How is the Madeira Rally Championship Coral going?

Read so far

How is the Madeira Rally Championship Coral going?

The Madeira Rally Championship has not changed much going into 2023 and comprises the same seven races as last year. The season started in April in São Vicente. On the north coast, Alexandre Camacho got off to a good start and even benefited from a false-start penalty from his biggest opponent. However, with the arrival of the second day of competition, the champion Miguel Nunes managed to cancel the difference that separated him from the front and still impose himself in the event. Everything pointed to the driver of the Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo da Lotes coming to dominate as at the end of the previous season.

However, Camacho made tweaks and other changes to the Play Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo and the championship story took a turn. The pace in the regional rallies was dictated by this driver who swept the competition in Calheta in May, Ribeira Brava in June and, more recently, in Machico. With this show of strength, Alexandre Camacho has a good lead in the championship and, with three events to go, Vinho da Madeira, Municipios de Câmara de Lobos e Funchal and 100 à Hora, the title can be quickly surrendered if Miguel Nunes fails to react.

Miguel Caires started this year driving a Skoda Fabia R5 and, despite adapting to a much more powerful vehicle than his previous one, he has been in good shape, occupying, with a comfortable margin, the lowest place on the podium of the competition. Rui Pinto, in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, and José Camacho, in a Peugeot 208 T16 R5, have not shown the speed to climb the podium and are, at this stage, fourth and sixth in the championship promoted by the Portuguese Federation of Automobilism and Karting. The Porsche teams have had an irregular presence and performance this year.

João Silva has an excellent position, fifth in the absolute standings. The driver of the FX Peugeot 208 Rally4 has dominated the events in his category and, at times, discussed places overall with opponents with more competitive vehicles. In this class, Renato Pita and Artur Quintal, both in Peugeot 208 Rally4, and Dinarte Baptista, with Renault Clio Rally4, have also been in evidence. Classification: 1st Alexandre Camacho, 112; 2nd Miguel Nunes, 89; 3rd Miguel Caires, 63; 4th Rui Pinto, 38; 5th João Silva, 36; 6th José Camacho, 24; 7th Paulo Mendes, 20; 8th Renato Pita, 18; 9th José P. Fontes, 17; 10th Artur Quintal, both in Peugeot 208 Rally4. 33 drivers are classified.