The President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, will visit tomorrow, at 11.45 a.m., the RVM Headquarters, located at the Marina Fórum Building. Being so, we would like to invite your media to cover the event.

The RVM Organization had, this morning, a meeting with different entities involved in the preparation of the RVM 2022, to present the work done by each one of them and their role in the success of the rally, a "coordinated and cooperated work so that the rally can flow". Pedro Araújo, Clerck of the Course, said on the occasion that "without the collaboration of these entities, the rally could not hit the roads". Police Department The Police Department was represented by Luís Teixeira Vieira, who stated that "at this moment, PSP has everything lined up and in perfect harmony with the institutions present here", highlighting the "strong connection" between the police and the organization. There have been preparatory meetings and road reconnaissance to articulate all the work. Around 800 police officers are involved in this operation. Funchal City Hall Bruno Pereira, Councillor for traffic, civil protection and fire department, was present from Funchal City Hall. The Rali Vinho da Madeira is "the biggest street event in the City of Funchal", which is why safety demands are high. It was necessary to proceed to restrictions and changes in terms of traffic. Bruno Pereira also asked for the collaboration of the population in complying with these rules. This year, with the more central location of the Parc Fermé, in Largo do Município, the City Hall had an added role with the logistics of installation of the space, which is already happening. The return of the Special Stage in the Funchal Ecological Park, was also a subject addressed by the Councillor, "we will raise awareness of safety and environmental issues". Civil Protection Services Marco Lobato, Vice-President of the Civil Protection Services, highlighted the "longstanding partnership with the organization of the RVM". The Civil Protection Services have a key role in the rescue of participants, the public and professionals on site and a prevention system and firefighting. A total of 45 vehicles and 106 operational resources are mobilized, as well as a team from EMIR that is permanently on duty. Marco Lobato said that Civil Protection wants to "contribute to another successful event. Betting on the harmony and symbiosis of the various entities and the efficient articulation of all means". Forest and Nature Conservation Institute The IFCN was represented by its President, Manuel Filipe, who explained the role of the Institute in this partnership, on the one hand "environmental sustainability, as the rally has as its chosen location the mountains and forest spaces and protected areas, which means that we have many people enjoying these places". The message must be passed on, although there is less rubbish every year, it is never too much to remember the importance of putting it in the right containers. On the other hand, there is "a great concern with forest fires". This is the year with the largest number of campers, 3500 people, in 1500 tents, in the 20 areas available for this purpose, which are practically full. The IFCN has deployed 60 elements of inspection teams, 10 cars from the Forestry Police force, besides the staff that collaborates in several ways. Manuel Filipe highlighted on the occasion what he considers to be a good example of sustainability "using reusable wood instead of other materials to mark areas". The responsible reminds us that "these are small steps to help raise the RVM to the highest level".

The FIA European Rally Trophy was born in 2014 and succeeded the European Rally Cup. As it stands, this is a European rally trophy that is divided into six geographical regions. There are the Alps zones, which include countries such as France, Italy and Switzerland, around the Alps, Balkan, integrating countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Serbia, along the Balkans, Celtic, reserved for Ireland and the United Kingdom, Central, with central countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary or Germany, Iberian for Portugal and Spain and also Scandinavian for Sweden, Finland and Denmark. In all these areas champions are obtained not only at absolute level (ERT1) but also for drivers with Rally3 cars (ERT3), those with Rally4 and Rally5 cars (ERT4), and Junior, for drivers up to 26 years of age on January 1st of this year and with cars which fall under ERT4. From all the areas, the first ten classified in each class are also qualified for the Final. It is in this Final that the overall title in all classes will be awarded. In 2022, the Final will take place in the Internationale ADMV Lausitz Rallye, to be held in Germany between 3rd and 5th November.  

Given the high demand for places located in Avenida do Mar, the Organization decided to place a new grandstand, making available to the public more places to watch the first Special CStage of the rally.  This new stand will be located in Praça da Autonomia. Tickets will be available for sale at the RVM Operation Centre, Marina Fórum building, at 10 euros each.  

