and 1998 with Toyota Corolla WRC and 2002 using Peugeot 206 WRC.

Fighting for victory

José Pedro Fontes will be competing in Rali Vinho da Madeira with his usual Citroën C3 Rally2 and he wants to "be on the podium and, if possible, fight to win. This is a rally that I like a lot and I was the last non-Madeira driver to win it. We will try to adopt a good pace and evaluate, stage by stage, where we are. In Machico we had a good run and we'll try to be strong again and go fast without, of course, devaluing the competition". Fontes is 47 years old and his first rallying experience came in 1997 with a Seat Ibiza GTi. Throughout his career he has represented brands such as Fiat or Renault and since 2015 he has defended the colours of Citroën. Winner of the Rali Vinho da Madeira in 2016, the year in which he also won the FIA ERT Iberian Rally Trophy, the driver has titles in several parts of motor sport and in rallying he was absolute national champion in 2015 and 2016 with a Citroën DS3 R5. He is third in the Portuguese Rally Championship.

Delivery of materials to competitors with great turnout

Another stage in the 2023 Rali Vinho da Madeira programme is completed today, with the delivery of material and all documentation to competitors. The process began at 10 a.m. at the Rally Secretariat, Escola Profissional Atlântico Edifício Marina Fórum. In the first hour, 18 teams, out of the 85 registered, had already picked up the documentation and material needed for the race. The folder delivered includes route books, maps, identification for drivers and assistance personnel, assistance and auxiliary plates, competition numbers, advertising stickers and important information for the documentary and technical checks and for the Service Park.

I don´t know what to expect

Simone Campedelli returns to Rali Vinho da Madeira, "a competition I remember from my childhood when it was part of the European championship and many of my idols took part. It's a rally that makes me remember when I was just a fan. I have to thank the organisation and The Racing Factory, who allowed this to happen. Sportingly, I don't know what I can expect but I want to enjoy every moment I'm in the car. We'll give it our all and see, class by class, where we go. Everything is unknown. The only certainty is the great pleasure of being at the start". The 37-year-old Italian, who is driving the colours of Indian tyre manufacturer MRF with a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, made his debut in 2004 with a Citroën Saxo VTS. From then until 2009 he drove various versions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. Between 2010 and 2013 he was behind the wheel of front-wheel drive cars and, from then on, Peugeot 207 S2000, Ford Fiesta R5, VW Polo GTi R5 and, in recent years, Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. He regularly competes in the ERC, is the reigning Italian tarmac rally champion and has also won the junior title in 2011, the two-wheel drive title in 2012 and the 2007 dirt rally trophy in his country.

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