Our Rally Talks have brought together, in a relaxed atmosphere, the various players involved in Rali Vinho da Madeira. We've brought together drivers, former drivers, navigators and members of the organisation, each of whom has contributed their experiences to make these talks of great interest to the general public and fans of the sport. Tomorrow, we close this initiative with the topic ‘Rally on the Road’. To talk about this topic, there's no one better than those who directly live RVM on competition days: Clerk of the Course Pedro Melvill de Araújo and Chief of Nurses Rui Gomes. Moderating the conversation will be Ricardo Miguel Oliveira, director of Diário de Notícias da Madeira. The initiative will take place on Floor 2 of Plaza Madeira at 6pm. We would like to invite anyone who would like to join us on site or via our social networks. We would like to thank everyone who took part in this initiative - your contribution has certainly enriched Rally Talks - and Plaza Madeira for providing the space.  

The Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica is a mono-brand competition organised by the lion brand, which includes competitors from the Portuguese competition of the same name and the Spanish Peugeot Challenge. This ‘cup’ includes four races, two in Spain and two in Portugal, the Terras d'Aboboreira, Rias Baixas, Vinho da Madeira and Catalunya rallies. In the Terras d'Aboboreira Rally, a Portuguese event that is also part of the FIA ERT, the winner was Hugo Lopes from Portugal and Alex Español and Miguel Garcia from Spain. In the Spanish Rally Rias Baixas, Unai de la Dehesa won, followed by Miguel Garcia and Hugo Lopes. The regularity with which Lopes and Garcia have been on the podium gives them the top two positions in the competition. Classification: 1st Hugo Lopes, 46; 2nd Miguel Garcia, 38; 3rd Unai de la Dehesa, 28; 4th Luis Martinez, 24; 5th Giovanni Fariña, 24; 6th Alex Español, 23; 7th Ricardo Sousa, 15; 8th Patricio Muñoz, 14; 9th Diogo Marujo, 14; 10th Can Alakoç, 8.

José Pedro Fontes is bringing a Citroën C3 Rally2 to Rali Vinho da Madeira, equipped with the latest developments available for the model. The driver intends, ‘once again, to fight for outright victory in the rally. However, I think this edition will be one of the toughest in recent years. As well as the local drivers, who are always favourites, we'll have several drivers from the Portuguese Rally Championship as well as foreigners with experience of the route. I always come to Madeira with great motivation because, it's no secret, this is my favourite rally on asphalt.’ The boss of the Sports & You team is 48 years old and has been involved in almost every discipline of motorsport. He made his rallying debut in 1997 with a Seat Ibiza GTi. He has represented brands such as Fiat and Renault and has defended Citroën since 2015. He was national champion in 2015 and 2016 at the wheel of a Citroën DS3 R5. Last year he also won the FIA Iberian Rally Trophy and, for the only time, Rali Vinho da Madeira.

Simone Campedelli returns, now in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, for the third time in a row to Rali Vinho da Madeira. Something ‘we really like. We're very happy to be returning for the third year and that we already know the roads. The objectives are to have fun and honour our presence on the island. We know that there are very strong drivers like Meeke, Camacho, Nunes, Araújo and Ruiloba and it will certainly never be easy. However, we're clearly going to push the pace because we want to improve on our ranking from previous years. We'll see if we can do it. There's no particular tactic, just accelerate from the first metre to the last’. The Italian turned 38 last Friday 26 July and has been rallying since 2004, when he made his debut in a Citroën Saxo. He then used both a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX and a Citroën DS3 R3T for many years. Since 2015 he has been behind the wheel of the RC2s. He won the Italian dirt trophy in 2007, the Italian junior championship in 2011, the two-wheel drive championship in 2012, the asphalt promotion in 2017 and won the transalpine asphalt championship in both 2022 and 2023.

Tomorrow's Rally Talks at the Plaza will feature a meeting of generations, father and son, both linked to motorsport: veteran driver Vasco Silva and the young driver of the same name Vasco Silva. Moderating this interesting conversation will be Duarte Lagos, one of the people responsible for relations with the RVM 2024 competitors.  This initiative will once again take place on the 2nd floor of Plaza Madeira, at 12 pm. We're counting on you.

The Deputy Mayor of Funchal, Bruno Pereira, presented yesterday at a press conference the road changes that will be made in the city during Rali Vinho da Madeira. From Monday 29th July, road traffic will be interrupted between 9 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. on Avenida do Mar, so that the teams taking part in the RVM can carry out their reconnaissance. On Thursday 1st August, due to the 1st SS on Avenida do Mar, traffic will be stopped on several streets from 2p.m, reopening at 10:30 p.m. On the remaining days, there will be restrictions in the area of the Service Park and the Closed Park and road closures in the Palheiro Ferreiro Qualifying Stages, in the area of Caminho dos Pretos, Terreiro da Luta, Palheiro Ferreiro and Chão da Lagoa. On Saturday 3rd August, Avenida do Mar Sul and Avenida das Comunidades Madeirenses will be closed to traffic and parking will be prohibited in the southern traffic lanes of the Avenida between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. On these days, quota 40 may be used as an alternative, all of which is operating normally. Bruno Pereira asks the public to attend the race safely, and also to respect the organisation's guidelines and the PSP's instructions. The Deputy Mayor also appeals for people to avoid parking illegally, as this can create problems in terms of safety.