One of the most awaited moments by rally race fans is the Autograph Session. This year, this great moment is back to RVM for the joy of children and adults. The event will take place next Tuesday, August 2nd at Madeira's Casino. The teams will be available for contact with enthusiasts between 9.30 p.m. and 11 p.m., but the entertainment will start earlier, at 8 p.m.. Enthusiasts will have the opportunity to be close to the competition vehicles, collect autographs and take photographs with their favourite drivers, in a family atmosphere, with the rally families. Many teams already bring merchandising to distribute to fans. 

Welcome to Madeira Island and to the Rali Vinho da Madeira, which, in the footsteps of the legendary "Tour Around the Island", is the oldest motor race on the roads of Portugal and has always been organised by the centenary Club Sports da Madeira and which, this year, returns, with all its splendour and spectacularism, after two years of contingency, due to the pandemic crisis. No other motor-racing sports event in the Region perfectly combines the promotion of Madeira as a Tourist Destination and its famous wine with the boosting of its domestic economic activity, as the rally is intensely experienced by all generations of Madeirans in such an enthusiastic manner that it influences all our visitors, transforming it into a popular gathering for a week, this being a brand image and prestige of our emblematic race, at world level. The contribution of the Rali Vinho da Madeira to the economy of the Region can be proven by the media value generated last year, around 5.6 million euros of AVE (Advertising Equivalency & Value), with more than one thousand and one hundred news items, with a notable exposure in the media. In this edition, transmission by RTP-Madeira, for all the public television channels, with particular relevance for RTP International, has already been assured. All other national and international channels will also transmit the event programs in international sports channels, besides the transmission in all digital platforms, WEB-TV, Live Streaming, etc. Furthermore, the crucial factor of the internal economic activity, with an increase of consumption and revenue from indirect taxes, VAT, ISP, among others, and of companies, since the vast majority of suppliers of goods and services are companies with tax headquarters in the Region. The bet of the competition’s organization in gathering a lot of good young drivers and others of great media projection, together with the Madeiran and Continental drivers, will provide a great sporting spectacle, with many reasons for interest, because there are several "rallies" depending on the classes and groups of vehicles, besides the competition for the first places of the classification. With the firm purpose of bringing the Event closer to its public, the always busy "Autograph Session" will be back, a special moment of sharing and conviviality between the drivers and their fans. The Rally's Control Centre, Rally Office and Stewards of the Meeting as well as all the Coordination will be concentrated in the area of Avenida Sá Carneiro. With the support of Funchal City Hall, we will install the Parc Fermé areas in the historic Praça do Município, which will undoubtedly help the fans to observe all the competing cars throughout the days of the race. The desired return of the opening Special Stage on Avenida do Mar, always enjoyed fans that go to the bay of the city of Funchal, with all its surroundings and spectacle, will determine the start of the hostilities and the gathering on the roads throughout the Municipalities of the Region. The Rali Vinho da Madeira 2022 Edition, will score for the International Iberian Rally Trophy (ERT FIA), the Portuguese Championship and the Madeira Rally Championship organised under the aegis of the Portuguese Car and Karting Federation - FPAK. We would like to thank all our sponsors, all the main and loyal Sponsors - ECM, Altice/PT/MEO, BPI, EMT, Grupo Sousa and, most particularly, the institutional and financial support from the Regional Government of Madeira, as well as, the contribution from the City Halls and other Public Entities, and many service providing companies, through advertising exchanges. Without all these indispensable and valuable contributions, it would not be possible for the Club Sports da Madeira to organize an event with the quality and prestige of the Rali Vinho da Madeira. The safety of the competition is one of the organization's priorities and, therefore, the partnership and work developed with the Police Department, the Regional Civil Protection Service, SESARAM, the Forest and Nature Conservation Institute and the various Fire Brigades are fundamental to the success of this sporting event. We thank them all for their commitment and professionalism with which they planned the event, extending to all our collaborators and members of the Organizing Committee. Another priority will be the environmental sustainability of the Rali Vinho da Madeira 2022 with actions to promote good practices that aim to minimize its environmental impact, and in the preservation of the environment, being in the goals of the Club Sports da Madeira to prepare the application of the event for accreditation by the FIA, as an automobile race of environmental sustainability. Once again and as always, we shall defend an "environmentally friendly" and "maximum safety" Rali Vinho da Madeira. We are counting on all of you! "The Rally is not of Club Sports da Madeira, it's of Madeira Island". A great rally to you all! José Paulo Fontes