In 2019, Pepe Lopez is “quite satisfied with how the season has been going so far. I believe that we have been doing a good job both at S-CER (the Spanish Rally Super-Championship) and at the CERA (Spanish Asphalt Rally Championship).           We are quite happy with Citroën’s work, with that of Sports & You, as well as that which has been developed together between me and Borja Rozada (my co-pilot). We are taking off at Rally Vinho Madeira quite motivated. I am thankful to the organizing comity for having thought about us to take part in such an emblematic competition. It is very special for me, due to my professional context, to race in front of a Portuguese audience. I wish this to be a wonderful rally from which we can all experience enjoyment as well as where we can all show good sportive qualities.” José Maria “Pepe” Lopez is turning 24 in August and competes in motor-racing since 2012. His first complete season was in 2014, the year in which he caught everyone’s attention at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R2. The following year he raced with a Peugeot 208 R2 and obtained various victories in that class. In 2016 he won Volant Peugeot in France, a title that opened him the doors of the Peugeot Rally Academy, structure for which he raced at the ERC. In 2018 he started piloting a Citroën C3 R5 and, this year, has had a very strong season from which he already holds four titles, one of which at the Canary Islands Rally.  

After submitting the Entry list to the FPAK- the Portuguese Federation of Karting Motor Racing, the Organizing Committee of  RVM was informed by this entity that the vehicle of racing with number 27, Luís Pimentel/ Nuno Moura – Porsche 911 GT3, does not possess the FIA-type approval certificate needed to compete.  Due to this situation, competitors Luís Pimentel, and Nuno Moura will from now on be enrolled in the Coral Rally Championship of Madeira competition with plate number 52.  All other contenders from this number onwards will stand repositioned. From the entry list concerning the ERT/IRT competition, the number 27 was excluded; having the Organizing Committee of the RVM attributed new numbers to contenders positioned after number 26 of the same list.

For Ricardo Gonçalves, “the balance of the season, so far, is not, naturally, a positive one, taking into account the various challenges our team has faced. Nonetheless, despite the adversities, we have not given up and have, insistently, tried to reverse the current situation. Hard work will eventually bring us to achieve those deserved results. We expect to show our speed and regularity once more, to return to good results in this emblematic race that is the Rally Vinho Madeira in its 60.th edition and in which we will be racing for the 13.th consecutive year”. Ricardo Gonçalves, 44 years old, debuted in motor racing in 2007 at the wheel of a Toyota Starlet. He affirmed his position both with this model as well as, latter on, with a Toyota Yaris, with which he has always been disputing the top places in single-brand competitions. In 2015 he rode at the wheel of a Citroën C2 R2, a model which he still holds on to and with which he asserted his place at the Eng. Rafael Costa Trophy in 2017.

For the fans wishing to follow the stage at Avenida do Mar, the RVM partner Hotel Pestana CR7 in Funchal has prepared a special suggestion: Watch the first special stage of the competition, Avenida do Mar – Centro Internacional de Negócios da Madeira, from the hotel’s rooftop, with a privileged view and a drink included.

The Belgian Joachim Wagemans’ Peugeot 208 T16 and João Barro’s Skoda Fabia R5 are already in Madeira. Joachim Wagemans and François Geerlandt team’s AutoStal Atlantic truck. João Barros and António Costa’s team truck.    

The list of enrollments presented today at the news conference has been subject to an alteration. The organization was contacted by the contestant Edgar Sousa who called our attention to a mistake in the filling in of his enrollment files where his car appeared as FIA approved. Therefore, the list stands corrected and the vehicle numbered 41.st on the FIA list is now 56 on Madeira’s Regional Championship. The corrected list is now available for consultation. 

The eighties arrived at a time when the Rally Vinho Madeira was rising, at a rampant rate, in the context of the European Championship, since, in just four years, the race, organized by Club Sports of Madeira, reached the top coefficient of four. In the decade’s first year, Vudafieri took revenge and even rose, along with his Fiat 131 Abarth, to the top position of the podium, but, the following year, the Luxembourg champion Ali Kridel surprised everyone by winning despite racing against higher ranked competition. Behind, he left Antonella Mandelli, the Italian pilot racing on a Fiat 131 Abarth, who became a popular idol on the island as well as a heartbreaker for many pubescent fans. Tony Fassina returned in 1982 and won with an Opel Ascona 400 from Conrero. A year later, a young racer, this time an Italian, would gain international acknowledgement by winning at the wheel of the brand new and fast Lancia 037. That year’s European Champion, Massimo Biasion would from then, and for various times, see his name be featured in the World’s Championship list of triumphs. Another widely acknowledged name was that of Henri Toivonen, who took his wonderful Porsche 911 SC from Rothmans to triumph in 1984. In 1985, Salvador Serviá was number one in a podium monopolized by Lancia 037 cars. The second half of the decade was practically always singled out by Lancia, even if with its Delta model. Fabrizio Tabaton obtained his first victory at the Rally in 1986 with his deeply potent Lancia Delta S4 at the final calls of the longed for Group B, and, the rising Dario Cerrato triumphed in the 1987 edition, then riding a car that was one of the most successful models amongst us, the all-wheel drive Lancia Delta. Yves Loubet would win in 1989, exactly twelve months after Patrick Snijers, after many trials, managed to win with his BMW M3. Boys and girls, aligned with the cultural influence of bands such as The Smiths, Talk Talk or even, for the most extroverted ones, to the tune of Michael Jackson, from all of whom they would draw influence for their characteristic crest hairstyles, would now have to watch the Tour from safer roadsides. In 1986 a violent accident at the Rally of Portugal made FIA end Group B competitions and implement harder security measures. Nonetheless, before that, Rally Vinho Madeira had already established the precedent that would help define these international security norms and procedures.