July 2023

Message from the President of the Regional Government of Madeira for the 2023 edition of RVM

It is with great satisfaction that I will attend the Rali Vinho da Madeira, recognised as one of the best motor racing events in Europe. Rali Vinho da Madeira is a childhood icon of all Madeirans. More than a party for outsiders, it is our party. It is our soul that gives life to the party on the road. It is a pride for the Madeiran people to have a race of this nature, highly competitive, as has happened over the years. It is also an important poster for publicising and promoting the Region abroad. Our rally - our “around the island”, as some affectionately still call it, remembering the original name - has had a strong competitive growth over the years. And our drivers, to the great satisfaction of Madeirans, have been able to keep up with this growth, presenting themselves with vehicles at the level of those coming from abroad, even winning the rally. I am convinced that it will be another great party, excellently organised, as usual, by Club Sports da Madeira. And where, once again, the Madeirans who come to watch the rally on the road will set a civic example by complying with the safety rules, not going over the barriers and watching the race in places that do not offer danger. In the name of the common good, it is important that the Rali Vinho da Madeira is held safely. I can only wish you all a good Rally and that you stay safe on and off the road. President of the Government of the Autonomous Region of Madeira Miguel Filipe Machado de Albuquerque

Changes to traffic in the centre of Funchal

The traffic constraints caused by the Rali Vinho da Madeira are unavoidable. The Funchal City Council, and in particular the councillor responsible for traffic, Bruno Pereira and his team, have worked to find alternatives to minimise the possible inconvenience that may arise during the RVM 2023, related to the conditioning and interruption of several roads in the centre of Funchal. The alternative for those who want to cross the City is Cota 40, which will be operating as normal. For those who use public transport, alternative stops will be created at a higher quota, freeing up the streets of downtown. Bruno Pereira leaves a piece of advice "avoid unnecessary travel", reducing as much as possible the number of people who need to circulate in the city centre. The attached maps explain in detail the changes in car circulation, from 02nd August, where the recognitions will take place, until Saturday 5th August with the end of the race.

Good classification for the championship

Armindo Araújo debuts a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 in Madeira. The national champion says that "Rali Vinho da Madeira is a race that we know well and that is very demanding, very technical. Above all, we want to have a good rally and finish in the top positions. The main candidates for victory are the drivers from Madeira and our goal is to be in the fight for victory for the CPR and collect good points for that championship. This edition will be even more challenging due to the debut of our car on these roads. We don't have a set-up base for this model yet and that will require us to work even harder to get an interesting configuration. We'll have to work hard but that's not what's getting us down..."  Araújo is 45 years old and his first rally was in 2000 with a Citroën Saxo VTS, the year he won Promotion. The following year he won the Saxo Trophy with the same car. Since then he has represented Citroën, Mitsubishi and Mini and has won many titles. He was world Production champion in 2009 and 2010 and seven times absolute national champion. National titles were won in 2003 and 2004 with a Citroën Saxo Kit-Car, in 2005 and 2006 with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR, 2018 at the wheel of a Hyundai i20 R5 and 2020 and 2022 in a Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. He is fourth in the Portuguese Rally Championship.

Signing of Protocol between Funchal City Council and Club Sports da Madeira

A cooperation protocol was signed today between Club Sports da Madeira and the Funchal City Council, an agreement whose purpose is financial cooperation, support with technical and logistical means for RVM 2023. In financial terms, the support of the municipality is around € 51,800.43 (fifty-one thousand, eight hundred euros and forty-three cents), part of the amount: € 1,815 (one thousand eight hundred and fifteen euros) will be allocated to the "Young Athlete" programme and € 49,985.43 (forty-nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-five euros and forty-three cents), for the organisation of the Rali Vinho da Madeira 2023. Pedro Calado, Mayor of Funchal, emphasised the importance of the event, with a very high international scope and great importance for the city of Funchal, both for the special races that take place on Avenida do Mar and in the Ecological Park, and for the location of the podium, Park Fermé and Service Park. José Paulo Fontes, President of the Organising Committee, took the opportunity to apologise to the people of Funchal and to thank them for their understanding, for the constraints on the mobility of those who circulate in Funchal, with between 25 000 and 30 000 people expected to attend the first Special stage "Funchal City".

Taking no risks

Spanish driver Diego Ruiloba is making his debut in a Citroën C3 Rally2 at Rali Vinho da Madeira, a competition that "I've only heard of and it's one of the most beautiful rallies in the world, which has been in the European Championship and where the best drivers have been. Competing against the locals is very difficult. Our aim is to drive as many kilometres as possible and get to know the car better, with a view to our main concern, which is the Spanish Championship. Everyone tells us that it's a very difficult rally but we're not going to take any risks because our aim is to get round and we don't care if we're fourth or fifth." Ruiloba is 22 years old and took his first steps in rallying in 2019 with a Peugeot 208. He was always in the top places in his class. In 2021 he was at the controls of a Suzuki Swift Sport and won the absolute level and among junior drivers in the trophy set up by the Japanese brand in Spain. Last year the car used was a Peugeot 208 Rally4 and he won the Peugeot Iberian Rally Cup. As a prize, this year he is defending the colours of Citroën with a C3 Rally2 and is fifth in the Spanish championship after climbing the podium twice.

Best on two-wheel drive

João Silva returns to Rali Vinho da Madeira with a Peugeot 208 Rally4 and his goal is to be "the best among the users of two-wheel drive vehicles. Last year we achieved that and we would like to repeat the success. In 2023, we also have the opportunity to join the Peugeot Rally Cup Iberica and this will create another point of interest because we will face opponents who, although young, have already demonstrated their value and have great paces. In that context, nothing is guaranteed. I think that in the two-wheel drive category the competitors with identical cars to ours should prevail, which will require us to apply ourselves to make up the difference". João Silva is 35 years old and made his debut in the sport in 2007 with a Toyota Yaris. He went on to drive a Citroën C2 R2 but it was with a Renault Clio that he became regional junior champion in 2009 and 2010. With the same car, he was national two-wheel drive champion the following year. In 2012, he made a foray into the JWRC world championship with a Ford Fiesta R2. In 2017, he started driving a Citroën DS3 R5 and with this model he obtained his first triumph in Machico and climbed the absolute podium of Rali Vinho da Madeira for the first time.

Madeira Casino opens its doors again for the RVM 2023 Autograph Session

Madeira Casino will once again welcome motorsport enthusiasts for the expected Autograph Session. A moment that is very pleasing to the public, who can interact with the teams participating in the 2023 Rali Vinho da Madeira. The autograph session takes place on 01st August between 9.30 p.m. and 11 p.m., as the space opens from 7.30 p.m., but the last entry will be at 10.30 p.m. Bearing in mind the number of registrants and in order to expedite autograph requests, entries will be made at two different points in the enclosure. The fans will also have the opportunity to see up close 40 of the machines that will be on the Madeiran roads participating in RVM 2023.

RVM Clerk of the Course message - Pedro Melvill de Araújo

Greetings RVM 2023 Hello everyone. On the first weekend of August, tradition demands that Rali Vinho da Madeira will be held, undoubtedly the biggest socio-sporting event in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.  It is an event of firm credits, one of the brightest stars in the universe of European rallies, as well as in the national and regional overview.  It has remained a reference event for many decades, usually counting on drivers from various European countries, joined by drivers competing in both the Portuguese Rally Championships and the Madeira Coral Rally Championship, in a competition that usually attracts thousands and thousands of Madeirans to the roads of this marvellous Madeira Island. This year is once again challenging for the Organising Committee: we have reduced the number of Special Classification Stages, increasing the average mileage in order to maintain the total number of kilometres in Special Stages - the iconic Avenida do Mar show on Thursday evening, the Madeira Stadium "jump" is back, the beautiful passage through Chão da Lagoa, the rearranged Carvalhal crossroads in the Ponta do Sol Special Stage, this year with a different configuration, since the road goes up to Paúl da Serra, and then, in connection, down to Calheta where a totally new Special Stage will also be disputed, extremely technical and with many points where spectators can access to watch. Our viewers have always been an example in their civic behaviour and tireless in their support for the drivers and the rally organisation, and it is, after all, for them that we also work, because if without drivers there is no rally, without the public there is no show. Before the Avenida do Mar, on Thursday afternoon, we will have the Presentation Ceremony of the competitors, in the podium installed in Praça do Povo. In the following two days they will drive the four corners of the Island, heading through all the Municipalities of Madeira, guaranteeing spectacle and gathering, controlled with all the safety standards, and also sanitary, prescribed by the Regional, National and International Authorities. This year we will reinforce the environmental sustainability standards, as recommended by FPAK and FIA. As usual, I recommend everyone to watch the rally, close to the emotion, but far from danger, asking the Madeirans to have, as always, a remarkable behaviour to brighten this event that is not just from Madeira, but is for Madeira. Thank you all.  Have a great Rali Vinho da Madeira 2023 Pedro Melvill de Araújo  

Message from the Clerk of the Course of the RVM 2023

Greetings RVM 2023 Hello everyone. On the first weekend of August, tradition demands that Rali Vinho da Madeira will be held, undoubtedly the biggest socio-sporting event in the Autonomous Region of Madeira.  It is an event of firm credits, one of the brightest stars in the universe of European rallies, as well as in the national and regional overview. It has remained a reference event for many decades, usually counting on drivers from various European countries, joined by drivers competing in both the Portuguese Rally Championships and the Madeira Coral Rally Championship, in a competition that usually attracts thousands and thousands of Madeirans to the roads of this marvellous Madeira Island. This year is once again challenging for the Organising Committee: we have reduced the number of Special Classification Stages, increasing the average mileage in order to maintain the total number of kilometres in Special Stages - the iconic Avenida do Mar show on Thursday evening, the Madeira Stadium "jump" is back, the beautiful passage through Chão da Lagoa, the rearranged Carvalhal crossroads in the Ponta do Sol Special Stage, this year with a different configuration, since the road goes up to Paúl da Serra, and then, in connection, down to Calheta where a totally new Special Stage will also be disputed, extremely technical and with many points where spectators can access to watch. Our viewers have always been an example in their civic behaviour and tireless in their support for the drivers and the rally organisation, and it is, after all, for them that we also work, because if without drivers there is no rally, without the public there is no show. Before the Avenida do Mar, on Thursday afternoon, we will have the Presentation Ceremony of the competitors, in the podium installed in Praça do Povo. In the following two days they will drive the four corners of the Island, heading through all the Municipalities of Madeira, guaranteeing spectacle and gathering, controlled with all the safety standards, and also sanitary, prescribed by the Regional, National and International Authorities. This year we will reinforce the environmental sustainability standards, as recommended by FPAK and FIA. As usual, I recommend everyone to watch the rally, close to the emotion, but far from danger, asking the Madeirans to have, as always, a remarkable behaviour to brighten this event that is not just from Madeira, but is for Madeira. Thank you all. Have a great Rali Vinho da Madeira 2023 Pedro Melvill de Araújo

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